The idea of updating and prepping your home for sale can seem daunting. All the little repairs you were happy to postpone for another day (or year) may present as glaring deficiencies to potential buyers once the property is on the market. I highly recommend you dig in and put a little money and time into a few repairs that will help make your home more appealing and market-ready. It can translate into serious money — nearly a quarter of sellers who invest in home improvements sell their property above the listed price. Want to make more money when you sell ?
You don’t have to spend months, not do you have to spend a fortune to get your home ready — often a few small DIY home improvements can yield big returns on closing day. Here are my top 5 home improvements to make more money when you sell.
1.) PAINT
I have said this So. Many. Times. Apart from cleaning, painting is the lowest cost improvement, with the highest rate of return. There’s a reason 36% of home sellers choose to do it- because it works! When preparing to sell, a fresh coat of neutral paint can give the entire house a facelift. Buyers love and really respond to a blank canvas. Before rushing out to buy the paint, do a little research & speak to a professional. Get a recommendation from a trained eye; paint colours can be tricky and vastly depends on lighting and other features in the property such as cabinets and flooring.
Buy the biggest bucket of a neutral paint colour (it will be much cheaper than buying multiple small buckets) and get to work. Most anyone can paint but if you can’t, enlist the help of a friend! Or at the very least, wash your walls and declutter to create a nice open space.
2.) LIGHT LANDSCAPING can help you make more money when you sell
The outside of your house is a buyer’s first impression when they pull up. A messy, patchy or overgrown yard can be a major turn-off. Remove all the dead plants and weeds. Cut back anything that’s overgrown. Refresh the lawn and green it up by re-sodding or planting grass seed. Fresh mulch or straw in garden beds is a nice addition. Invest in just a few new shrubs and perennials, it will make your property feel much more finished and inviting.
If you are willing to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty; if you’re up for a little sweat equity, you can achieve a fantastic return for your efforts here. You don’t need to hire a professional to purchase grass seed, simply do a little online research or speak to your friend with the green thumb (we all have one of those). Follow the directions for planting, and keep the grass watered and mowed. Add a pop colour to the yard by purchasing a few bright annual flowers at your local garden store or even at the supermarket, plant them directly into the landscape around the house, or add them to pots near the front door.
3.) FLOORING
Replacing carpet or repairing flooring is an improvement that 26% of homeowners make. Most interior decorators agree, if you have a smorgasbord going on at your house and there’s a variety of different types, colours and textures of flooring, you might want to bite the bullet and invest in new flooring for all; it will help create some continuity throughout the house. Wood floors or faux-wood floors, are preferable to carpeting. If you can’t afford to upgrade to wood, new carpet or even lino is still a major selling point. And just like with painting, a light neutral colour is best.
Sometimes you can find great deals on older styles of flooring that have been discontinued. If replacing flooring absolutely isn’t in the budget, perhaps consider having carpets professionally cleaned and hardwoods can often be re surfaced. If you have a few worn/discolored areas on existing hardwood, touch them up yourself with a little water-based stain to make them less noticeable. Throwing a rug down can absolutely work too- to cover more noticeably worn or discoloured areas, while simultaneously cosying the place up!
4.) BATHROOM UPDATE
A bathroom that looks old can really date a house, Norris says. A few affordable bathroom updates could include: a new counter tops, new tiles, frameless glass doors, a new vanity or new fixtures for the sinks and tub. If you replace any cabinets, remember that minimalism is best — neutral colours, and no intricate designs!
Dated tiles always look better with clean grout lines, so absolutely consider cleaning or freshening the grout; you can absolutely DIY! It just takes a bit of patience and precision. And if replacing cabinets isn’t in the budget, you can try painting them — white, grey, or black can offer a nice clean look. Make sure to get advice on which paint and brush to purchase at your local hardware store. Also, FYI “Reglazing” the bathtub will nearly always be cheaper than installing a brand new tub. I didn’t actually know this was a thing till I bought my own house and there was a gorgeous claw foot tub that really benefitted from me hiring someone to do this for me!
5.) Lighting Update to make more money when you sell
Replacing lighting in areas throughout a house can be a fabulous update for a relatively small investment; it can make a real impact where aesthetics are concerned. As you look at options for light fixtures, remember: “keep colours consistent with your home’s existing hardware. You can mix metals such as copper and oiled bronze, or brushed nickel with chrome, but you really shouldn’t mix gold and silver tones. Also, bear in mind that brass fixtures can look dated, as they were a constant feature in properties built in the 80’s/ 90’s. If you’re going to the trouble to put in something new, make sure it offers a true update.
Less is more. With lighting, sometimes it’s more about what you don’t see than what you do… So if that giant crystal chandelier is eclipsing the living room, please don’t replace it with something fancy — just put something simple there OR take it out completely; buyers can easily imagine for themselves what they’d like in the space. You can install fixtures yourself, but where wires are concerned, make sure you have a professional electrician to help.
Im happy to visit with you in your home anytime FREE OF CHARGE to give you feedback and to help you achieve your real estate goals. Reach out to me today! https://townandcountryrealestate.ie/contact/
Here some more great links that side with me on my recommendations!