Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Not All Home Improvement Upgrades Will Guarantee A Successful Sale

Many of us know that the average home buyer out there today would prefer to purchase a turn-key home (move-in ready). Buyers do not want to have to deal with new paint, new flooring or having to update certain rooms. But, as a seller, how do you know when you have over improved your home to the point that buyers may not be willing to pay extra for your upgrades?

Below are a few good suggestions to help you stay on track with your renovation projects, especially if you are planning to sell your home in the near future. However, if you plan on living in your space for a while there should be nothing stopping you from making it unique and exactly how YOU want it to be.

Outrageous Kitchen Renovations:

Although you may enjoy cooking on a huge stainless steel stove and having that extra space with that enormous island, it may be a turn off for a potential buyer. Buyers know that the value of a home will increase with those types of upgrades and most will not be willing to pay extra for an over the top $30,000 renovation.

Kitchens can be remodeled on a budget of around $1,000 and designed in such a way to appeal to most potential buyers while still keeping you satisfied with a beautiful space and quicker sale.

Extreme Bathroom Renovations:

Having a shower with numerous sprayers that hit you from all directions and a jacuzzi tub that could possibly fit 4 or more people, may start your day off great, but to a buyer who is wanting to conserve water, this renovation may not be the best.

Keep your bathroom upgrade modest with simple designs and basic new fixtures to appeal to a larger group of potential buyers.

A Pool/Hot Tub:

Having a pool or a hot tub can be a blast when you have friends and family over. But remember that a potential buyer will be crunching numbers to figure out how much it will cost to keep it maintained. You also need to keep in mind about homeowners insurance coverage. Either one could be a liability, especially for families with young children and that could affect their coverage.

A pool/hot tub will limit the number of people looking at your home. Only those wanting a pool or hot tub will become potential buyers when all other potentials could have been included if there was no pool or hot tub.

A Room Too Specialized:

Never, and I repeat never close in a perfectly functioning garage and make it a bedroom, family room, game room or whatever you so choose, if you plan on selling. Potential buyers WANT a garage. Let them decide if they want to convert the garage to a random room.

The problem is that once the garage has been converted, a potential buyer will see that as a pricey renovation project before they even decide to purchase the home. They will wonder, "where am I gonna park my car or store my tools and lawnmower"? Do not even allow them to have that thought cross their mind. However, if you plan on staying in our home and do not wish to sell, than you can make that garage anything you would like.

A home renovation or room upgrade can be tricky, especially when you know you will be selling and want to make sure you do not turn away potential buyers. To be sure you do it correctly, always stick to the basics. Neutral color on walls. Simple, small updates throughout your kitchen and bath, such as new knobs, fresh coat of paint on cabinetry and inexpensive new appliances and hardware.

You can really transform a room on a small budget and make it appeal just as much to potential buyers as you would if you would have payed more. However, the smaller budget choice will get you more foot traffic and a quicker sale.


Designed to Sell: Make any home the hottest property on the block with expert advice from the popular HGTV series


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