Hi Alice, Fresh paint, carpet and appliances are great improvements to make prior to putting your home on the market, especially if these items are worn or dated. Many Buyers want peace of mind that they can move right into a home. with that being said, I actually visit my perspective Clients homes and go over which improvements will have the great impact and return on investment. Kelly Jackson RE/MAX Southwest 281-652-6873
When a client walks in they expect the house in top condition for the price they are going to pay. If you are an investor or handy man, you will look at it as a gem to rehab and move in. But most of the general population prefer a house to be in top condition when they move in. Paint, granite tops, carpet will have a huge impact and will aid to sell the property fast.
Alice I think most buyers want to purchase a home that they can just move in to - turnkey ready. Very seldom, unless the purchaser is an investor, do they want to "deal" with the extra time and or money to have it done. I have also learned that the majority of people cannot envision the outcome if it is not already done for them.
Depending on the price point of the home, you should concentrate in certain areas to get the most return on your investment. All homes fair better with a fresh, neutral coat of paint if the current paint is dated or worn. Focus on kitchens, flooring, master bathroom, and additional bathrooms, in that order. If it is a luxury home, also include outdoor kitchen/living space and landscaping to be competitive. Declutter and depersonalize the entire home. Most family homes will have enough 'extras' to fill a storage unit. The better a home shows, the more appealing it will be.
The benefit will depend on whether or not the home really needs carpet changed, new paint and upgraded appliances. Chances are, if the question is being asked then the answer is probably it needs to be done. :)
Today's Buyers are looking for properties they can move right into without making any changes (at least speaking for the majority of Buyers that I have worked with over the last year). There could be two properties side by side, one that is "turn key" and one that is not updated and priced significantly lower (even under market) and the one that is turn key will sell quicker at (or over) market simply because it felt fresh and was move in ready! Now, that's not to suggest that prepping a house to sell with fresh paint and carpet enables one to over price a house. The market in a particular area / neighborhood will always be the driving force for what a house sells for.
Today's Buyers also have more homes to choose from (more inventory on the market) and are taking longer to make a decision on a property. Anything a Seller can do to make his/her property stand out above the rest of the competition, the better. This includes not only the fresh feeling of paint, carpet / flooring, deep cleaning, updates to kitchen and master bath, but also includes the maintenance items (rotten wood, servicing HVAC, how's the roof, any leaks, missing boards in the fence, etc). Buyers will look for a reason to NOT buy a home and/or will start deducting off the price for all of these things.
So, in short, you want your property to stand out above the competition (the last thing you want is to help sell the competition!!) and you don't want to give Buyers a reason to keep looking or submit a low-ball offer.
Great question! First off you want to make sure your home is a neutral color because that way it appeals to all buyers because if you have colors in there some it may be too dark for, or they don't like the color you chose or it doesn't go with their furniture... I could go on and on for the reasons, so go neutral and it gets out pet odors and everyone likes neutral colors. No one wants old yucky nasty carpet so you must must update that. Appliances is not a must, but everyone likes stainless appliances and it's very elegant. Hope that helps Stacy Burgin | www.terrapointrealty.com
Great question - there is definitely an advantage to doing improvements in your home prior to listing. Buyers are frequently looking for move-in-ready. While this can often mean upgrades such as counter tops, it also means they are looking for a well maintained home with no surprises. If you have an old inspection report, look at correcting those items and take a critical eye as you walk around your home for any repairs that need taken care. Clean and well maintained homes sell quicker.
Your goal is to make your home stand out....and in a good way...compared to other homes. Buyer's need to imagine themselves in your space. Painting in neutral colors can assist this. Replacing any worn carpeting or appliances is also a benefit. I recently had a listing specifically put in a nice laminate as opposed to replacing their main floor carpeting. All other listings in their subdivision had the same carpeting, but laminate made theirs stand out and they didn't have to replace other carpet, which was in good shape, in order to match. You might also visit new home construction to get an idea of wall colors and how they decorate to get ideas.
The best advice would be to connect with a Realtor and have them walk through your property. They can give you their expert advice on what needs to be updated/upgraded and what you can save your money on. They can also recommend items to depersonalize and possibly rearranging furniture so your home will show at its best. I have worked with sellers even a year in advance to help them prepare for a sale - those that listened to advice given sold quickly and at the price they were targeting.
Great question! More and more I find my buyer clients heavily favor the more "turn key" properties! They love to see flooring that is very recent, if not new, and fresh paint on walls! While there may not be a huge actual monetary value to these items, I STRONGLY believe that these simple updates assist a property to sell for top dollar in the shortest amount of time. I think it is fairly important to stay with pretty neutral selections when replacing these items so that you appeal to the largest consumer audience. Side note: An amazing smell also makes an uncanny amount of difference. Appliances are not as important but could potentially help, especially in the kitchen. The kitchen is still one of the highest priorities on my buyer client's list, and when the kitchen has upgrades, such as granite countertops, it most definitely adds value in their eyes. For the most part, I would say anything that makes the property the most move-in ready will likely beget the highest price for a given home. Feel free to reach out to me for any other advice, questions, and/or information!
Hello Alice. More often than not, updating dated appliances, painting tired walls and replacing carpets will give a home a new feel. Buyers are not blind to this and are willing to pay more for a home updated VS one that is tired. Many Buyers today do NOT want to do this work. You as a Seller really don't want to do this either, but trust me as all of this and more can make your home sell quicker and at a higher price. However, don't forget repair issues such as a leaky roof or electrical outlets that don't work. Those items should be addressed as well. Before you spend one penny, you need to meet with an experienced Realtor. There are times when I suggest doing nothing. It depends on the neighborhood, price range, resources available and more. I keep a large list of contractors that I provide my clients so they can receive multiple bids on any project. I also can suggest alternatives (Granite for counters? Maybe re-surfacing of a laminate can be done and cost much less!). Hopefully the article link can help.
The house needs to be 'depersonalized' when you sell it. Nobody wants to leave in somebody else's house (and their stains on carpet, walls and appliances). Hence by cleaning the house and painting it neutral you provide that neutral feel to the house. Instead of picturing 'you and all your stuff' in the house, they start thinking about how they will personalize it to their taste.