Selling a home is a mammoth task that requires you to make huge decisions, spend money, and put in significant time and effort. If you're looking to get top dollar for your home, you might also need to do some remodeling. For guaranteed success, you should choose renovations that offer the best possible value for money and the greatest appeal to SoCal home buyers.
The first thing to think about is the difference between renovation and maintenance. Keeping your house in the condition you bought it in doesn't add value. It just makes it more likely that you'll sell it. Put simply, maintenance can't add value, but failing to maintain can take it away.
If you want to really add value to your home before you sell, you need to think about which renovations will give you the most bang for your buck. There are very few renovations that will bring back all the money you put into them, but some will do better than others.
Get into the kitchen.
A dated or shabby kitchen can knock an enormous amount of value off a home. For many buyers, it's the most important room. Having an updated kitchen is also crucial, as it can be a costly renovation that most buyers won't want to take on themselves in a new home. The importance of getting your kitchen up to scratch can't be overstated. Even if you don't need huge renovations, a few simple touches, such as updated paint or fixtures, are a good idea.
Look outside.
Several of the best-performing home renovations involve the exterior of your home. These are generally cheap, easy, and offer a massive return on investment. Replacing your garage door has the highest chance of having your house sold for a higher price. It costs a few thousand dollars, but on average, it adds almost that entire value to the list price. Other high-returning projects include a coat of paint, a stone veneer, and updated landscaping.
However, installing dual-pane windows to increase heating efficiency does add value because buyers can perceive the benefit they'll receive from that improvement - lower heating fuel costs.
Stay neutral.
It's incredible how much a simple coat of paint can do for the value of your home, and even more amazing how much impact the colors you choose can have. Dark front doors add tons of value, while dark interiors can do the opposite. Avoid dark interior colors, and keep it light and neutral to best show off space and natural light. Keep the bright colors to accent walls or furniture. A red kitchen, for example, can take thousands off your list price.
Take a bath.
After kitchens, bathrooms have the most potential to take value off your home. This is because they have a higher chance than other rooms to have problems such as mold and damp, especially if the fixtures and fittings are old and dated. If you have any reason at all to think your bathroom might be damp, call in a contractor or purchase a floor scrubber if you want to do it yourself. Sorting it out will help you sell your house, and also prevent you from getting sick from the mold while you're still at home.
