7 Home Reno’s That Will Increase Your Resale Value Big Time

You want to make the most money possible when it comes time to sell your home. The way to do that is by improving and updating the things in your home that buyers look for the most.

We compiled this list for those looking to boost their resale value. It’s important to focus on the renovation projects that will net you the highest ROI. All of the projects on this list were chosen for their ability to produce high ROI as well as create a more desirable home. Remember – it’s important to make money. But it’s also important your house doesn’t sit on the market for a year.

Make these updates and you should fetch a high sale price, quicker than you would otherwise.

Remodel Kitchen

kitchenThe decision among real estate experts about where you get the highest ROI renovating your home is unanimous. The answer is in the kitchen. For some reason people just want nice kitchens and care about it more than the rest of the house… Maybe it’s because that’s where people like to entertain guests.

Your main priority when renovating a kitchen should be layout. Creating a structure (or bones) that is functional and can easily be updated is super important. It’s one thing to replace a counter-top and cabinet doors. It’s a different story to completely renovate the whole kitchen.

Once you get the structure out of the way, search for materials that have a high quality look without a big price tag. You can make a space look modern and luxurious without having to use marble and granite.

I have seen so many people put in expensive goodies and never fix the bad flow. Spend the money on the layout — it never goes out of style. If you have a great layout, plugging in new appliances, hardware and cabinets can be quick and easy.

Update Bathrooms

bathroomBathrooms are the second place buyers typically place the most value in a home. The good news is that making updates to a bathroom doesn’t have to cost a fortune. En-suite/master bathrooms are the most important. As they say, it’s where the magic happens. Cast a spell on potential buyers with a beautiful en-suite. That was really corny I know…

 

 

 

Re-do Plumbing

plumbCan we say structural problems? This is the #1 worry of all potential buyers. No one wants to move into a beautiful new house and have a disaster occur two or three months down the road. Re-doing your old piping and updating it to a newer plastic solution is a huge selling point. This removes some of the potential fear that comes with buying a home.

 

 

 

Remove Paneling and Stucco

panelWood paneling and Stucco are common in older homes. Mainly because when it was popular, we didn’t have walls without imperfections like we do now. Not only are these two things ugly, they also show potential buyers that you lack the ability to update your home. “If you can’t update this, what is is lurking?”

Spend the time and money to update your paneling walls and get rid of the Stucco.

 

 

Attic Renovation

atticAttic renovations are a popular choice among DIY projects as expenses can be minimized. In many houses you will have the bones for a room. All that is required of you is putting up walls and handling the cosmetics. Updated attics can sometimes be a stronger selling point than updated basements.

 

 

 

Replace Siding

sidingSince curb appeal is so important, it makes sense to focus on the biggest factor. The outside of the house. Everyone knows the dingy, yellow siding that used to be white 60 years ago look. If your house looks like that – sorry. It’s time to update.

For those on a budget you can also try power washing. Power washing sometimes brings better results than you could imagine. And it barely costs anything.

 

 

New Garage Door

garageIn addition to replacing/refreshing your siding and landscaping well, your garage door can play a big part in selling your house. It’s another element of curb appeal that can draw in or turn-off potential buyers.

Luckily, new garage doors re-coup on average 80% of their investment in the long term. Basically, it will help you break even (or make money) while making your house more desirable.

 

 

In Conclusion

You want to sell your home in the least amount of time and for the most amount of money possible. The way to do this is by performing renovations with a high ROI. In addition, you want to focus on the most desirable updates. Doing so will ensure you attract more interest on your property.

Each of these on the list may not be necessary or feasible with your budget. Remember that curb appeal, kitchens and bathrooms are important. If you can focus on nothing else, focus on those things. These projects will reduce your risk of losing money in the renovation process and also help you sell quicker.

 

Need more information on selling your home in the (insert community name) area? Give me a call!

About the Author

Most real estate agents don’t start their work careers in real estate. They come from some other industry, so there’s usually a lot of trial and error before they settle into a routine. But our path was a little different.


Prior to starting at Coldwell Banker in 1995, we worked in various other segments of the housing industry…in new homes, title and escrow and Rod even as a long-time weekly real estate columnist. So when we launched our practice, we were able to integrate that experience into our real estate practice from day one.


It was as title & escrow professionals that the light finally went on. We routinely saw countless instances where a little foresight by the real estate agent would have saved the client a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety. So many last-minute crises could have easily been avoided with proper care a few weeks earlier.



So we knew there had to be a place in this industry for someone who could anticipate potential problems ahead of time to keep those little pebbles in the road from turning into huge deal-threatening boulders.


As you can probably tell by our name, we’re husband and wife but we also work together as a real estate team. That means there’s always an extra set of eyes, ears, and hands to ensure that your real estate needs are handled properly and on time. Not to mention an extra dose of attention and compassion.


We’ve always taken a Golden Rule approach to our business by treating our clients with the same level of care that we’d expect if the roles were reversed. And that’s a huge reason why we’ve been fortunate enough over the years to receive so many referrals from happy past clients.


You’ll never hear us tell you we’re too busy to help or make you feel rushed or hurried to make a decision. Your real estate needs will always receive the attention they deserve. That’s a promise.


And while we’re always happy to make suggestions and provide advice, we never lose sight of the fact that you’re always the decision maker. Whether you agree with our recommendations or not, we’ll always represent and defend your decisions faithfully, honestly and professionally. That you can count on.


A real estate transaction is definitely a complicated endeavor but it doesn’t have to be an exercise in futility nor a 30-day financial and emotional roller-coaster ride. Let us guide you. We’ll introduce you to a style of real estate that most real estate clients never get to enjoy.