We’ve all heard it before: Of all home improvement projects, updating kitchens and bathrooms adds the most value to your home. While those are valuable improvements, they may be financially unwise or otherwise unfeasible, depending on your reason(s) for needing to sell your home. So what else can you do to add some green to your wallet when you sell? The good news is there are plenty of ways to spruce up your kitchen and bathrooms without breaking the bank...as well as other minor improvements that will likely increase the value of your home when it comes time to sell.
Updating the Kitchen on a Budget
Regardless of whom you consult--Consumer Reports, HGTV, Forbes magazine, or just about any other resources--most agree that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where board games are won, flapjacks are flipped, school projects are constructed, and guests congregate during parties. The kitchen truly is the heart of the home--it's where families spend the most time together. It just makes sense to choose investing in your kitchen over any other area in your home.
Luckily for the budget-conscious, a kitchen facelift doesn’t have to be back-breaking or budget-busting. Begin by painting the cabinets a neutral color and replacing old cabinet knobs and pulls with up-to-fordate looking hardware. Next, replace kitchen faucets and light fixtures with more modern selections. Finally, declutter the countertops by putting small appliances like the blender, toaster oven, and coffee pot in cabinets. When agents give prospective buyers a tour of your home for sale, you want the kitchen to feel bright, clean, and open, with lots of space to prepare food and gather.
Next Update: Bathrooms
Updating the bathrooms throughout your home can increase your bottom line almost as much as refreshing and rejuvenating your kitchen, and "quick fixes" are just as easy and inexpensive. Replace old plumbing fixtures and light fixtures with more current options, paint the cabinets a neutral color, and replace outdated cabinet hardware. Clean the tile grout in all showers--this is a signal to potential buyers that your home has been well maintained. Throw a coat of neutral-colored paint onto the walls and add a few finishing touches like fluffy new towels; soft, clean rugs; and scented hand soaps. Voila! Refreshed and ready to sell.
Now, Adding Value in the Rest of Your Home for Sale
Whether you have lived in your home for two years or 32 years, it's a fact that you probably suffer from a problem we all have: JUNK!! Decluttering your home can be one of the most inexpensive and beneficial ways to fix up your home before you list it for sale. A few simple ways to tidy up so prospective buyers can fully appreciate specific features of your home include:
- Showcase windows, moldings, mantels, and other architectural features by removing clutter and rearranging furniture that interferes with these home features.
- Clean out closets and cabinets...it’s time to purge. Hang wire shelving for a reasonably priced solution, as home buyers want storage. Give them what they want!
- Remove old or overly large furniture to give the feeling of space throughout the home. Rework rooms to fit the current market demands; for example, replace a formal dining room's mahogany table with a contemporary desk and bookshelves and call the dining room a “study.”
- Organize your attic and garage spaces, and remember to purge here too!! Less “stuff” is definitely more money in your wallet when it comes to selling your home.
- Add furniture to an empty patio area or rockers to a front porch. Speaking of porches, cluster a few colorful potted plants in an area on the porch or patio to make the space look cheerful and welcoming.
- Last but not least, it's important to depersonalize your home before you list. What does this mean? It's pretty simple: Take down most family pictures, awards, and certificates. You want home buyers to feel at home, as if they could live in your home. Don’t worry, gone for now doesn’t mean gone for good, as you will enjoy these personal items anew in your new home!
I hope we've shown you that while preparing your home to sell can be intimidating, it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune or take months to complete. Prioritize your “to-do” list and spend money wisely. Most importantly, make your home feel inviting before each showing. Make those faucets and floors shine, play some relaxing music, set out fresh-baked cookies...then let your home and real estate professional do the rest!
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