What To Upgrade In Your Home Before You Sell
Your home is probably your biggest investment, so when you finally make the decision to sell it, you’ll want to get the best return you can. You’ll want to make renovations to boost your home’s value, but not all renovations are created equal.
Here are a few renovation ideas that will deliver you the best bang for your buck and turn your home into an investment that will truly pay off.
Improve Energy Efficiency
More and more, home buyers want an energy-efficient home — a survey in California found that energy-efficient homes sell for 9% more than homes that are less efficient. Given that the average home price in the United States is approaching $200,000, we’re talking about tens of thousands in increased sale price.
A Remodeling.com survey found that homeowners can recoup 116% of the costs of attic insulation, and that’s just the beginning of the upgrades you can make. LED lights are getting cheaper and cheaper, and have a substantial appeal to new buyers since they’ll last virtually the lifetime of the house. Upgrading HVAC, water heaters, and windows is cheaper than installing solar panels, and EnergyStar-rated appliances will quickly pay for themselves in reduced energy bills.
And the sooner you make those upgrades, the more you’ll recoup in utility savings. Even if you don’t intend to sell for another few years, the upgrades are worth making.
Clean Up The Exterior
First impressions are key, and that first impression is made before a prospective buyer even walks through the front door. That doesn’t mean you have to paint the whole house — a quick power wash will rejuvenate your house without much investment. Even repainting the front door or investing in a new garage door will seriously reinvigorate the appearance of your home without a massive investment.
Fix Up Your Flooring
Flooring makes a huge difference in the perception that potential buyers have of your house. If you’ve been living in your house for a few years, raised kids or dogs there, and spent a few years wearing down the carpets, it’ll show. You might not be able to tell, but a stranger certainly can.
New carpet is a relatively minor investment and can make all the difference between a home that looks lived in and a home that’s ready for a whole new family. It’s also a cost that the new owners won’t have to foot themselves, which can be a huge appeal for buyers that don’t want to spend any time on renovations themselves before they move in.
