Preparing To Sell Your Home?
Consider These Architect-Recommended Upgrades Before You List
When preparing to sell your home, there are some “can't miss” upgrades that will help your home shine to potential buyers.
An important consideration in these is that you maximize the Return On Investment (ROI), meaning the upgrades payoff and you avoid wasting time and money or ineffective upgrades. A basic rule of thumb is to consider mainstream preferences—set aside your own opinion.
“Be prepared to get rid of things you’ve done or personally upgraded in the house,” sayys Josh Palmer, licensed architect and co-founder of Delta Design Build in Boulder, Colorado. “It’s more than likely your style will not be something that is wanted by the general public, even if it was expensive or you personally installed it.”
The team at Delta Design Build suggests clients think about the main spaces when considering upgrades, such as the living room, the entryway, and the kitchen. “These spaces will be looked at most, people can look over a lot if they like those spaces,” says Palmer.
So where do you start? With Delta Design Build’s valuable insight.
Six of the most cost-effective upgrades you can do are:
Paint — It seems obvious, but a fresh coat of paint on the walls can instantly improve the feel of a home. Consider neutral colors that can instantly brighten up a space and make it feel clean and well-maintained. Paint can go a long way to freshening up your space.
Carpet — You may not initially think about it, but carpet is actually fairly inexpensive to replace. For many home-buyers, fresh flooring can help seal the deal as it helps the home feel even more like a fresh start.
Lighting — Lights are fairly easy to replace and can be economical. Ceiling lights in bulk can end up around $15-20/light or even sconces and pendants could be around $100 a piece from a box store or West Elm.
Door Hardware — Start with the front door. Make the first thing buyers touch on the house quality, sturdy, and modern. It’s possible they may not touch much else. If door handles are mis-matched throughout the house, consider replacing for a seamless look.
Cabinet Door Hardware — Much like mis-matched door handles, give the home a consistent appearance with matching, updated, cabinet hardware.
Hire a Professional Cleaner. It seems simple, but it’s worth it if you get a good company. There may be odors you do not notice, or you may have forgotten to clean hidden places. A strange odor or dirt will lessen a buyer’s excitement and tighten their wallet.
Lighting
Lights are fairly easy to replace and can be economical. Sconces and pendants could be around $100 a piece from a box store or West Elm.
If you have the time and the money, consider these upgrades:
Countertops — This can be done quickly and could make a dramatic change to a kitchen, but don’t buy the expensive counter. Some slabs can be as affordable as $800-900. Don’t go overboard here, most buyers cannot distinguish grades of quartz.
Smart home technology — Integrating smart home features like smart thermostats, lighting, security systems, and door locks can make your home more attractive to tech-savvy buyers. These features offer convenience, security, and energy savings, which can be appealing selling points.
Landscaping’s hidden cost
While curb appeal is important, elaborate landscaping projects can be costly and may not provide a significant return on investment.
What not to upgrade:
DIY Renovations — While there's nothing wrong with tackling home improvement projects yourself, poorly executed DIY renovations can actually decrease the value of your home. If you're not confident in your abilities, it's better to hire a professional to ensure the work is done properly. This will cost money and impact your ROI.
Designer Upgrades – beware of investing in high priced designer upgrades, such as lighting or plumbing fixtures. Most cannot differentiate and may not like these specialized upgrades as they sometimes look “different”.
Extensive landscaping — While curb appeal is important, elaborate landscaping projects can be costly and may not provide a significant return on investment. Landscape may help your project sell faster, but typically it will not increase the value. Focus on simple, low-maintenance landscaping that enhances your home's curb-appeal without breaking the bank.
Inside the walls — If you plan to live in your house for a while, upgrading the HVAC or insulation can be great upgrades that can be a great benefit. Unfortunately, most prospective buyers don’t take these kinds of upgrades into account.
Wildcard: What about structural issues?
It really depends here. It’s hard to give a definitive answer, but if you see or know about it, odds are it will come up in your inspection. Be prepared to handle this asap or deal with being negotiated with after the fact.
