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How Much is Too Much to Fix up Your House?
As with any resale product, the person trying to sell said product will
usually try to make the product look as new as possible to ensure the
highest profit available. In reviewing many of the homes on the market
today, however, some sellers don't get that notion.
Don't make the
mistake of the seller who, knowing full well that buyers were coming
by, not only failed to do a fresh clean up, but also left his underwear
on the exercise bike, a pan of crusty macaroni and cheese on the stove
and debris throughout the yard.
There are some
task items any seller should consider when selling a house. Even if you
decide to sell "as is," a little soap and water could put a few more
bucks in your pocket. With that in mind, let's look at what sellers
should look at doing with any house they want to put on the market;
what to do when you want to get a little more money; and how to compete
with the Joneses when looking to prepare your home for sale.
Any House
All homes
going on the market should receive a deep cleaning. This is the
cleaning that you do when -- well, you would never do it unless you're
selling your house (or you're just an absolute neatnik. This involves
scrubbing every cranny of the house. Nothing goes unscrubbed. I would
suggest bringing in a professional group to get this done and plan on
spending a couple hundred bucks (maybe more) to get the house ready for
your new buyer.
Next, declutter the house. Go ahead and rent a huge
storage unit and fill it up. Plan this with a bunch of pre-made boxes
that have lids you can tape shut and label. Take extra kid's toys to
charity. Donate all clothes that are even a bit too tight or out of
date. Remove excess furniture (or even cover with matching covers).
Repair and paint where needed. As with most homes
that have been lived in, that would be all of them. Walk through a new
construction home to see what you're up against and then go and make
yours look as best you can on your budget.
Landscaping. Thankfully, mulch and flowering plants
don't really cost a lot of money for those who are just sprucing up.
Before going out and paying for a designer-created landscaping job,
start with the local garden center and get some free advice on how to
spruce up on a budget. Fresh, flowering plants (even in fall and
winter) can make the house look oh-so much better.
Even if you're selling as-is, the above four tips are a must. Next is where we spend a little more money.
Redecorating
Renewed color. Giving your house a makeover doesn't
have to cost you a second mortgage. The first item to consider for
rehab is your color selection. While the traditional advice is "go
vanilla," professionally selected colors (not too bold) can make a
"nice" house into a "wow" house.
Flooring is one of the best moderately priced
upgrades a seller can install to make a huge difference. Like I said,
make your house a "wow" by making that first great impression with new
carpet.
Replacing dated items. Sometimes replacing certain
items in the house is really more like maintaining your home instead of
upgrading it. Items like windows, doors, light fixtures, faucets, door
hardware, etc., need upgrading and replacing periodically. A walk down
the light aisle at your favorite hardware store reveals this could be
done on a budget.
Keeping up with the Joneses
At some point you have to look at what the neighbors are doing
and keep up or you'll lose out. If everyone in the neighborhood is
ripping out the old and installing the new (kitchen, bath, carpet,
doors, etc.) then you may be forced to do the same thing long before
you're thinking of putting your home on the market.
Redo, Remodel, Relax
As you look around the house, making your list of things to
change before putting the house on the market, remember to create some
time to enjoy your new digs before selling the place. If a sale is on
your horizon and you must redo the landscaping before putting the house
on the market -- do it early so you can drive home to the
professionally designed flowerbeds and floral creations a few months or
years before selling it to someone else.
While you want to repair, paint, remodel and add on to your
house because it adds value to your home, every homeowner should
especially do it because they want to enjoy the changes as well.
Written by M. Anthony Carr
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