Everyone has an opinion on what to do to make a home sell better, and more importantly, at a price that will make a seller happy. My opinion, and observation in over 32 years of selling homes in San Antonio, TX is that in order to recoup the most on your remodeling, or home improvement investment, you should do only what is necessary to make your home more saleable, without spending a lot of money.
Interior and exterior painting, new flooring, minor kitchen upgrades, primarily appliances and counter tops if they are old and might have a negative impact on a home’s ‘showability’ should be in the forefront of all remodeling jobs. Bathrooms can usually be spruced up enough without spending more than you might get in return. Lighting is important, and of course, with better lighting, you might want to look at the fixtures. Tubs and showers, unless they are in obvious need of replacement, can usually be made presentable with a little bit of caulking and elbow-grease.
Some improvements, which won’t usually bring a full return on your investment, but are often necessary, include a new roof and an upgrade on an air conditioning system. Repairs and improvements of these types do add a competitive advantage to a home being sold, and will often reduce the time the home stays on the market.
Other improvements, which fall into the above category, i.e., they don’t bring a full return on investment, should usually be avoided. Adding a deck to a home, vinyl siding, or room additions, etc., are unnecessary expenses if you are planning to sell your home in the near future, and will almost always result in a negative return on your investment, unless you do all the work yourself.
Landscaping is important, but only to the extent that it will be the ‘icing on the cake.’ I’ve never sold a home with exceptionally nice landscaping if the home itself left a lot to be desired. Keep the lawn mowed and watered if you're in a dry climate like San Antonio, TX, and plant some flowers.
Put your money into the‘showability, factor and you'll reap the greatest benefits. At least in San Antonio, TX this requires minimum effort and cost, and is usually the deciding factor when two homes of otherwise equal value are being considered by a buyer. Most important of all, play Mr. or Mrs. Clean in keeping your home spotless while you are trying to sell.
For other articles by Ed Barrett, go to: www.EdBarrettHomefinder.com. If you are thinking of selling your home in San Antonio, TX,. Ed Barrett Realtors is offering a full service brokerage fee of 5%, to include a professionally designed virtual tour.