Home Improvement Guide

Choosing The Most Cost Effective Improvements

Here are some easy, and more complex, home improvements. Your REALTOR® should be able to tell you which make sense for your particular home. Be careful to check with your local authorities for any approvals or permits needed.

Easy Stuff

Painting – Inside

If walls are dingy or colors don’t match or seem appropriate anymore, a few coats of an inexpensive neutral shade of paint may make a big difference. Be careful about wallpaper and radical paint schemes.

New Sinks and Faucets

Replace worn and rusty faucets, or outdated styles.

New Door Hardware

Appropriate as long as the equipment fits the existing door and matches the home’s style and other doors.

More Involved

Carpet and Flooring

If it’s really in bad shape, a replacement may be appropriate, but consider that not all buyers may like your choice. An alternative strategy might be a cash credit at closing for the cost of a suitable replacement. Many investors replace all the flooring with new tile, but usually the carpeting was in extremely bad shape beforehand.

Kitchen or Bath Remodel

Updating an old kitchen or bath can be costly, and you should not expect to get your expenses back. There are certain property types where a major update may be more appropriate, and desired by buyers. Your agent should be able to advise you.

Room Expansions, Additions

A major expense and undertaking, but may be worthwhile if the available square footage in your home is small. However, consider that buyers have other options, and may prefer newer homes that are designed differently – not just with more room but higher ceilings and more modern layouts. Always consider the competition in this case, unless your expansion is for your own use and dictated by family needs. (Consider also that it may be better to move instead of building on to your home)

Pool

Add a pool if you will use it. Pools do not return their investment, some buyers shun them because of the maintenance or safety concerns, and they require constant maintenance. Lack of a pool may reduce the number of interested buyers, but not significantly.