There are certain things you can do before selling your home that will instantly up the value and increase the chances of selling it more quickly. No home is perfect before hitting the market and there is always a long list of things you’d like to do before selling, but it’s just not doable. Most people choose a few projects to complete before listing their house and take the loss on many of the other things.
But what upgrades are more beneficial than others? We chatted with Chris Kirshenboim, an experienced real estate agent and Local Home Buyers in St. Louis, to get his insight into what upgrades you should definitely look into before selling your home.
Here’s what he told us:
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The kitchen is the most used room in the house, which makes it the most important room in the house. If you want to really win over a potential buyer, then it can happen in the kitchen. This is the room where small things can make or break a sale, like the amount of storage, the color of the countertops, or the age of the flooring. Throw in the importance of included appliances and you can quickly understand how important the kitchen is to any sale.
The kitchen cabinets are an area that Chris mentioned was particularly important to many clients he has worked with over the years. They take up so much space in a kitchen, and can really dominate the room, which makes them very important.Consider upgrading them if you can or, at the very least, throw a fresh coat of paint on them. It can change the scope of your entire kitchen.
Outdoor space is always important to a potential home buyer and because people see it as the only outdoor space to gather in, the deck can be a dealbreaker. Try your best to make it look fresh, strong, and inviting.
This really comes down to a case-by-case basis and homeowners should look at their own deck and make a decision. Replace necessary deck boards, put on a new railing or – if you can – replace the entire thing.
Bright interior doors are all the rage right now and if you don’t have them, then your home will look outdated. You should either paint your interior doors or replace them with new ones. If you close them for visitors, then you can give a better first impression to whoever is seeing it for the first time.
Similar to what we talked about above, the countertops in your home are very important. Styles change quickly and it’s easy to spot an old, used up countertop when viewing a house for the first time.
Chris Kirshenboim recommends you consider changing countertops in the kitchen and bathroom if you can. Something bright is in style these days.
The front door and main entrance is the first thing potential buyers will see and be able to touch. If they step onto a creaky step and push open an old, battered door, it’s not the most inviting first impression you can imagine.
Instead, you want to give them the impression of an updated, strong, and high-quality main entrance. Walk up to it with a fresh mind and think about how you can make it look and feel better.
Every home is a little different and potential upgrades really come down to the home and the person who is selling. Do you want to put in some money before selling and raise the asking price? Or would you rather sell at a lower price and eliminate the need to complete upgrades? Chris says it depends on the home you own and the market you live in.
Consider your options and do your right research before making your decision.
