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Renovations and Repairs – Preparing Your Home For Selling
- By Andrew Szalontai
- Published 08/1/2008
- Home Selling
- Unrated
Andrew Szalontai
Andrew Szalontai is a Langley BC realtor and expert who has spent years buying and selling houses and real estate in Langley and Surrey. Please visit Andrew's website at http://www.mylangleyrealestate.com for more advice and tips on selling your Langley property.
View all articles by Andrew Szalontai
The first thing you should ask yourself when you decide to sell your house is “Should I renovate?” If your house is in dire need of repair work, then making some essential renovation work will typically translate to a good yield on your investment.
Doing some necessary renovation work on your condo unit or town house prior to listing it for sale is wise and highly advisable. It can be the best technique to get your home looking its best. Renovations and repair can ultimately help you sell your home faster and at a better price. However, before you begin any renovation work or repair job there are a small number of things that you should consider first.
Things such as:
Return on investment - Will the outcome of a particular renovation or repair work substantiate the time, cash and sweat that went into it? Before you start thinking about taking out the hammer and paint brushes you should pause for an instant and mull over this subject cautiously. A lot of renovation work does not justify itself. They more often than not fall short in enhancing either the pace with which your house sells or the selling price of your home.
Work quality - Do the repair work results appear professional? Giving your house a fresh coat of paint is a surefire way to make it more marketable, but only if the end result looks really swell. Purchasers will not be willing pay more for a badly done paint job. Lines should be straight and finishes must be constant. Likewise, an uneven or inadequately laid tilework will end up costing you time and money. If your knowledge and skills are adequate for you to do these kinds of tasks on your own, then you can definitely do so. If you are unsure of the quality of your work, it might be better to invest a small amount to get a professional.
What Not to Renovate - Do not start a big scale renovation without careful scrutiny. If your home is pretty well-kept, then it is doubtful to get your investment back by making things nicer. Renovation typically is a money loser. If it’s not necessary, don’t bother.
Be unvarying in your renovation work efforts. Keep in mind the lifestyle of the target demographic that is most likely to obtain your unit. A renovation attempt where the seller has obviously tried a little too hard to save money will undoubtedly be noticed. This will not have a helpful consequence and will just be a waste of time, money and effort.
What to Fix
Incomplete tasks - Partial
repairs or renovation work that has been started but hasn’t been finished yet certainly has to be attended to. The typical buyer is commonly not a visionary or an innovator. They won’t appreciate the worth of a three-fourths finished project. They will simply witness a big mess. It is always a smart decision to complete repair jobs and renovation works before putting your house up for sale.
Dim, passé or discolored painted interiors – Paint is possibly the best way your can spend your money on to improve your home’s appeal. Bear in mind though that the end result should look bright and professionally done. Light or neutral paint colors are generally a safer choice. Several researches indicate that darkly painted homes may take up to two times longer to sell as compared to homes that are painted in lighter hues. Light colors can also help make a room seem larger than it really is.
Water damage marks – These should be fixed right away. Water damage is on top of the list of things that potential buyers are avoiding. If there are any water marks from a small water problem before, make sure to take the time to paint and refinish to take away any and all signs of water damage.
Kitchens and Bathrooms – Aside from painting, there is probably nothing else that can give you a better return on your investment than making sure that your kitchen and bathrooms are in excellent condition. You must make it appoint that all bathroom fixtures and plumbing are functioning properly. The kitchen should be spotless and void of any unpleasant smells. If either of these rooms is looking worn or dated, it may be wise to attend to them immediately.
Cupboards and Closets – Your cupboards and closets should open smoothly. Doorknobs and hinges should be tightened and lubricated if necessary. Loose or clattering knobs and hinges give the impression that you are not very particular about maintenance. Fix or replace such items right away.
Faucets and light switches should be shiny and clean. If simple cleaning doesn’t do the job then replacing them is the best inexpensive option.
If your cabinetry is looking shabby or behind the times and you don’t have enough money to replace them, the next best option is to refinish or repaint the doors. You can also swap the old and dated cupboard handles for more contemporary ones.
On the other side it is not advisable to overspend. Do not spend enormous amounts of money in a room or area. One room should not stand out too much while other rooms are noticeably simpler. Keep in mind that you are supposed to create a consistent feel all through the house.
Doing some necessary renovation work on your condo unit or town house prior to listing it for sale is wise and highly advisable. It can be the best technique to get your home looking its best. Renovations and repair can ultimately help you sell your home faster and at a better price. However, before you begin any renovation work or repair job there are a small number of things that you should consider first.
Things such as:
Return on investment - Will the outcome of a particular renovation or repair work substantiate the time, cash and sweat that went into it? Before you start thinking about taking out the hammer and paint brushes you should pause for an instant and mull over this subject cautiously. A lot of renovation work does not justify itself. They more often than not fall short in enhancing either the pace with which your house sells or the selling price of your home.
Work quality - Do the repair work results appear professional? Giving your house a fresh coat of paint is a surefire way to make it more marketable, but only if the end result looks really swell. Purchasers will not be willing pay more for a badly done paint job. Lines should be straight and finishes must be constant. Likewise, an uneven or inadequately laid tilework will end up costing you time and money. If your knowledge and skills are adequate for you to do these kinds of tasks on your own, then you can definitely do so. If you are unsure of the quality of your work, it might be better to invest a small amount to get a professional.
What Not to Renovate - Do not start a big scale renovation without careful scrutiny. If your home is pretty well-kept, then it is doubtful to get your investment back by making things nicer. Renovation typically is a money loser. If it’s not necessary, don’t bother.
Be unvarying in your renovation work efforts. Keep in mind the lifestyle of the target demographic that is most likely to obtain your unit. A renovation attempt where the seller has obviously tried a little too hard to save money will undoubtedly be noticed. This will not have a helpful consequence and will just be a waste of time, money and effort.
What to Fix
Incomplete tasks - Partial
Dim, passé or discolored painted interiors – Paint is possibly the best way your can spend your money on to improve your home’s appeal. Bear in mind though that the end result should look bright and professionally done. Light or neutral paint colors are generally a safer choice. Several researches indicate that darkly painted homes may take up to two times longer to sell as compared to homes that are painted in lighter hues. Light colors can also help make a room seem larger than it really is.
Water damage marks – These should be fixed right away. Water damage is on top of the list of things that potential buyers are avoiding. If there are any water marks from a small water problem before, make sure to take the time to paint and refinish to take away any and all signs of water damage.
Kitchens and Bathrooms – Aside from painting, there is probably nothing else that can give you a better return on your investment than making sure that your kitchen and bathrooms are in excellent condition. You must make it appoint that all bathroom fixtures and plumbing are functioning properly. The kitchen should be spotless and void of any unpleasant smells. If either of these rooms is looking worn or dated, it may be wise to attend to them immediately.
Cupboards and Closets – Your cupboards and closets should open smoothly. Doorknobs and hinges should be tightened and lubricated if necessary. Loose or clattering knobs and hinges give the impression that you are not very particular about maintenance. Fix or replace such items right away.
Faucets and light switches should be shiny and clean. If simple cleaning doesn’t do the job then replacing them is the best inexpensive option.
If your cabinetry is looking shabby or behind the times and you don’t have enough money to replace them, the next best option is to refinish or repaint the doors. You can also swap the old and dated cupboard handles for more contemporary ones.
On the other side it is not advisable to overspend. Do not spend enormous amounts of money in a room or area. One room should not stand out too much while other rooms are noticeably simpler. Keep in mind that you are supposed to create a consistent feel all through the house.