Home Improvements before Sale

Goals 

  • Increase home value: on average $40,000 investment can increase $200,000 or more in the sale price. 
  • Should be fit and attractive to buyers
  • Avoid disappointment and leave no uncertainty from buyers

Important Areas

 
  1. Curb appeal
  2. Clean, vacant, staging
  3. Front door and door hardware
  4. Paint exterior and interior
  5. Floors
  6. Kitchen: counters, cabinets, and appliances
  7. HVAC cooling and heating systems
  8. Bathrooms
  9. Staging

Please check out our managed home improvement projects.

In addition, please consider:  
  • Features and amenities influenced you the most when you decided to purchase this home
  • Upgrades/repairs Permits and Records especially in past 5 years
  • Items included in the sale
  • It has been statistically proven that properly staged homes have sold 2 to 3 times faster and for 3-10% more than homes that have not been staged.
  • Staging usually follows current interior trend which is viewed by most buyers as beautiful. Staging helps sell those dreams and creates a more emotional purchase by assisting buyers visualize them living in the home.
  • Staging also shows that the home is a turn key as potential buyers don’t want to see work that needs to be done upon moving into the home. 
  • 14 Reasons to Stage Your House Before You Sell It



  1. 1. HVAC Cooling and Heating Systems （103%）

  2. Garage Door Replacement （102%）

  3. Exterior Stone Veneer or New Vinyl Siding （102% and 94.7%）

  4. New Entry Door (100%)

  5. Minor kitchen remodel: (88%)

Improvements that yield the smallest return

  1. Windows, vinyl: 68.5%. For wood windows: 61.2%.
  2. Midrange bathroom remodel: 66.7%.
  3. Shingled roof: 61.1%.
  4. Deck: 50.2%.
  5. Metal roof: 48.9%.

References:

  •  
1. Poor curb appeal: Much is made of curb appeal, and for good reason: It’s your home’s handshake, the critical first impression that lasts with most buyers. Every little detail counts.
  • Totally trim and edge your yard to get it into the most immaculate condition you can.
  • Freshly mulch the beds and trim the trees.
  • Power-wash the exterior
  • Don’t leave mud dauber and wasp and bird’s nests in your eaves and above your doors.
2. Dirt: The home should be neat and clean and free of all debris. Nothing turns off a buyer quicker than a dirty house.
  • Steam-clean tile and grout
  • Replace old and smelly carpets, shampoo relatively new carpets
3. Odors: Make sure your home smells fresh and inviting. It’s said buyers buy with their noses.
  • Kitchen: Don’t cook fried food, fish or greasy food while the house is on the market.
  • Living room: has the most fabric, so that is where odors get absorbed.
  • Pet Plan”: Eliminate all traces of pets, not just pet odors. Make sure the pets are not around when the house is shown.
  • Smoker Plan”: Remove all ashtrays, clean all curtains and upholstery, and consider smoking outdoors while your home is on the market.
4. Clutter: Whether inside or out, less is more when it comes to clutter.
  • Closets should be half-full with nothing on the floor.
  • Kitchens and built-in bookshelves should showcase spaciousness by following the rule of three. For kitchens, there should be no more than three counter top appliances. Meanwhile, bookshelves should be divided into thirds: one-third books, one-third vases and pictures, and one-third empty.
  • The home office should be very generic so any type of professional can imagine living there. It should also be easily changed into another use such as a bedroom.
  • Kid room: pack away extraneous “kiddie litter” and keep a laundry basket handy.
5. Too many personal items
  • Eliminate personal items, including family photos, personal effects and even unique colors.
  • Place a mirror strategically so that people can actually see themselves in the home, so they can actually picture themselves living there.
6. Snoopy sellers: buyers alike generally bristle when the seller greets them at the door for a showing.
  • Provide convenience for showing.
  • Avoid meeting with potential buyers
7. Misrepresenting your home Don’t raise buyers’ expectation too high online.