While we are believers that a home should reflect the people who live in it, tell their story and be a place they feel most comfortable - we also know and appreciate that some day that home may become someone else’s. Whether it is a move for downsizing, right sizing or if a career takes you to a different state, keeping a move in mind when making renovations is just smart. When our clients ask for advice on resale friendly updates, we often consult with local realtors for their expertise. Here we asked local Keller Williams Real Estate Broker, Bridget Carroll to share her guidance:
1. If someone is considering a move in 5 years, but would like to update their home before then, do you have any tips that can help with resell?
We love when homeowners take the time to make improvements to their homes before they sell. Oftentimes we work with sellers months or years prior to listing their home, which is the best because they get to enjoy the improvements! We always focus on improvements with the highest return on investment, and with the lowest amount of hassle, as most homeowners thinking about selling don't want to take on a huge project if they are moving.
Here are the improvements we suggest the most often:
1. Painting! Makes a huge difference. Choose a neutral, light greige for rooms that are outdated. If there's a room with some fun color, but it is stylish and fun (think a Two Hands Interiors designed room, for example) absolutely that is fine, and will add value. We're talking sponge painted, bold outdated colors, peeling/faded wallpaper, etc......Paint it! Painting cabinets can also make a big impact.
2. Light fixtures. Changing out light fixtures can be so inexpensive, and makes a HUGE impact.
3. Bathroom mirrors. Take out old medicine cabinets and replace them with a simple rectangle or round mirror for a huge impact.
4. Flooring. I will sometimes suggest replacing carpet and/or refinishing flooring. The question is always if the hassle is worth the ROI, and most of the time it is.
5. Counters. This is often a larger ticket item, but replacing laminate or outdated granite counters with a more modern white quartz can make a big impact. Usually, the slabs purchased can also be used for the bathrooms, so that is what we suggest too.
The empty nester couple who renovated this kitchen knew they were only going to be in this home for a few more years. While their collection of blue and white chinoiserie inspired the color palette, we toned it down to be more universally appealing for resale purposes.
2. Before listing a home for sale, what updates do you usually recommend?
In addition to the items above, right before we list, a few months before the listing is when the heavy decluttering and prepping starts. We give a seller a room-by-room "to-do" list as part of our services. We ask a seller to try to remove emotion (sometimes this is hard!) and think of their home as a product for sale. If their motivation is to get the most money for their home (this is the goal of most!) then our plan is to make the home look like a beautiful model home so that a buyer gets emotionally attached when they walk in, that is when they are willing to pay the most! Each home has a custom plan to get it ready for potentials buyers to be able to see their family in the home - being able to look beyond the current homeowners taste and to see their own.
After a seller preps their home as much as possible, my stager Becky from Blue Hydrangea Home Staging comes in and installs any furniture, artwork, accessories, that are needed and gives it that final perfect touch. After that, we professionally photograph and get ready to list the property on the market. We are obsessive about presenting the home in the very best light possible, because once you put it out on the internet, you can't take it back, and first impressions are so important.
3. For second homes, do you offer any different tips for what renovations are worth the investment?
This will depend on what the strategy is for the second home. If the intention is to use it as a short-term rental, making some improvements can go a long way to making the most money out of your investment and I would give similar tips as if we were prepping to sell. Make sure it is clean, fresh, modern, and beautiful. Using durable materials like hardwood flooring, vinyl plank flooring, high-quality carpet is important for wear and tear. I would recommend investing in quality soft goods like mattresses and couches. You want your guests to feel comfortable and give you great reviews! Taking excellent professional photos for the online listing is essential. This doesn't mean you can't inject your own style and of course, enjoy the property when you use it.
For more on our series with local realtors, CLICK HERE.
To get in touch with Bridget and her team for any other questions, VISIT HER WEBSITE