"It's really nice, but it is not my style ....."
How much to upgrade before you put your home on the market is a valid thing to consider. Should you install solid countertops like granite, for instance, or price your home lower and offer decorating concessions to the buyers? The answer is not always in black or white, it is one of the idiosyncrasies, one of the Catch-22's of real estate. Doing all the upgrades before marketing it doesn't always mean the home will sell for more. WHAT!?!? While everyone likes having the work done before THEY take possession of your home, not everyone has the same taste or would target fixing the same items with the same amount of capital. For example, your next buyer might not care about granite countertops, but would love to upgrade with certain handicap friendly features instead. Our crystal ball is difficult to read to anticipate every buyer's needs or even whims. Hopefully, any good realtor showing your property will know their client's individual and specific needs and can point out the possibilities for upgrades that make your property a dream home for THEM! Remember, buyers are looking at this to be THEIR home, not YOUR home!
Don't misunderstand, an outdated home takes longer to sell and you will get less money for it than a comparably priced home which is more upgraded. Some of it boils down to what your home is competing with and its competitor's features. It is important that you check out the competition before you invest money into your home specifically for resale. If you have done upgrades to make it more pleasant to live in along the way, wonderful, you are already ahead of the game! However, before you spend big money to upgrade to resell, consider offering seller concessions. They may prefer a black roof to a white roof. The granite you chose, for instance, may not be the granite they would have chosen ... and therefore, doesn't really increase the value of your house to them.
Homeowners sometimes replace carpeting prior to selling their home, only to drive by after the sale and find their "new" carpet pulled out and at the curb. Maybe it was the wrong color or the buyer wanted hardwood flooring. Did it help the home sell for a higher price or in less time? Who knows? Not in that case.
This may sound 'contrary to popular belief', but an important part of selling your home is not just replacing what you have (unless it is truly worn-out, hopelessly dated compared to your competition, or smells). The most value for the buck you can invest in your home is to CLEAN IT, DECLUTTER IT, ORGANIZE IT and show it WELL MAINTAINED!
You have come to the right realtor to help you with these questions and decisions. As a professional who continually trains, I am a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB), Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES). Only six percent of all agents have the valuable designation of CRS while just one percent have the CRB designation. From my training and from my many, many years of experience with many buyers and sellers, I know that the proper preparation of your home PRIOR to your listing it is an important key to your success. I will help guide you in any way possible. BUT DON'T GO OVERBOARD! My job is to help you maximize your PROFIT on your home, not just your SALES price! There is a distinct difference between the two.
So, clean, organize, declutter down to the closets, and paint those walls. Wallpaper, while lovely, reflects YOUR taste, not theirs. Remove it! Have the carpets cleaned unless they are obnoxious, contain pet odors that can't be removed, or are REALLY worn. Fix what is broken. Consider replacing the bedding, curtains and towels on display (which you can take WITH you!). Replace some cabinets and drawer pulls and dated light fixtures. Clean up the yard, plant some flowers and add fresh mulch. Make sure everything is squeaky clean and smells great! Last but not least, let's make sure we price your home appropriately. That is the first big thing to draw them to your home. They will look at the other details after that.
In most cases, you don't really have to spend a lot of $$ to sell your castle. The best bang for the buck is the price of elbow grease and that is free!
You can trust the experienced professionals of Phyllis And Company to fulfill your real estate dreams today. Let us help you with property in Elizabeth City, Hertford, Camden, and Currituck. Call Phyllis at 252 339 5151 or Erin Nixon at 252 435 5043 !
