Inexpensive Home Improvements that Payoff

Inexpensive Home Improvements

When buyers pull up to your Central Texas home they have already started sizing your property up, even before the car doors have shut. Curb appeal, presenting a positive first impression, is of the utmost importance when selling a home. A mowed lawn, manicured landscaping,  fresh mulch and colorful flowers go a long way and at a minimal expense.

One of the first impressions of the property shouldn’t be walking up to a front door full of cobwebs, mud dauber nests, burned out lighting or broken doorbells.  So don’t forget about the front entry way. Make sure everything works, sweep out the dirt & cobwebs, set out fresh potted plants and adding a new door mat helps. Touching up the paint and caulking can make a huge difference as well.

Home Sellers Guide • Marketing Plan • Getting a Home Ready to Sell

Kitchens

Kitchens sells homes! A dated, worn out kitchen is definitely going to be reflected in lower offer prices. The average home, a DIY person can replace most of the built-in appliances in the kitchen for $3,000 to $4,000. You should be able to install a new sink and kitchen faucet for $800 or less. The quickest, most inexpensive kitchen updates include painting, new counter tops and new cabinet hardware. Don’t forget to organize your pantry and keep the  counter tops clear as much as possible.

Master Bathrooms

Master baths rank just as high as kitchens do for most buyers. Master baths in new homes today can resemble mini spas. Some quick, easy and inexpensive ideas a seller can do to freshen up their master bath include new lighting, new show towels and area rug. These few items can make a huge difference. De-clutter the counter tops and clean the heck out of everything. A little bleach poured down the drains can help kill odors. New caulk around tubs, showers and backsplashes are important too.

Master Closets

Master closets matter! Make sure this area is tidy and squared away when showing your home. It’s important to know buyers want more closet space and now days are impressed by the extras. Replace that builder grade light with a mini chandelier and add a built in chest of drawers or shoe rack. None of these closet upgrades are very expensive and can completely change the appearance of an everyday closet. It also helps to apply some of these ideas to other closets and storage areas within your home.

Care and Maintenance

Before thinking about a fancy upgrade to the kitchen or putting in those new floors, address the basics. Touch up attic insulation , repair leaking faucets, clean out the gutters, caulk the windows, replace missing/damaged screens and make sure irrigation is completely operational. These types of fixes go a long way toward adding value. Investing in maintenance and repairs not only makes sense, it could expedite a sale. Most real estate professionals will tell you, a well-kept home is very appealing to buyers and will net you the best offers.

You can also read another helpful blog post on “Getting your Central Texas Home Ready to Sell“.

Inexpensive Home Improvements that Payoff