Which renovations will give me the best sale value for my home?

I hear this question a lot when I begin the process of helping a client list their property for sale. Though the question is usually framed this way, I have discovered that what most clients seek are clues on decent upgrades that will make the best impression on buyers in order to ensure that their properties sell faster at 100 percent or more of asking price. For intending sellers, know that there are definitely ways you can have your home ready for sale on a low budget.

Start from the exterior by improving the curb appeal: keep your lawn freshly mowed and edged; you can hire someone to do this for you, under $40, if you can’t do this yourself. Refresh the paint of your door and if you can, paint the trims of your house. Rent a power washer and pressure wash your driveway, patios, and decks. Add some fresh mulch to your flower beds; clean out the backyard.

Refresh the Interior: The best way to start with an interior refresh is to declutter your home, including the garage. For less than $100 in most cities in the US, you can get storage space for about 2 months. Move the extras from your house into the storage, and give the stuff you have not used in a while or would never use again to Goodwill. Paint the whole interior. New paint has a magical way of brightening a home as well as covering all the wear and tear from daily use. Stage the interior, using your existing furniture; you will be surprised how space and a fresh coat of paint livens the property. For $200, you can clean the carpet or polish the wooden floor.

Buyers love kitchens – make yours stand out: I believe that stainless steel appliances are attention grabbers! Update your appliances if you have not done so in a while. Shop for sales! I recently sold a townhouse that needed a new stove; my client and I scoured appliance stores until we found a high-end LG stainless steel electric stove for under $500, a floor model at Home Depot that completed the stainless steel LG appliance suite. After my client polished the appliances, potential buyers needed sunglasses to enter the kitchen!

Pay attention to your bathrooms: Do not spend hundreds of dollars to upgrade toilet seats that will not impress. Instead, deep-clean your bath tub, toilet, and vanities thoroughly with baking soda and cleaning vinegar, scrub the tiles and grout, trash old shower curtains, toilet brushes, and floor mats. If you have problems with a faucet, spend $40 to get a nice one at Lowe’s or Home Depot; buyers pay attention to things like that.

The refresh that you make to your home will depend on how much of an upgrade you need, and what your budget is. The areas I pointed out above are those that I believe can you can do quickly and on a low budget. From my experience, these will give you the best bang for your buck.

I am always here to help you navigate your real estate journey; you can check out my website at www.nashvillearearealtor.com for more on how I am #heretohelp.