Living in a home causes wear and tear. This is true for any family or person. This wear and tear can lead to problems that need to be fixed before the home is sold. The problem, of course, is you don’t want to spend more money than you can recover on the sale. With that in mind, here are some priority areas.
The first thing to fix is the landscaping. Why? It is the cheapest. The biggest investment is typically your time and effort. Yes, you’ll need to buy some plants and such, but the total cost is usually far less than $1,000. Upgraded landscaping, however, can completely change the curb appeal of your home. A common tactic with apartment building investors is to do just this. They buy the building, upgrade the landscaping and turn around and sell. Follow their lead!
The next area to focus on is the roof. Any home inspection is going to focus on the roof. Problems that are found can lead to big disputes between you and the buyer. Deal with the issues up front. Have your roof inspected and fix problems before you put the property on the market.
Upgrading the plumbing should be another step you consider taking. Buyers know to ask about it even if they are not entirely sure why. The cost of fixing or upgrading your plumbing can actually be very reasonable, so make sure to give it a look. It can make the difference between a buyer making an offer on your home or a neighbor’s.
The kitchen is a focal point of every home. Your goal should be to figure out inexpensive upgrades that make a difference. If there is a broken or older appliance, replace it. Replacing cabinets can be a good, but expensive, move. Try replacing counter tops to immediately change the impression given by the kitchen.
There are many other small changes you can make throughout a home that will always make a difference. The goal is to get the most bang for your buck and always make sure you can recover what you spend when the home is sold.
Raynor James writes about issues surrounding FSBO properties for FSBOAmerica.org where you can always view properties across the country absolutely free.
