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What renovations should I make to my home before I sell it?

I'm about to list my house. I want to make some renovations so I can get the best sale price. What are buyers looking for? I'm pretty sure I want to put in new cabinets and tile in the kitchen.

Public Comments

1. just re paint a few walls. dont replace all the kitchen cabinets because that costs a lot just put new doors on them to modernise them. also if u have carpets hire a carpet cleaner for a day this can really freshen up your property
2. Kitchens and bathrooms are the big money makers. Don't put in a fiberglass shower/tub in the bathroom. Buyers want tile. If your cabinets are in good shape paint them if not replace them and put either hardwood or tile on the floor. Weather you put tile on the countertops or granite you will command a higher price than formica. Things like a new water heater or furnace add very little value.
3. work on the items that take up most of the appearance such as fixing and painting the walls, cleaning or installing new carpet, cabinets and drawers, lighting, ceiling fans, leaking pipes if any, and keep it extremely clean and tidy for open house viewing as it will help increase the sale value.
4. Everything mike said is on the money. If it's within your budget, you can do some landscaping too.
5. Most renovations cost more than they will raise the price of the house. Paint, maybe plant a few flowers out front to make the house more appealing from the street. Clean the carpets. Touch up paint on the eaves of the house and any posts you may have, again nothing major, no more than a gallon of paint or so. Your Realtor should be able to come in and tell you what to do, to make your house more appealing.
6. Paint, clean and make sure the landscaping is in great shape. Take all your extra furniture, clothing and decorations to Goodwill or a storage facility. Hire a maid before showing the home for that first open house. Buyers look at the bathrooms and kitchens first, but your taste in cabinets may not match and they are very expensive. Talk to your Realtor for recommendations before undertaking anything more expensive than refacing the cabinets. New tile would be great in the kitchen, but try to stay neutral to match those new cabinet fronts.
7. Repaint the walls to earth tones- that's a great selling point!
8. Go and view a few properties in your area that have a price tag similar to what you want to achieve. See what appeals to you about those properties and make adjustments to your own according to what you've seen.
9. I agree with the previous posters who suggested your biggest return for your investment will be improving the kitchen and bathroom(s). This doesn't mean a complete overhaul (unless these rooms are disasters.) Redoing a kitchen does get tricky, since door styles are influenced by personal taste. If you are going to redo your kitchen cabinets, perhaps try a modular system where the doors can be replaced with a different style. This flexibility could be a great selling feature! If you don't need to gut your cabinets, here are a few ideas for low cost improvements that make the room more inviting and sellable. Some may work for the bathroom too. -install inside cabinet lights in glass door cabinets. Think about installing some glass doors on wall cabinets if you don't already have them, and can do it without breaking the bank... this increases flexibility for a potential buyer for different functions in your kitchen. -install under cabinet task lighting so countertops can be well lit for tasks. -change out your faucets/taps/showerheads. -change out handles and knobs to cabinets. -update any lighting fixtures the above suggestions are unless it's vintage or totally unique, again, this could be a selling feature! Some sellers may be more apt to purchase "virgin" houses as it is easier to redo to their needs/style than to fix a previous owners well intentioned "fixes." Again, someone has already suggested speaking to your agent and seeing what other homes in your area and price have going for them. Also, make sure your home smells nice for viewings, especially the kitchen! Bake some cookies before, or use scented candles so your potential buyers can imagine themselves comfy in the space. Scent is a strong sense that works subconsciously to bring up memories and positive associations!
10. Loft Conversions are good, so are Garage conversions and Conservatories/ All of these add space to your house, but are pretty expensive. Easier stuff is Double Glazing, this adds around 4% apparently. Things such as new guttering, fascias etc can really improve the outisde look of the house, greta for first impressions. Finally kitchens and bathrooms will help a great deal. No need to go overboard, often just a new lick of paint will make a huge difference.
11. Try just refinishing the cabinets with lots of sweat labor to save money. Then, finish them off with very decorative moulding at the top. Save money on the cabinets, if you can, and put it into granite countertops. (Off-white cabinets with a golden-tan granite would look classic and clean.) Everyone wants granite, and laminite and tile countertops look outdated. If money permits stainless steel appliances are awesome. Also, redoing the bath is a great idea. Keep everything neutral in color, CLEAN and clutter-free.