When in the business of selling, it’s only natural that you’d want to get the top dollar for your house. But the truth is, selling as-is will hardly get you the offer you desire. In most cases, to get the most out of the sale, you must put in a little more work into it. And by work, we mean improving the place so that its value increases. Sounds tempting, doesn’t it? Still, how do you make a difference between the projects that are worthy of your time and money and those that aren’t? Simple! Coming towards you are the most profitable home improvements to make before selling your Seattle home. These will help you close the deal in an easier and faster way, all while ensuring you get adequately compensated.
Home Improvements to Make Before Selling Your Seattle Home That Are Bound to Yield Results (And Profit)
Now, you are probably thinking about how the most profitable improvements equal the ones that are the most expensive to execute. Luckily, there’s barely any truth in that. The projects that are the topic of today’s discussion involve little outside help and more doing-it-yourself.
#1 Re-Painting the Walls
Looking for the cheapest upgrade that might make a huge difference? Your prayers have been answered as that’s precisely what repainting the walls will do for your house – and wallet. On the list of projects with the highest return on investment, reapplying paint ranks first. Considering the stated, it’s no wonder why almost half of all sellers choose to repaint the interior before putting the property on the market.
You could be leaning towards vibrant hues, but it’s best to stick to the neutrals when the goal is to sell. Professional stagers recommend various shades of grey, beige, and white, as they are the easiest to paint over. Furthermore, they are simple to match and, in the eyes of buyers, appear as something of a ”blank canvas”.
The actual costs of the job will depend on whether you hire professionals to handle it or opt to have the house repainted yourself. Should you decide to go with the pros, expect to pay anywhere between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the size of the house. On the other side, if you are handy with the brush, your expenses will be significantly lower, as they’ll include nothing but paint costs.
#2 Improving Curb Appeal
What’s the first thing buyers notice while on their way to the house? That’s right, the curb. Unsightly curb can easily deter them. Plus, it’s bound to bring the price of the property down. Let’s not let it come down to that. Instead, pull up your sleeves (or have somebody else pull theirs) and start working on improving curb appeal.
Most of the work around the yard can be done by you, which is why it’s considered one of the most profitable home improvements to make before selling your Seattle home. If you’ve been keeping up with regular maintenance, your job will undoubtedly be easier. If not, then you better start mowing the lawn, trimming the shrubs, and replanting flowers as soon as possible. As an alternative, look to professional landscaping services – if you’ve got money to spare, that is.
#3 Flooring Upgrade
Many sellers choose to upgrade the flooring before putting the house on the market. While hardwood floors are the preferred choice, at the same time, they are quite costly to install. However, to freshen things up a bit, you don’t necessarily need to replace the floors. New carpeting has the same value-boosting effect, with an added bonus. It costs a fraction of what hardwood flooring does!
On average, you should expect to spend between $8 and $12 on a carpeting upgrade. That’s per square foot, costs of installation included.
Now, between prepping for the sale and planning for the relocation, money could be tight at the moment. Despite it being possible to stumble upon affordable moving assistance through bestlongdistancemovers.com and similar websites, relocations are still rather expensive. If you find yourself struggling to get by, recarpeting could be out of the picture. In that case, have the existing carpeting thoroughly cleaned or the floors refinished. A stylish rug might also do the trick.
#4 Minor Bathroom Improvements
A large-scale bathroom remodel is extremely expensive and not the most profitable home improvement out there. On the other hand, minor upgrade yields necessary results in terms of both looks and profit. Having the cabinets, taps, and tiling replaced is one way to go about it. On the other hand, repainting the same-old cabinets and cleaning the grouts might suffice. If the tub happens to be worn out, instead of replacing it altogether, have it reglazed.
#5 Replacing Light Fixtures
Nobody likes living in the dark. If the house doesn’t have sufficient lighting, you could have a hard time selling it. That’s why it might be worth it to up your lighting game. Make sure the house is adequately lit and has all three types of lighting included: ambient, task, and accent. You could invest in new fixtures, chandeliers, and lamps, or you could refresh the existing ones and reposition them instead.
As far as new fixtures are concerned, scour shops like Home Depot and Ikea as they might have models selling for less than $100 at a time. While you might be able to install them yourself, considering you’d be dealing with the electricity, it’s better to leave the installation in the hands of a professional electrician.
What if the House Requires Further Upgrading?
The most profitable home improvements to make before selling your Seattle home are, honestly, only worthwhile if the property you are selling doesn’t require upgrading of any other kind. After all, what good is replacing the fixtures, the flooring, repainting, and so forth if the place is crumbling down? Address the major issues first, if there are any before you’ve gone and handled the cosmetics ones.