Repairs Before Selling


These repairs do have some variables to consider before starting a huge remodel. There is no hard and fast rule as to what will pay you back on a resale but think of the following when you are in doubt…..

   Time of year
   Location of property
   Market temperature
   Competing properties

The following trends seem to be “hot” right now:

Flooring
   Hardwood floors

Carpeting
   Neutral beige – make sure it has no pink or yellow overtones

Ceramic
   Replace broken or chipped tiles.  Clean and replace dirty grout.

Ceilings
   Buyers look at ceilings.  They are looking for signs of leaks.  
   Make sure they see fresh paint on the ceilings

Wallpaper
   Buyers hate wallpaper?   No….but they hate your wallpaper!
   Remove it especially if it is overwhelming the house or is dated

Paneling
   Prime and paint a neutral color

Textured ceilings
   Say goodbye to sprayed or textured “popcorn” ceilings. 

Kitchen improvements
   Mid-range and minor kitchen remodels usually return 100% but high-end 
      kitchens are a matter of taste and your return may not be as good. In the 
      Midwest, the return is less than other areas of the country.
   Make sure kitchen cabinets are in tip-top order. The buyers will be opening 
      doors and drawers. Have the outside clean and the interiors orderly.

Bathrooms
   The national average for recouped cost is more than 100% for bathrooms.
       New floors, fixtures and lights pay off.

Roof and Exterior
   Patch cement cracks in sidewalks, resurface tired asphalt drives, caulk all 
      windows and doors, repair gates and fences and make sure all locks and
      doorknobs work well.
   Plant flowers if possible to add color to the exterior of the home.