Kitchens and bathrooms do help sell houses, although they may not be the main deciding factor, they are strong contenders when buyers consider what property they will now call home. Buyers consider these rooms when they are house hunting because of the difficulty of renovating them and the expense that would be required. If you have been diligent in the upkeep and upgrades of your home then this week’s notes will not be as difficult.
However, if you have never updated your home or maintained the repairs in the baths and kitchens, then this could be a pricey section! Truth be told, you will pay to do upgrades in these rooms, either when it comes time to sell and you have to reduce the price to reflect the work needed, or over the years while you live there and have been paying to maintain and upgrade.
Homeowners typically should be spending 1-3% of their market value every year to upgrade and maintain their property in good condition. So if this has not been done, it will need to be.
What types of upgrades can you do?
- Updating Appliances in all the same color, this includes the hood fan. Especially if they are more than 10 years old.
- Replace or Repair all damaged tiles or flooring
- Repaint kitchen cabinets (or do touch ups)
- Consider a kitchen update if older than 7 years. New kitchens price at $5,000 and up, depending on if you are installing them yourself. This is not recommended for beginners no matter how keen you are!
- Install new counter tops or call a Granite company for a granite looking overlay that is less than the price of real granite
- Update flooring, even a small bathroom looks like a new world with brand new floors
- Update light fixtures
- Paint the ceilings
- Take off old tiles in the bathtub or shower and add a new surround. A simple do it yourself kit can be purchased for around $300.00
- Add under cabinet lighting
- Add new shower faucets and shower rods
- Re-grout your existing tile if it is still in good shape, adding a new grout color can go far
- Fresh paint colors in warm neutrals make a room look 100 x better for a small investment of time and money
- Update faucets to the latest trends
- Tighten all knobs, or replace for a modest cost. Knobs range from $3.00 to over $10.00 per piece, so it is a small investment for a great improvement
- Replace toilet seats, especially if they are cracked, wooden or themed
- Add new blinds or window coverings
- New sinks, curtain rods and towel bars also make a great first impression
Remember you are giving the buyers every reason to buy your house, so carefully consider the first impression and ask yourself what do you look for when you are the buyer? How do you compare houses when you are the buyer? Then create a property that will attract buyers. It’s as simple as that.
