Selling Your Home? What Can You Do to Add Value.

Remodeling Magazine recently reported that due to the improved economy, costs of hiring professionals to complete projects have increased over the past year, but their are still some projects that will have a high return when you are preparing your home for sale. Leading the way were front door replacement with steel and garage door replacements. Replacements in general seemed to give a better return generally than remodeling projects, with manufactured stone veneer, vinyl siding, and wood window replacement coming up next highest just ahead of a minor kitchen remodel. Bathroom remodels return decreased 5.9% this year, probably due to higher costs, but it is still ranked high on the return list. 

My wife Lisa and I decided to make a patio deck addition to our home. I got tired of staining our smaller wood deck and we decided that expanding the deck to a size that we could actually use, would act as an extension of our living area for maybe eight months of the year, but at a fraction the cost of an inside addition. I pictured myself relaxing in the shade of the afternoons, reading or dining, and enjoying our view of the Wasatch Mountains, and never having to stain again. And it's nice to know that if we decide to sell, we'll get a good return on our investment. Decks often improve the landscaping of the yard, as well as provide additional living space.

What can you do to increase your home's appeal to Buyers.

Create a lasting first impression

Buyers often decide within minutes, even before walking through the front door, whether they like your house. A well trimmed lawn & shrubbery, and some blooming plants can create a nice first impression. Experts say that painting and cleaning can do more to add appeal to your home than any other factors. Even, a touch up paint job on the front door, front shutters and window frames can make a difference. Potted flowers outside the front door can help - shades of blue, green and red are attractive with neutral shades of brick or siding. Shine all metal and brass, repair or replace broken steps & screens, and wash all windows.

Kitchen

Over the years, the kitchen is said to be the critical room in selling your house. Make it clean, bright and attractive. If the floor is badly worn, replace it. To make your kitchen appear larger, remove most appliances that you keep on the counters, and clean the counters. Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Replacing cabinet doors and drawer fronts as well as new appliances and countertops, will increase the appeal.

Bathrooms

Remove the stains from the toilets, sinks, and bathtubs and showers. Make sure the drains are unclogged, repair dripping faucets, polish metal fixtures, and put clean towels in the bathroom. And a sweet-smelling deodorant soap can add a nice scent to the bathroom. Important features that add appeal are updated wall colors, sinks, faucets, vanities, and lighting.

Other Living Areas

Avoid unique colors when painting interiors - it's probably best to use pastels that are easy to work with. And neutral lights stay in style. And it's important to look for leak stains in the ceilings - fix the cause of the damage and repair and paint the ceiling. Replace faded window treatments. If you have a fireplace, and particularly if it's in the living room when you first enter the house, clean it thoroughly, and put some logs in it. And a pine scented freshener can be hidden there. In the summer, you can put a plant in the fireplace. Make sure the floors are clean, and polish them. Replace faded window treatments, make sure every light switch works, clean the switch plates, and replace burned out light bulbs. Remove extra items from the closets. Fix doors that stick including sliding doors - rubbing soap against the surface often does the job, and lubricate squeaky doors.

Garage

Try to get rid of items that you're not going to keep. And items that you will be taking to your new home should be boxed. And clean and degrease the garage floor. Clean your cars that you park in the garage.

In an upcoming article, I will give some advice on what to do when your home is being shown.

 John Hamilton, a Certified Negotiation Expert, with a BA Degree in Economics from Drury University in Missouri, and MBA studies at the University of Utah, has been a Utah real estate agent for the past 46 years and a broker since 1972. His company, MediaOne Real Estate, is Utah's largest publisher, and seeks to provide Buyers a strategic advantage and Sellers the maximum exposure in today's formidable market.