To Make It Sell, Fix It Up

If you’re thinking of putting your home on the market this spring, there’s an easy way to give yourself an advantage in this tough selling environment: spruce up.  According to a recent Washington Times article, something as simple as a new front door or a cleaner kitchen can get and hold a buyer’s interest. Having great pictures to show online is the first step that gets people to your home.

Your home’s location will often determine what you need to spend. When asked to contribute to this article, I stated that “in certain neighborhoods, some homes need a little help to make them stand out. That’s especially true in places like Germantown or Gaithersburg, with many similar homes on the market.”

How much you end up doing can also depend on the age and condition of your home, its value, and—of course—your budget.

Homes valued in the $500,000 range usually require between $5,000 and $8,000 of upgrades; a $200,000 condo, from $1,000 to $1,500. But it pays off. Shelling out for an upgrade rather than just small fix-ups can raise your home’s selling price by $10,000 to $15,000.

This year, you’ll recoup about 60 percent of what you pay for improvements, which is down from the 63.8 percent returned last year. So if your home has lost some of its value, it may not be worth the investment.

Regardless of all the other factors, below are some basic things you can always do to attract a buyer’s attention.

·         Get your house documents in order.

·         Declutter and depersonalize.

·         Repaint.

·         Redo floors and floor coverings.

·         Repair if needed and replace if necessary.

More details on these will be presented in the next blog. In the meantime, feel free to get started on any items in the list that you feel are needed for your home.  Anything you do, even a small change, can work in your favor with buyers.

Contact me today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA area! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda, & Whitehall Condominium.