Bang For Your Buck

Realtors are often asked to preview homes before they go on the market to assess market value. Your professional opinion will guide your client on the right areas to spend money on. The task of preparing the house for sale can be quite an undertaking for homeowners. Juggling work, family, and personal obligations while keeping the house in perfect showing shape can be overwhelming. Now add calling for estimates, coordinating contractors and living in a construction zone to the mix and you’ve got a perfect storm of undue stress. You can be a major asset when advising your client on where to allocate their funds to get the best return on investment. A little can go a long way when doing renovations. In the end, the house will be in top notch shape and will be able to hit the market for top dollar!

Here are a few tips so that the renovations and updates chosen give both you and your client the most bang for your buck from the outside in.

Curb appeal-Most landscaping companies will offer free estimates and free design consultations if you’re landscape is more sprawling and elaborate. If you’re just looking for a DIY quick fix, sod runs about 30 cents per square foot. A nice splash of color is always appealing to the eye. Zinnias are a fan favorite to plant in the spring and bloom in the summer. They come in a wide array of hues like pink, red, orange and white to really bring a POP to your front landscape. They like full sun and moderate water so even those of us with a black thumb can make them thrive.

Paint-A fresh coat of paint goes a long way by providing your home with a fresh new look. Did you do a cranberry accent wall to compliment your rich décor? Paint for son’s room cobalt blue to support his favorite team? Now is the time to create a neutral blank canvas for the next buyer. Keep in mind, neutral doesn’t have to mean sterile or boring. In years past, beige was the way to go. Then came gray and now greige. It can be an overwhelming task to select the perfect paint color and virtually impossible to do so objectively. Without diving too deep down a Pinterest rabbit hole, get some inspiration on color ideas and what home buyers are looking for online.

HGTV offers tons of great advice for paint color selection on a room-to-room basis. There are also plenty of DIY and design influencers offering tips. It is good to keep in mind how much natural light the room gets when deciding on the color. The color swatch on paper will never look exactly like what goes on the wall because of this. Don’t over-think it! The Light Reflective Value (what designers call LRV) number is your friend and a good measure when selecting a color for darker rooms vs. rooms that are flooded with sunlight. You may even want to have a neutral party give their perspective to be more objective in the selection. A fresh coat of paint that is on trend with buyers will be one of the most cost-effective ways to spruce up your space.

Doors- Another simple face lift for added curb appeal is to paint your front door. Lowe’s carries some amazing 2 step wood look paint that transforms a plain, un- textured surface to a beautiful finish. Stain finishes like black walnut, English oak and Mahogany add depth and sophistication for about $35. That is a bargain price for a priceless first impression on your potential buyers. Don’t forget your garage door. This is a major exterior focal point that homeowners often overlook. A new garage door runs about $1k, depending on customizations like windows and design. Even a 2-car garage door can be installed for around $1500 and can make a remarkable difference. A fresh landscape with lush grass, some perennials, a glossy wood look front door and new garage door add a serious WOW factor to any prospective buyer from the minute the pull up to you open house.

Kitchen-The gathering place for your family and friends is a major making or breaking point when selling your house. Typically, your kitchen will be one of the most expensive rooms in the house to overhaul. Most homeowners aren’t in a position to drop thousands of dollars on a complete remodel. Once you did all that, you may just reconsider listing it! Small changes can make a big impact. Simply painting cabinets white and replacing old hardware with something more on trend is an easy face lift without replacing costly cabinetry. If your sink and faucet are outdated, replacing with a new assembly is a nice touch. Farmhouse sinks are all the rage! If your counters don’t quite meet the standards of today’s home buyer, consider refinishing them. If replacing your laminate tops with granite is not in the budget, purchase a DIY kit to give counter surfaces the look of stone for under $100. Or, for some real pizazz, remove the cabinet doors leaving only the shelving. Stack colored plates and dishes for an eye-catching pop at little to zero cost. Throw in an inexpensive DIY backsplash and BOOM, dishes are done, man.

Baths-At a close second after the kitchen, the bathroom is a major selling point with buyers. Even homes that check all of the boxes in other rooms may still have pink tile in the bathroom circa 1960. There are a few ways to spruce things up without breaking the bank. Adding an updated pedestal sink and a new lighting fixture will provide a whole new look and feel to an old-fashioned bathroom. Throw in some waterproof vinyl or plank flooring and you have saved priceless time and money on removing old floor tiles. Tub not looking quite so spa-like. Don’t replace it, just REGLAZE it!

We’ve covered plenty of suggestions to save you time and money when preparing the home to list. There is a wealth of information online as well as affordable options to show the property in its best light on a dime. As the licensed professional sales agent, your role doesn’t just mean contract negotiations. Your help and guidance in preparing your seller’s home for sale will reinforce your value in going the extra mile for your client.

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