Are you considering selling your home in Connecticut? If so, you might be thinking about making a few repairs and upgrades before you list it. Some changes can be lucrative, paying off in the long run. However, not all upgrades are created equal. We will let you know which upgrades to avoid!
Updating and beautifying your home is a sure-fire way to get more potential buyers in the door. However, many sellers make the mistake of making too many upgrades or upgrading things that do not increase the property value. Some people even make upgrades that end up turning OFF buyers! Before you take a sledgehammer to the bathroom wall or make a trip to Home Depot, consider making only necessary repairs and only the upgrades that will pay for themselves by substantially increasing your home’s value.
Don’t Add a Pool Unless YOU are Swimming In It
You will not be able to add the price you pay for a pool onto the previous value of the home. It doesn’t work that way. We have seen people spend over 50k to add a new pool, only to be able to add a couple thousand to their asking price. Unless you plan on swimming in the pool yourself for years to come, a pool will end up costing you more than it adds value. Some buyers don’t want a pool so having a pool may even become a deterrent to potentials buyers. They don’t want the upkeep and they don’t want the hassle of getting rid of it either. Point blank: A pool doesn’t provide returns.
Don’t Get So Personal
Avoid overly customized designs. This can include overly designed kitchens, baths and anything else that you consider one of a kind. Consider toning down bold colored rooms and creating environments that are a bit more neutral. Some buyers have a hard time getting past overly bold and customized rooms etc. You want to try to appeal to the broadest pool of buyers as possible when trying to sell. A can of paint is a lot less expensive than a total room redo. And on that note…
Don’t Decide for Your Buyers
If there are obvious repairs or upgrades needed, don’t make them if they are taste based. Meaning if your roof needs to be replaced, that is something that probably should be done. Buyers don’t want the hassle of those types of expensive repairs and roofing shingles aren’t the most important type of style decision they will make. Instead, provide a credit to the buyer, so they can have things done the way they want. It can be a great incentive when buyers have the ability to decide on the details of the home. People will be attracted to the idea of choosing their own countertops and lighting fixtures. Point Blank: Don’t make upgrades based on your own personal enjoyment or taste.
Leave the Basement Alone
Do you have a house with an unfinished basement? If, so… leave it that way. The costs to finish the basement aren’t worth what you will get back. Plus, many buyers will choose to renovate those areas on their own terms. There are so many options and possibilities when it comes to finishing a basement that it’s better left for the new buyer to decide if they want to finish it and for what purpose. Extra TV room, kids play room, man cave, workout area, office etc? If you haven’t renovated it while you lived there, there is no reason to do it now that you are trying to sell. Point Blank: An unfinished basement is best left that way.
Make the Space Intentional
Keep the rooms as they were intended. Extra bedroom? Keep it a bedroom, not an office. If the lower level is a kids play room, that’s ok. Let the prospective buyers decide how they want to use the space. Don’t go crazy trying to stage rooms for other purposes than what you were using them for. A room conversion will only knock down the perceived value. A 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home will get more traction than a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom + den at the same price. Also, a gym/office/library/breakfast nook can become confusing. Point blank: Plan your space with purpose.
What are the Neighbors Doing?
Take a look at other homes in your neighborhood and keep your upgrades somewhere in the middle. If you go too far with your add-ons, you will be targeting high-end buyers. And maybe your neighborhood isn’t known for that. In addition, you will alienate buyers who love your neighborhood but don’t want to pay the high price. Point blank: Keep your property competitive within your neighborhood, but don’t take it too far!