Having an updated and well kept property goes a along way.  Many people think that because they are moving, they shouldn’t repair the home.  They’ll say, “Why fix it if I’m not going to enjoy it?”  That is precisely the reason to fix it.  Financially, they’ll be able to get more money for their home when they sell.

So what repairs should sellers consider that will give them a financial upside?  Easy!  The things to look for are the floor, walls, kitchen/bathrooms, and the exterior.  We want to make sure the exterior is inviting.

Homes come in all fashions.  They have carpet, tile, and hardwood floors.  Now a days, many buyers and rehabs show the trend for hardwood floors.  If they are in good shape, you have nothing to do.  If they are old, it doesn’t hurt to refinish them by sanding them and glazing them again to give it a new hardwood look.  Prices will vary widely for this type of service but you will surely get your money back.

If you have carpet, make sure it’s deep cleaned. Buyers hate and will be very turned off by stained areas that could have been taken care of.  If the stains won’t come out or the wear and tear of the carpet is very obvious, it might be time to suck it up and replace it with a neutral color (beige or khaki) new carpet. 

With tile floors, you want to make sure the chipped or cracked ones are replaced.  The same rule goes for the grout. Just make sure is clean and not cracked. 

Buyers love to walk into a room and feel like it’s new by seeing fresh new paint.  Surprisingly, it’s the most cost effective improvement.  If you don’t have that much experience painting, leave it to an expert (especially when wallpaper is installed because they are experienced in taking it off properly and not leaving any glue on the walls before painting).  I’m not saying that painting is hard work, but making sure it’s done right will certainly impact the overall appearance and your bottom line.  Just make sure to keep the colors light so that the rooms can show brightness and you are not pushing buyers away that might not be crazy for the colors you have chosen.  Off white is often used and never in doubt.

Lastly, make sure ceilings are also checked just in case they need a touch of paint.  Buyers do look at ceilings a lot, especially as they look to see if the home has a leaky roof or apparent cracks. 

Kitchen and bathrooms are the two areas where buyers are the pickiest.  Since styles and appliances have changed so much over the last decades, we want to make sure the home is up to date.  As strange as it might sound, old and worn out cabinets might keep your house from selling. 

Experienced people know that every cent invested in these two areas returns the investment back at the time of sell.  So what we want to consider is making sure that cabinets (if necessary) are resurfaced.  Veneers can be used to resurface and replacing the doors and old hardware will help.  If you have painted cabinets, all you might need to do is repaint them, but still change the hardware to newer more attractive ones.  A lot of money doesn’t have to be spent on granite countertops.  By adding a laminate to the counter top, newer faucets and making sure the sink is shinny will make it appealing to others.

When looking at the exterior, we want to make sure the home is seen as being lived in by someone that kept it in good condition.  When considering this, the two most important things are the roof and the landscaping.

If the roof has a lot of wear and tear and any leaks, you will have to take the financial hit and replace it.  Believe me, buyers will be at ease in knowing they don’t have to worry about the roof when a warranty is shown or they know that it was taken care of by the owner.

Planting flowers and keeping the landscaping simple and colorful will also help you sell better.  This is something that doesn’t take much money, if any, and will give your home the curb appeal buyers are looking for.

So, overall, what buyers are looking for is a home that has been well kept and that they can feel comfortable moving into without having to incur unexpected expenses that could have been handled by the previous owner.  Take care of your things and keep them up to date and you will be okay when sell time comes!