Thinking about Selling? Read this before making any improvements!

Wondering what home improvements add the most value in Connecticut? In this post I’ll cover the different ways you can add the most value to your home, as well as things that probably aren’t worth doing.

 INTERIOR

 Kitchen

 There’s no denying that the first thing many buyers look at is the kitchen when browsing homes online. But is renovating your kitchen worth it? I may be in the minority here but I don’t think so. According to remodeling.hw.net (link below) a minor kitchen remodel will recoup 70.3% of what you put in and a major kitchen remodel will recoup only 55%!

My thoughts on dated kitchens before selling is this: Do the bare minimum and let the future buyers make the kitchen their own. Things like painting cabinets, changing hardware, and a professional cleaning can go a long way in freshening up the kitchen’s look without costing you an arm and a leg.

 Bathrooms

 Along the same lines as Kitchen’s, you simply aren’t going to get your money back when doing a major bathroom renovation. A professional cleaning and some minor updates and paint is probably all your bathroom needs before going on the market.

 Floors

In my opinion dropping your money on your floors is worth it…pun intended. Refinished hardwood floors give an amazing first impression in both photos and as soon as potential buyers walk through the door.

Replacing old carpet is going to do the same, and they will help mitigate any pet odors etc. if they are present.

Both things are relatively inexpensive monetarily but obviously can cause a logistical headache with moving furniture etc. So, they are much easier to do with a vacant property.

 Walls

 Probably the easiest way to add some value and freshen the look of your home. Stick with a neutral palette to make it easier for buyers to envision their things in the home.

 Don’t forget about the trim and molding!

EXTERIOR

 Landscape

What’s the first thing buyers see when they come to look at your home? The exterior and the landscape. Curb appeal!

Not only is nice landscaping appealing to the eye it also shows the buyers that you care for your property.

Keeping the lawn mowed and mulching around shrubs and trees is a great start. If you plan on planting shrubs and perennials before you sell make sure they are low-maintenance so that potential buyers are not put off by a garden that will require too much of their time.

Garage Door Replacement

According to this study garage door replacement will recoup the most money out of all of the upgrades you could do!

It makes sense to me, new garage doors will be one of the first thing a buyer sees and they’ll give the home an updated look right out of the gate.

Front Door

If it’s a very old door, consider replacing it with a new steel door in a bright attractive color. A new door will promote energy efficiency and curb appeal at the same time.

If the door is in decent shape but the sun has done its toll on the paint, liven it up with a new coat.

Windows

Windows will be one of the first things buyers look at. If you already have dual pane windows, consider cleaning/repainting and replacing any that have a broken gas seal (foggy ones).

If you have single pane windows and don’t plan on selling right away, I would at least think about updating them. You will save on energy in the meantime and make a good amount back when it comes time to sell.

Roof

This is the big one that everyone asks about. The last thing buyers want to see when they look at the property disclosures is “Age of roof: 25 years”, which translates to “In the next 5 years I’m going to have to cough up $15k-$30k+ for a new roof.

My general thought here is that if your roof is over 20 years old and you have the financial ability it is at least worth considering doing the replacement before you sell. It’s going to look better in person, it’s going to look better on the market and it’s a huge thing that the buyers won’t have to worry about.

Regardless of age if you aren’t replacing it and it has a lot of moss/lichen build up, have it treated and cleaned.

Gutters

Who wants to pull up to a house and see leaves spilling out of the gutters? Its ugly and it makes it look like you don’t care about your property. It’s not expensive to have your gutters cleaned and it’s worth it.

HVAC

At a minimum have your HVAC system serviced and have the service records showing for buyers and home inspectors to see. A furnace with no service tag on it is often seen as a red flag.

If the furnace and/or AC unit(s) are ancient history, replacement wouldn’t be a terrible option. Like the roof they are big ticket items that buyers don’t want to think about replacing soon.

Final Thoughts

Homes are complex systems with a lot going on. I tried to cover major items and “bang for your buck” items in this post. There are obviously a ton of things you can do to improve your home’s value and aesthetics and I didn’t cover them all here!

Happy to talk more about this topic and answer any questions you may have!

Here is a link to the data I mentioned: Home Improvement Value