A Guide for Remodeling Your Home Before You Sell

Selling your home can be both an exciting and daunting task. Whether you’re a seasoned seller or a first-timer, the process involves more than just putting a “For Sale” sign in your front yard. To maximize your home’s appeal and value, consider the power of repair, remodeling, and staging. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to take your home sale to the next level.

The Remodeling and Prepping Your Home for Sale

Before you even think about listing your home, it’s essential to ensure that everything is in tip-top shape. In this section, we’ll delve into the importance of addressing those minor repairs that might otherwise turn off potential buyers. Here’s a checklist to make your home shine.

Quick Home Repair Checklist:

Remodeling to Increase Value: Where to Invest

Occasionally, a strategic remodel can significantly amplify your home’s value and market appeal. We’ll walk you through remodeling decisions that are likely to yield a favorable return on investment. Whether you’re contemplating a kitchen update, modernizing bathrooms, or boosting curb appeal through landscaping, we’re here to help you prioritize your remodeling efforts.

Here is what to focus on when remodeling your home:

• Add square footage (sqft) whenever possible. If you have a laundry room or an Arizona room that isn’t included in the assessor’s office square footage, you may still increase your total square footage if it has an AC vent and a window. For example, you can purchase a Mini-split AC unit and, by adding 300 sqft at $300 per sqft, you’ve just increased your home’s value by $90,000.
• The kitchen and master bathroom are the two main areas where you may want to make improvements, but they involve extensive remodeling and can be quite expensive. Be aware that these renovations can also lead to additional expenses, such as ceiling and flooring repairs, which can be both physically and financially demanding. Therefore, it’s essential to carefully consider the pros and cons.
• Here are some budget-friendly must-dos: Change ceiling lights, light switches, and if you’re unsure about paint colors, opt for white. Additionally, update the kitchen backsplash and replace the vent covers.
• When it comes to flooring, try to maintain consistency throughout your home. Luxury vinyl plank flooring is a popular choice because it can be used in bathrooms and kitchens, being made of plastic and resistant to rot, unlike wood flooring. Light and bright flooring choices tend to look better in photos. If you change the flooring, you’ll likely need to replace the baseboards as well. Use high 4-inch baseboards to cover any imperfections from the previous ones. Ensure they are caulked both at the top and bottom. Unless the old baseboards are in perfect condition, it’s generally best not to reuse them. A square style baseboard often works well for this purpose.

Here is what not to focus on:

• When it comes to your roof, AC system, and water heaters, keep in mind that appraisers typically don’t pay much attention to them. However, if they’re around 30 years old, it might affect your home’s value. In such cases, it’s often more cost-effective and convenient to provide the buyer with a credit when you sell your home.
• As for outdoor spaces and landscaping, investing $100k in landscaping might enhance your property’s appeal, but you’re unlikely to recoup that entire investment when you sell.
• Pools are a similar story. You’re not likely to recover the full cost unless your home is in the luxury, high-end market.
• When it comes to electrical and plumbing, they generally won’t increase your home’s value unless they are non-functioning or in a state of disrepair. Ensure that they are in good working order and not a tangled mess to avoid any potential issues during the selling process.

The Power of Staging: Presenting Your Home at its Best

Staging encompasses more than arranging furniture; it entails creating an atmosphere that allows potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the space. From boosting curb appeal to curating cozy living spaces, staging plays a pivotal role in shaping the speed at which your home is sold.  I would only recommend staging on homes over $500-700k, because it could cost you $5000-10,000 when everything is said and done.  Statistically, you make that money back in more viewings and higher offers, but it’s a tough decision to make.  I can help.

DIY vs. Professional Help: Making Informed Choices

As you embark on this journey, a pivotal crossroads awaits—should you take the DIY route or seek the guidance of professionals for your repairs, remodeling, and staging endeavors? This decision carries significant implications, warranting a thorough consideration of pros and cons. It’s a delicate balance between your capabilities, time availability, and budget constraints, all of which must harmonize to bring your vision to life.  If in doubt get a licensed contractor, shoot me a message and I can refer 3 contractors to get you started.  Before letting anyone in your home, do a simple background check or at least some light research, click here for my blog on doing background checks. 

If contractors do not have a license they can only legally work on jobs up to $1000.  Otherwise, they need a license, to see if they have a license click here at the Arizona registrar of Contractors.

Timing and Marketing: Showcasing Your Transformed Home

Once repairs are finished, remodeling efforts pay off, and your home is elegantly staged, the time arrives to list it for sale. Here, we emphasize the timing’s significance and crafting a compelling listing highlighting unique features and improvements. Our coverage spans from high-quality photos to engaging descriptions—core elements of effective home marketing. Read more about what we do here.

The amalgamation of repair, remodeling, and staging propels you toward a triumphant home-selling odyssey. This guide imparts not only knowledge but also the confidence to wield these tools effectively. Remember, the effort invested in presenting your property resonates in the final sale price and the speed at which it finds its new owner. As you embark on this adventure armed with insights, tips, and strategies, know that success awaits at the crossroads of preparation and opportunity. Onwards to your home-selling victory!