They have 8 suggestions, and I'll recap them with my comments.
1) Kitchen Faucets & Sink. Cost: Up to $600.
This is a good idea, but on the pricey side for this market. Kiplinger makes the point that the "Kitchen is King", and I agree with that in many respects. Very often the kitchen, especially with the popularity of the "Great Room" set up, is heart of the home. Upgrades here may be a good choice.
2) Backsplashes. Cost: $100.
Keeping with the kitchen theme, a nice new backsplash can improve the kitchen's appeal. Kiplinger recommends using tile for the backsplash. I'd be very careful with that. Depending on the color scheme of your kitchen, and what type of countertops you have, tile could look very out of place! For folks with a basic kitchen, meaning: plain flooring, formica counters, tile is not going to look good. My suggestion? Get a piece of Corian, or something similiar, and attach it above your stove.
3) Vanity Cabinets and Toilets. Cost: $400-500 per bathroom.
New bathroom cabinets and toilets? Again, not so cheap, but initially, I liked the idea. However, on second thought, I'm not such a fan of this idea. Why? In my experience, bathrooms, understandably, become a very personal space. Because of that, buyers look at bathroom with a much more critical eye. So the risk is that the new cabinets and toilet you spend your money on, a prospective buyer may not like. And if they know you just installed them, then they'll be less inclined to redo things to their liking.
4) Paint. Cost: $200-600.
PAINT!!! It's a good thing!! A new coat of paint is normally the second thing I suggest in terms of "prettying" up a home. (I'll tell you what the first thing is in a bit.) Buyers LOVE new paint! They love the smell! They love the way the walls look fresh and new! And if you go with a nice lighter, or neutral, color, the home will feel bigger than it is. But again, go with the safe colors. No accent walls, faux finishes, or texturing.
"Eggshell", "Ecru", and "Tope" are going to be your friends. Light pastels in bathrooms usually go over well, too.
5) Crown Molding. Cost: $5/foot.
Again, kinda like this one at first, but on second thought, not so much. Yes, Crown Molding can give a room that "wow!" factor, and can look very nice. However, in some cases, it can make a room feel smaller than it is. Especially in a home with 8ft ceilings. The Crown Molding draws the eye to the ceiling line, and with 8ft ceilings, this isn't a good thing. Also, the color of the molding makes a huge difference. Darker colors will increase the claustrophobic feeling, and although lighter colors won't, they don't draw the eye much either.
6) Storage/Organization. Cost: $20-$500.
What Kiplinger refers to here is buying shelving, or closet organizers to organize your stuff. I agree that a cluttered, disorganized, home does NOT show well. A better idea, and a less expensive one is this: Get rid of the JUNK!! Seriously, if your home is floor to ceiling with stuff, it doesn't matter how organized it is, no buyer is going to be interested buying your rat's nest.
7) New Front Door. Cost: $150-$500
Yes, the front door is the first thing a prospective buyer sees. And Kiplinger claims a Return On Investment of 129% for a steel door. I'm a little skeptical of that claim. But, more importantly, many buyers are now realizing that they will probably never look at that front door again once they move in. Ask yourself, who actually goes in their own front door anymore? Hardly anyone who's got an electric garage door opener and parks their car in the garage. Even if you don't actually park in the garage, most people will still use their garage door opener and enter through the garage. My suggestion? If your front door is looking a little weathered, slap a coat of paint on it.
8) Landscaping. Cost: $200-$500.
Kipling suggests landscaping the front yard with new plants, etc. Don't. Not in this market. Yes, its going to look nice for the prospective buyer. But with the work schedules most people have these days, the last thing people want to do is come home and mow the grass. Also, the expense of maintaining a lush green lawn can be prohibitive. And to be brutally honest, with so many foreclosed/short sale homes on the market, people are used to seeing brown lawns. Definitely clean it up, rake up any leaves, pull any dead plants, but concentrate your efforts on the interior of the home. Buyers know that lawns and yards are easy to redo to their own preferences when time/funds permit.
So, What is the FIRST thing I tell a seller to do to increase their homes appeal?
CLEAN IT!! Dust! Vacuum! Get the carpets cleaned! Clean the bathrooms! Clean the kitchen! Get rid of the clutter!
In my experience, buyers can overlook many faults in a home, but if they feel the home is "dirty", they bolt for the door! If buyers come to view your home, and they wrinkle their nose when they walk in, look at the kitchen sink, or toilet, they just lost all interest in your home.
Do you have an older stove? One with actual cooking coils? Replace the burner liners!! Shiny new chrome will look infinitely better than crispy, burned on crud. It's a simple $30 upgrade that really can have a huge return.
One comment on the carpet. Get it professionally cleaned. A good, experienced, carpet cleaner can make 10 year old carpet look like new. They can get rid of stains, and even restretch or do small repairs to the carpet that will vastly improve its appearance. But that carpet needs to look clean! For people in the west Valley, I'd highly recommend Lacks Cleaning. I've know the owners for several years, they do an amazing job, and will treat you fairly and honestly! They can be reached through their website www.lackscleaning.com, or by phone at 623-776-1534.
Here's the Kiplinger article for you to consider.
If you're thinking about selling, and would like a "professional" opinion on what you can do to help your home sell, give me a call, and I'd be happy to come take a look!
Erin Goldbach
Designated Broker
Vanguard Platinum REalty
602-524-0186
