Saturday, December 7, 2024

Sale preparation on a budget

Sale preparation on a budget By Theresa Grant - Real Estate Columnist When it comes time to sell our home, there is often a laundry list of things that need to be done prior to listing. Some things are well worth the cost of doing the task as well as the time invested in getting it done. While other things may not make good financial sense. When deciding what you will tackle and what you will forgo, it may be worth while to talk to a professional in either design or real estate to get a good idea of what will add value and what may not. A lot of people think that any improvement they make will add value and it actually doesn’t work that way. Another reason to consult with an expert is that you don’t want to over improve and price yourself out of the market. A semi in a less desirable area of a city would not benefit from the same improvements that a million dollar home a great neighbourhood would. The reason being, you could spend thousands of dollars on renovations and fixtures in the former, and at the end of the day it’s still going to be a semi in a less desirable neighbourhood. A professional can help steer you away from making big money missteps. We all know that kitchens and bathrooms are where most people spend their money when it comes to renovations. If you cannot afford to hire professionals to do a complete kitchen or bath, think about just painting the cupboards, putting in new lighting, some new door pulls can really spruce things up. Keep in mind, not everything needs to be new from Home Depot either. Many contractors advertise their excess materials from previous jobs on websites like Marketplace or Kijiji. There are also stores that deal in left over materials. Look to window coverings and see if you could or should replace or update them. Paint is probably the very best investment you can make in decorating. It gives you the most bang for your buck without question and adds real value to your bottom line. Look at painting your front door if it is tired or could use some pizazz. If you cannot afford to hire a stager, there are some great finds in second hand store that will do the job. Take a picture of a staged house with you and set out to find similar items. You’ll be surprised at what you find. First impressions matter so along with a nice front door, anything you can find to enhance the entrance area will benefit you. Think planters, baskets, decorative mailbox that type of thing. Fixing up your property to maximize its value is a delicate balance of smart investments and cost-effective updates. By focusing on areas with the highest return on investment like the kitchen, bathroom and front of your home, you will significantly increase the chances of getting top dollar for your home. With the right approach, you can turn a modest home into a sought-after gem.Questions? Column ideas? You can email me at newspaper@ocentral.com

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