We're already seeing a lot of activity in the local market, more and more buyers are coming out and going house shopping. What you may not realize is not only are other home sellers going to be getting their houses in "model home" condition, you may also be competing with new construction. Builders are coming out again and starting to build as the market is turning around.
If your house is 20 or more years old and your roof is starting to show it's age, you may want to call a roofer and get some quotes on replacing it. An old roof at the end of it's normal life expectancy is something that a prospective buyer is going to need to replace soon after purchasing the home and can be a major turn off. I've heard buyers say things like, "Wow, it needs a roof? That's going to be $15,000." This was on a townhouse. Many buyers, especially first-time buyers, don't have a clue how much major purchases cost. A roof for this townhome would be about $2200-$2500 so the seller could potentially lose out on a lot of money if a buyer puts too much cost on repairs. Ask your friends or your Realtor for recommendations for roofers to make sure you get a good one that will be reasonable as far as price and also warranty the work.
We've worked with a couple of good companies that are reliable, reasonable, and stand by their work:
Kelbie Home Improvement is a local company that does everything from roofing and gutters to siding, painting, and remodeling. Call Mike Kelbie for an estimate, 410-ROOFERS.
LKC Construction is another local company with a great reputation that can take care of all your large projects like roof, siding, remodeling and additions. Craig Charpiat is the owner and will come out to meet you and help with your plans - his number is 410-672-6618.
If there are other things that you've been thinking about updating or if your Realtor has recommended projects to get you the most money out of your house (basement finishing, remodeling dated kitchen or bathroom), have them give you estimates for those items too while they are out. Your kitchen may be able to be freshened up just by painting the cabinets, replacing hardware and countertop, and maybe new appliances - that's a lot cheaper than doing an entire remodel where you replace all of the cabinetry. Contractors can help you do this as well.
In the current market, fixer-uppers really take a hit as far as offer price so if you have the cash or the ability to finance the projects in advance, you may be better off when you sell. You may be surprised at how reasonable some of these projects can be; it's worth a call!
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To list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Maryland, call Lisa & David Webber, Licensed Realtors® at 410-320-0242. For more information on our services, please visit our profile or our website.
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