Before you do that home improvement...

Twice recently I've encountered sellers who made huge mistakes in carrying out the renovations to their homes when they were fixing up to sell.  And it occurred to me that it's a good idea to have your plans checked, not just by an architect, but also by your favorite Realtor.

In one house, there were very high end kitchens and baths.  But one of the baths on the level with two of the bedrooms was downsized into a very ncie powder room.  So two of the bedrooms in this four bedroom house stopped working as bedrooms, making it somewhat buyer specific.

Another home in my neighborhood had some major renovations done.  But they were done in a way that would have provided blog fodder for our favorite local home inspector, Jay Marchanich.  And the new kitchen just didn't work for anyone who did more than microwave an occasional Lean Cuisine.  And this one was done specifically to sell the house.

Realtors get feedback on various home improvements every day, and we know what's going to appeal to the most buyers. 

Even if you are doing work on a house that you plan to leave in a box, things can change.

When I redid my own baths, I was thinking this was a house I'd live in forever.  I wanted it my way.  The contractor tried to talk me into a double sink setup, and I thought why would I ever need two sinks.  And right now, two sinks would come in handy, although I did choose a vanity with two sets of drawers.  But I have had buyers where a double sink was a non-negotiable.  Still, these baths were designed for resale. 

If you are fixing your place up to sell, have your agent there to advise you.  I work with my sellers onpaint colors, countertops, hardwood floor finishes, whatever.

If my neighbor with the crappy kitchen had called me, I could have made a couple of suggestions that would have turned funky to fabulous.  If the sellers with the carnivorous wallpaper I saw last week had called a Realtor, they'd have come up with a choice that was more buyer friendly. 

Bottom line:  a good Realtor knows what sells.  Take advantage of his or her knowledge when you are getting ready to put your place on the market.