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DIY Projects That Will Help You Sell Your House

By
Real Estate Agent with Silicon Valley Real Estate

CNNMoney.com published an article that gives you tips on 5 small home improvement projects that you can do yourself before your house goes on sale.  They rate the projects by skill level required, how much it costs, and how much you'd have to pay a professional to do it.

Image of Wooden Room

They note that because it can be difficult to recoup the full cost of the improvements, you should concentrate on what you can do yourself (i.e. without a contractor) and really home in on the rooms that people focus on.

The Wall Street Journal also lists improvements you should avoid when selling your house.  This article isn't as detailed or thorough as the CNNMoney.com home improvement article but does provide some insight into common pitfalls.

Many times it will be easier and less expensive to offer your prospects a credit towards improvements rather than doing them yourself.  Prospects like having their choice of styles (your buyer's taste is something that's difficult to predict) and you won't have to take on the risk of performing or contracting the work. 

 

Comments (2)

Sharon Simms
Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS
Giving a credit does give a buyer choices, but perhaps the buyer isn't a do-it-yourselfer and it will cost more. Also, it doesn't help the people who can't visualize the changed and improved house. If the repairs/improvements aren't overly expensive, it's better to do them before listing - just be sure they're done well and with choices that appeal to most buyers.
Jan 28, 2007 10:17 AM
Steve Leung
Silicon Valley Real Estate - Cupertino, CA
Agreed, the key words are "if the repairs/improvements aren't overly expensive."  I had a client who once suggested replacing new-looking wood cabinets with a different type of wood before showing, but would have been six-of-one and half-a-dozen of the other to prospects.  If you're going to spend money, it's important that it buys something you value in the end :-)
Jan 28, 2007 10:40 AM