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4 Home Improvements that Bring the Highest ROI for Home Sellers

By
Real Estate Agent with Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 228209

4 Home Improvements that Bring the Highest ROI for Charlotte Home Sellers

 

Wolf rangeI recently showed a lovely couple a home, which they ultimately purchased, that had a mac-daddy kitchen - all of the bells & whistles, including a brand new commercial grade Wolf 6-burner range with griddle. This range is one that most buyers would ooh and ahh over - not these buyers!  These buyers don’t cook at all - in fact, they were more worried about the microwave than any other kitchen appliance!  The kicker - the Wolf range was brand, spanking new - it had never been used. The sellers had just remodeled their kitchen for resale.

 

What’s wrong with this picture? First, the sellers, thinking that their massive kitchen remodel would lure buyers, went over-the-top with their improvements. In fact, the kitchen didn’t lure the actual buyers at all! Secondly, the buyers had zero appreciation for that kitchen - they were outdoor people and would loved to have had an outdoor fireplace instead of a Wolf range. 

 

The moral to the story, it’s wise to speak with your real estate agent to see what buyers are shopping for — find out what the most sought-after improvements are in today’s market. Representing many of our own sellers as buyers in our marketplace, we often remind them to consider what they, as buyers, are in search of.


 

Outdoor living
Charlotteans love the Great Outdoors and outdoor space is a top priority for Charlotte home buyers searching for their dream home. My advice to Charlotte home sellers is to always investigate what is ‘selling’ at the moment - trends/buyer preferences tend to last a couple of years. Some are sustainable for a decade (like hardwood flooring) but, others tend to come and go after 2-5 years. 

 

One of the most important updates a seller can do to a home, bringing top ROI, is install a new roof - that's been the case for decades. There is such a 'stigma' to having to add a new roof - buyers believe the cost of adding a roof is far higher than it actually is and they simply don't want to spend the money doing that within a year of purchasing a home. They'd rather spend their money on something more 'exciting' for their new home!  So, when shopping for a home and a new roof is being marketed, buyers believe that new roof is a huge bonus.

 

Put yourself in your buyers’ shoes - then, make the smartest adjustments/improvements for your ROI. Here are the top 4 home improvements that should bring you 100%+ ROI:

Top Home Improvements Bring Highest ROI for Charlotte Home Sellers

 

 

The bottom line? If you're thinking about selling your home in the Charlotte Metro region, let's talk!

Hiring the RIGHT Charlotte Realtor® is critical to your home selling success!

Give me a call or shoot me a text at (704) 491-3310 or email me at CharlotteBroker@icloud.com.

 

© Debe Maxwell | The Maxwell House Group | CharlotteBroker@icloud.com | 4 Home Improvements that Bring the Highest ROI for Charlotte Home Sellers

Comments(29)

Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Happy Sunday to you too, Abby Stiller!  Yes, the roof is not an exciting upgrade for sellers, that's for sure - but, for buyers...it's definitely at the top of the list!

Thank you, Abby!

Jun 25, 2017 08:54 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good Morning Deb - ask before you spend.  one of my business clients did just that and it worked out great.

Jun 25, 2017 08:57 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Debe - while roofs may not be exciting, a bad roof is likely an indicator for many buyers of "what else is wrong?".  Nice infographic on return-on-investment.    

Jun 25, 2017 08:58 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Good Morning, Grant Schneider!  Yes, we can save you a WHOLE LOT of money if you consult with us FIRST!

Happy Sunday, Grant! 

Jun 25, 2017 08:59 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

That is so true, Michael Jacobs!  And, buyers tend to perceive the cost of a new roof as more than it actually is too - and, of course, they'd rather spend that money on a nice outdoor kitchen instead of a roof down the line!

Have a wonderful Sunday, Michael!

Jun 25, 2017 09:00 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Good morning, Debe: I think it's very interesting that Houselogic decided to make a roof an appreciating item instead of what it is: a maintenance item.

In Charlotte, like in my town of Sacramento, buyers do not have any idea of what a new roof costs, you're absolutely right about that! They do assign higher costs, but I've never seen a seller get more money simply because the home was maintained like I've seen them get less when it is not.

Jun 25, 2017 09:19 AM
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

That kitchen is gorgeous.  I would love it but you are right, sellers need to do their homework before dumping a ton of money into one area.

Jun 25, 2017 10:39 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Debe- very well said. In our area, I'd imagine that high impact windows, a pool, house generator, and new roof would be high on a buyer's list. When I staged a condo on A1A, the agent new every unit and new what buyers wanted. Thankfully, the sellers listened to her. 

Jun 25, 2017 01:15 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Great advise Debe Maxwell, CRS  I have buyers who don't cook and do not use a dishwasher or auto ice-maker . These are things that would be important to some in a kitchen and not others .   A roof is something buyers do not want to spend money for  it can be rather expensive  if it is a large house . Great tips

Jun 25, 2017 02:33 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Real Estate Agent, Top 1% of Lyon Agents! You're absolutely right - the roof is a maintenance item and certainly not an 'improvement' but, it is true - a new roof is one that most buyers tend to overprice in their minds and are typically nervous about buying a home that may need a new roof in the near future. 

Have a great week, Elizabeth!

Jun 25, 2017 06:05 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Thank you, Belinda Spillman - yes, that new range could have been replaced with one with a little lower price tag, for sure!

Have a wonderful week, Belinda! 

Jun 25, 2017 06:06 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Kathy Streib! That's so true - if a listing agent doesn't know what buyers want, it's difficult to advise them accordingly! Have a fantastic week, Kathy!

Jun 25, 2017 06:07 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Hannah Williams - thank you! I totally agree about the kitchens - I'm seeing it more and more often these days that buyers are not interested in cooking at all and could care less about those fablous kitchens!

Jun 25, 2017 07:50 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good morning Debe.  That kitchen would draw my wife in,  like a hungry fish to a lure. 

Jun 26, 2017 02:22 AM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Good morning Debe.  Yes, it's all too easy to make a huge mistake when improvements to a home are made for the sole purpose of increasing the sales value.

Jun 26, 2017 04:33 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Good Morning, James Dray!  Haha! Yes, I'm also one of those hungry fish - it suited me just fine! I'm hopeful my buyers eventually fall in love and put the kitchen to good use too!

Happy Monday!

Jun 26, 2017 04:48 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Good Morning, Gabe Sanders! Exactly! When you're going to be there for awhile and it's something specific to your tastes or a room that needs renovation, I totally get it. Otherwise, that pre-sale period should be focused on what will bring your buyer and what will garner you the most money as a seller!

Have a wonderful week, Gabe! 

Jun 26, 2017 04:50 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Debe, excellent post, and REALTORS that are knowledgeable with the current market can successfully guide homeowners to do improvements that will truly add value to a home.

Jun 26, 2017 06:20 AM
Foster Smith Summerville
Carolina One Real Estate - Summerville, SC
Summerville & Charleston Homes for Sale SC Realtor

Gorgeous kitchen, but your advice and thoughts are spot on! What is valuable to one buyer matters very little to another. The four things you mentioned are safe bets and will always  be looked on favorably.

Jun 28, 2017 04:30 AM
Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc
Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN

Hi Debe - based on these numbers, it looks like it might be better just to reduce the price of the home instead of spending money on it. On the other hand it doesn't really pay to put it off if you have a maintenance item, you will probably get your money back.

Jun 28, 2017 10:29 AM