Some cost effective ways to update your home, making it more saleable:
- First off, remove clutter! Especially in your kitchen - if you kitchen counters are packed with tons of appliances, buyers will immediate assume you have a severe lack of space - instant turn-off! Put items you don't use daily away, items that are used rarely should go in the attic.
- If you have dated wallpaper anywhere in your house, remove it! I can't tell you how many times I see my buyers make faces the moment they see wallpaper!
- Sometimes just painting cabinets and replacing old hardware on cabinets will make a huge improvement in kitchens. Or, if it's in your budget, reface your kitchen cabinets. The cabinets are the main focal point of a kitchen.
- Use granite tiles on a countertop (or backsplash) instead of a full granite countertop - it saves a lot of money and looks updated and attractive! A homeowner can install this, as opposed to a full granite countertop which needs to be measured, cut and installed by a professional.
- Replace your kitchen sink, or at least the faucet.
- Buy new lighting - replacing dated fans and light fixtures make a hugely appealing difference over old, dated lighting! You don't need to go for the most expensive, go for a stylish look!
- You can get rid of ugly kitchen appliance surfaces by covering them - check out this site for ideas: http://www.renovationresource.net/index.htm and http://www.kitchensource.com/kau/frigo.htm. Take a look at their great and innovate products! Now you can replace the look of your refrigerator without buying a new one - with huge savings!
- If you have extreme color schemes in your home, I suggest toning it down. Strong colors such as neon hues really won't appeal to a wide variety of buyers, who end up deciding your home is too much work, do to all the painting they will need to do!
- Have dated tile or a very pink bathroom? Look into painting tile! http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/69264/how_to_paint_ceramic_tile.html
These are just a few ideas that may help you do some minor updating that can bring you a nice return on your home's sale! Even if you buy a house that needs some updating - if you don't have the money to do a major remodel, these tips can make a dated fixer upper liveable!
;)
;)
I liked all the suggestions except one. When you talked about using tile granite, what price range are you talking about? In my market, if anything over $175k ish has granite tile, buyers walk around wondering what else the sellers cheaped out on. Most do not like grout on kitchen counters because they are porous and absorb bacteria. I know we're in completely different markets which is why I asked what price range you're typically referring to for this.