Home repairs before selling a home always pay off, but which home repairs bring the biggest return?
Many sellers, trying to do the right thing, often create Kansas City house money pit issues by making repairs that are not required. They tend to make the repairs they would want, which are not necessarily what a buyer expects. Specific answers to this often-asked question largely depend on a variety of factors such as:
- Location of the home
- Time of year
- Market temperature
- Competing inventory
In general, there is no improvement you can make that returns 100% of your investment except for maybe insulation, but you can improve the value of your home with updates, not maintenance issues.
Home Repairs Before Selling a Home in Kansas City
Flooring Fixes
Wood floors are a hot item today, but preferences over the years have changed.
- Hardwood Floors
If your home has hardwood floors, that’s what buyers want, and it would pay to have the carpeting removed and the floors refinished. - Carpeting
If your sub-floor is plywood, then replace the carpeting with light tan. Neutral carpeting is your best bet for resale. - Ceramic
Replace chipped or cracked tiles. Clean or replace the grout. But don’t install ceramic (it’s too expensive) unless it’s for aesthetic reasons in an entry way.
Buyers today prefer alternate flooring in those areas, and there are plenty of styles to choose from. The most popular are engineered wood floors, which can be installed very inexpensively and, in some cases, you can do it yourself.
Paint Ceilings & Walls
Buyers spend more time than you would think staring at ceilings. They are looking for signs of a leaky roof, but what you don’t want them to see are stains from grease or smoke and ceiling cracks.
Nothing says freshness like new paint, and it’s the most cost effective improvement. Use fiberglass tape on large cracks, cover with joint compound and sand.
- Wallpaper: It’s not that all buyers hate wallpaper. They hate your wallpaper – because it’s your personal choice, not theirs. And they hate all dated wallpaper. Get rid of it. The easiest way is to steam it off by using an inexpensive wallpaper remover steamer. Compare Prices
- Wood paneling: Even if your wood paneling is not real wood but composite, you can paint it. Dated paneling must go. Older wood paneling such as walnut, mahogany, cedar and pine, it’s all gone out of style. Paint it a neutral and soft color after priming it.
- Textured ceilings: Older popcorn ceilings with the “sparkles” often contain asbestos and if disturbed are health hazards. But even recently sprayed ceilings turn off buyers. It’s not expensive but it is time consuming to remove. Lay down drop cloths and scrape it off. You will need to repaint.
Kitchen Improvements
Appliances and cabinets are typically the most expensive items to replace in a kitchen. However, if your cabinets are dated and beat-up, your house might not sell if the cabinets aren’t replaced.
Kitchen remodels return nearly 100%. According to Remodeling Magazine, the high-end kitchens don’t return as much as the mid-range or minor kitchen remodels. Most buyers won’t pay extra for a built-in Sub Zero refrigerator, professional 8-burner stove, under-mount sink or Travertine floors.
- Cabinets: Replacing with new Kansas City cabinets is cost-prohibitive and resurfacing is an inexpensive option. This involves attaching a thin veneer to the surface of the cabinets and replacing the doors and hardware Compare Prices. If your cabinets are simply dated, like oak, consider painting the wood a trendier color and adding new hardware.
- Counter tops, sinks & faucets – Granite counters are not always necessary, but ask your agent. Simple laminates, newer faucets, especially pre-rinse faucets are popular, and sparkling sinks will also sell. Buyers don’t want to spot leaky faucets or stained sinks. Be sure to caulk to make it look even more inviting.
Bathrooms
The national average of recouped cost is generally near 100% for bathrooms. New floors, fixtures and lights payoff. Carpeting is a huge turnoff in the bath.
If you cannot get the shower doors or glass fixtures clean, consider replacing the door. Lime deposits can etch glass and cannot always be easily removed. If the tub is stained, consider refinishing the tub.
Paint a light color if the space is small. Lighter colors will make it seem bigger than it is. The wall color in the bath does not need to match other rooms in the house.
Roofs and Exterior
If your home needs a new roof, do it and make sure you hire a top roofing contractors Kansas City or Missouri. Even though most roofing tear-off jobs take one to two days, buyers shy away from buying a home if the roof needs to be replaced. A new roof probably won’t increase your sales price because it is a maintenance issue, but it will open up the pool of buyers who will buy your home.
- Patch cement cracks in sidewalks
- Resurface asphalt driveways
- Plant flowers
- Caulk windows and doors
- Replace doorknobs and locks
- Fix or paint fences (replacing is generally not necessary)
One Stop Easy Button Real Estate
KC Property Guys – www.TheKCPropertyGuys.com – Kansas City Investment and Real Estate. We provide quick close cash options for Kansas City Homes and Assist to Sell – equity financed home improvements for those needing home improvements prior to selling. We pay for the improvements prior to selling. Contact us for details. Contactus@TheKCPropertyGuys.com
