You have decided to move and are ready to sell your house, but you might be worried that your home is outdated. Many people believe that they need to remodel their whole home to appeal to buyers, but this is often unnecessary. There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding if you should remodel your home before you sell.
Budget versus Cost
When deciding if certain remodels are worth it, you must decide your budget. Consider how much money you are hoping to sell your house for to help decide how much money you should spend on remodeling. Think of it this way: if you buy a house for $150,000 and spend $50,000 in remodeling, selling for $200,000 gives you no profit. Make sure you know how much money you are trying to sell the house for versus how much you paid for it, and do NOT go over the difference of this cost when remodeling. Also, put aside some money in case any issues occur during remodeling. The cost of each item that you may be replacing, upgrading, fixing, or adding needs to be kept in mind; and you need to know the Return on Investment (ROI) involved. You want to make sure that whatever you add you will make your money back on. There are certain things that do not have a good ROI in any house, including garage adaptions, room additions, adding in carpet, and more. However, there are some items that have good ROI’s. These include laundry rooms— which are in very high demand for most home buyers—granite counters, backsplash, and more.
Function versus Appearance
You need to decide what you need to remodel for function versus what you want to remodel for appearance. The sink may look fine, but if it is not working properly, or if it is molding, you should replace it because the function is more important. Changing old, rusty pipes is also a necessary function to replace. On the other hand, some things may add to the appearance but do not carry a necessary function. For example, adding a backsplash is not needed, but it can add a lot to the appearance of the kitchen, and it is a low-cost addition that can bring a high ROI. You may also want to consider getting rid of any popcorn ceilings, as this is very unpopular now. When considering making changes to improve the appearance of a home to sell, the outside of the house is an important area to evaluate. As the first thing that potential buyers will see, the landscape and house exterior need to make a good first impression. The appearance of the outside might determine if someone wants to venture into the house itself. The landscape should be neat and simple, and the house should be clean and without cracks or holes. Keep in mind some things may just need to be cleaned. Clean the outside and inside of your house, take a good look at everything, and focus on what stands out. Look for any holes or broken fixtures, and focus on fixing these first. Do not start remodeling your kitchen or bathroom until you fix everything that needs immediate attention. This will help you determine if something even needs remodeling or if it just needs a quick cleaning, and this may save you a lot of money. Also, many people think they need to repaint the walls in their home to look the freshest, but this is often not needed. If the walls look good and there are no holes or chips in the paint, it will be good enough. The new homeowner may decide to change the color anyway, so it would be pointless to try to guess what color they may want. (Note: Keep the walls neutral colors, and try to have the walls complement the floors and ceiling. Avoid bold or black walls since these can turn people away.) Always decide what is functional versus what you just wish would look differently.
Small versus Big Replacements
A common action that is done by those who have decided to sell is to replace old parts of the home. This can be costly, and it may not always be needed. Instead of replacing everything, decide what should be upgraded. For example, decide if smaller items should be replaced instead of remodeling the whole bathroom. Maybe replace the mirror in the bathroom if it is dingy or really old, or update the lights to brighten the space. You can upgrade the shower by replacing the showerhead, if it is needed, instead of replacing the shower as a whole. Certain things will always be better replaced. Get a new faucet if yours looks old and dirty; this is not too expensive or difficult to do yourself and will ensure a good return on investment. Worn toilet seats should also be replaced. Another thing to keep in mind is the kitchen. Many people remodel their kitchen when they get ready to sell. This is not usually necessary and can be very costly. Often just small aspects need to be updated. Rather than replacing your cabinets entirely, repaint them or use new doors and handles. Make sure you do this correctly, as many people can stain their floors and mess up the cabinets if they do not do this properly. You could also replace the lighting so that there is a new and fresh look in the kitchen. If you’re wanting to make a bigger change and have the money to do so, choose upgrades that have good ROI. Upgrading to granite countertops might be expensive, but this has a great ROI. You could also consider replacing old appliances that you plan on leaving in the house, as this is what people will be looking for. Another thing that is important is the front door and windows. People nowadays are looking for steel doors, and this offers a great ROI. Newer, secure windows also have a high ROI, and this would be a good thing to highlight to buyers. If you do not go this route, perhaps you can upgrade the locks on your doors to look new and be more secure. Another thing to keep in mind is deciding what you will be taking with you to your new home. If your space allows, it might be helpful to upgrade the furniture that you will take with you to help with the staging of the home.
Selling your home can be a lot of work, and deciding if something needs to be remodeled can cause some stress. There are a lot of things that factor into remodeling and selling, but it is important to keep in mind the things that will help save you money as well as create a perfect environment for the new homeowners. Hopefully this helps ease some tension and you can use these tips for your home. 
Jade Paredes
Home and Yard Magazine
