Are you selling your house around the holidays? Does it need a facelift? Some home improvements can help you sell faster or even get a better deal. The alternative is to lower your asking price to cover renovations the buyer pays out of their own pocket.
But which improvements have the most impact and the best ROI? Here are 11 home improvements we recommend to do before the holidays, if you’re selling a property.
1. Remodel the Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where family comes together, especially around the holidays. So when buyers visit this time of year, you want the kitchen to make a good, lasting impression.
Kitchen improvements include a new backsplash, upgraded countertops and flooring, refinished cabinets, and better lighting.
2. Fix Up the Bathroom
The bathroom is a private space, and it should be nice. Fortunately, most bathrooms are small, so improvements do not take long. You can replace light fixtures, upgrade faucets and fixtures, retile the floor and shower, and repaint the walls.
3. Put Down New Floors
Your floors take a beating and see a lot of foot traffic. Wood floors especially get scratched and chipped and lose luster. Consider laying new planks or making the switch to tile for a fresh look.
4. Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
Inside and out! Interior walls and the exterior house siding will benefit from a fresh coat of paint. Think about it: when buyers drive up, do you want them to see drab or life?
You might also consider a coat of sealer on any surface of the house that gets covered by snow.
5. Repair the Roof
Winter is coming, and you’ll never go wrong if you patch or replace the roof to prevent leaks. Leaks can cause damage inside the house, so why not prevent additional repairs?
6. Seal Gaps and Add Insulation
Chilly drafts ruin energy bills and the warm, cozy feeling of the house interior. Check caulking and weather stripping, and seal where necessary. Get an R-Value for your insulation levels. The recommended level of insulation for most attics is about 10 to 14 inches.
7. Tune Up the Furnace
Speaking of cold weather and energy, get your HVAC system inspected to ensure its functionality. If it needs work, make repairs so your house is kept at a comfortable temperature, so that it’s cozy for buyers during walkthroughs.
8. Winterize Your Property
One of the most common mistakes by sellers, especially those with vacant properties, is failing to winterize. The worst is not draining and protecting your pipes from freezing: you risk them bursting and flooding the property.
Winterizing your house includes looking after the pipes, insulation, fireplace, gutters, roof, furnace, and windows and doors.
9. Improve Curb Appeal
Winter is when your plants go dormant. Hopefully, your online listing shows photos of your house in the spring or summer, when it looks its best.
The outside of the house is the first impression buyers have of the property as a whole. To jazz it up, you can do the following:
- Add cold weather plants
- Trim back trees and bushes
- Manicure the lawn
- Clean windows
- Paint front door
- Furnish the front porch
- Update lightning
Sell Your House Without Making Improvements
If you have neither the time nor the money to make improvements, you can always sell “as-is” to a real estate investor for cash.
But will I lose money? Most investors pay 70% of the market value AFTER repair value. The investor does not require repairs or renovations, even if the property is degraded or damaged. There’s no mortgage approval, no appraisal, nor an inspection. Moreover, the investor often pays all closing costs and additional sale fees, saving you money compared to a traditional sale.
If, however, the property is in good shape and in a good location, some investors will consider paying the market price or perhaps 2% to 3% less.
Either way, you can enjoy a quick closing, in 30 days or less, and focus on spending the holidays with family, perhaps in your new home.
