David Bruce

September 6th, 2011

Home Improvements That Help You Sell (for more $$$)

If you’re planning to sell your Richmond area home any time soon, home improvements that build property value should be considered. It’s still a buyer’s market in Central Virginia, and Richmond home shoppers want homes that are move-in ready and free of the need for improvement projects that will add to their out of pocket expense of moving. The key is making sure that the home improvements you make pay you back.  Check out these suggestions!

Front  doors: Curb appeal is the first step in a successful home sale, and installing a beautiful, high-quality entry door is a simple home improvement that delivers a high impact for a small investment. A new entry door will also help lower home energy costs and stand up to weather extremes.

Attic Rooms: Converting an attic into useful living space is a smart way to add value and attract those shopping for extra living space and bedrooms.

Decks: Building a deck is one of the least-expensive ways to extend your living space. Composite decking is a great low-maintenance option, and even building a deck from pressure-treated wood can bring a return on investment of up to 80 percent at the time of sale.

Siding: A tight, tidy home contributes to curb appeal and takes major home improvement worries off a potential buyer’s list. Spruce up your home’s exterior by repairing or replacing siding for an eye-catching, protective finish. And for way less than the cost of siding replacement, consider adding easy-to-install decorative trim elements made of high-density polyurethane foam to spruce up an otherwise dull exterior.

Kitchen: The kitchen is a major selling point for a home, and its appearance and layout can often be a deal-breaker. Improving your kitchen doesn’t have to be a huge investment, however: just replacing countertops, key appliances or cabinet hardware can transform a kitchen’s look and impact.

Windows: Installing replacement windows is a pre-sale home improvement that pays for everyone, with the seller earning valuable energy tax credits and the buyer enjoying lower home energy bills.

Basement: Make the most of this bonus space by finishing it for use as an apartment, office or entertainment zone ─ more great ways to appeal to multi-generational households.

Bathroom: Along with kitchens, bathrooms tend to age easily, so neutralize potential design objections by replacing the vanity, installing efficient fixtures and choosing hardware that facilitates easy access for all.

Backup power generator: With the aging electrical grid becoming less reliable and our occasional hurricanes access to backup power is a plus for a home. Gone are the days of bulky, smelly, portable gas-powered generators: You can now have a neat, compact standby generator installed right next to your outdoor AC unit that can repower most of your home within seconds of losing electricity from the utility.

Additions: If done wisely and in a way that won’t price your home out of the local market, additions are valuable home improvements. Add a second story, expand into a master suite, enlarge the garage or create an extra bathroom.

Questions about getting your home ready to sell?  Contact Skye Bruce Properties!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 at 8:36 pm and is filed under Selling Your Home. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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