Are you considering selling your home in Sacramento? If so, you might be thinking about making a few repairs and upgrades before you list it. Some changes can be lucrative and pay in the long run. However, not all upgrades are created equal. That stone sculpture in the backyard? Yeah, money down the drain.
Updating and beautifying your home is a sure-fire way to get more potential buyers in the door. However, many sellers make the mistake of making too many upgrades or adding amenities that do not increase the property value. Some people even make upgrades that end up turning buyers off to making an offer! Before you take a sledgehammer to the bathroom wall or make a trip to the home improvement store, consider making only the upgrades that will pay for themselves by substantially increasing your home’s value (which includes necessary repairs, of course).
Read on to learn about some upgrades to avoid as you prepare your Sacramento home for sale.
Don’t Add a Pool to Build Value
You will not be able to add the price you pay for a pool onto the previous value of the home. It doesn’t work that way. We have seen people spend over 50k to add a new pool, only to be able to add a couple thousand to their asking price. Unless you plan on swimming in the pool yourself for years to come, a pool will end up costing you more than it adds value. Point blank: A pool doesn’t provide returns.
Don’t Get So Personal
Avoid overly customized designs. This can include bold red kitchen cabinets, unique stone in the bathroom and anything else that you consider one of a kind. Consider toning down bold colored rooms and creating environments that are a bit more neutral and appealing to a broader spectrum of buyrs. A can of paint is a lot less expensive than a total room redo. Point Blank: Don’t make dramatic design choices right before you sell.
Don’t Decide for Your Buyers
If there are obvious repairs or upgrades needed, don’t make them. Instead, provide a credit to the buyer, so they can have things done the way they want. It can be a great incentive when buyers have the ability to decide on the details of the home. People will be attracted to the idea of choosing their own countertops and lighting fixtures. Replacing the carpet is also pointless when the buyer may want to put in hardwood flooring anyway. Point Blank: Don’t make upgrades based on your own personal enjoyment or taste.
Make the Space Intentional
Keep the rooms as they were intended. Extra bedroom? Keep it a bedroom, not an office. Let the prospective buyers decide how they want to use the space. A room conversion will only knock down the perceived value. A 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home will get more traction than a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom + den at the same price. Also, a gym/office/library/breakfast nook can become confusing. Point blank: Plan your space with purpose.
What are the Neighbors Doing?
Take a look at other homes in your neighborhood and keep your upgrades somewhere in the middle. If you go too far with your add-ons, you will be targeting high-end buyers. And maybe your neighborhood isn’t known for that. In addition, you will alienate buyers who love your neighborhood but don’t want to pay the high price. Point blank: Keep your property competitive within your neighborhood, but don’t take it too far!