Real Estate Insight

When deciding which home improvements to make, many homeowners consider the amount ofresale value the improvement may or may not make and compare that against the cost of therenovation. Homeowners concerned with making home improvements that will pay off whenit’s time to sell the property, should consider the following tips.

• The first improvement/repair homeowners should consider are those that impact thehome’s basic structures and systems. Potential home buyers generally do not want toface expensive repairs, and if items such as the foundation, roof, air conditioning, waterheater, or other basic structure need to be fixed, the property will be considered a fixerupperand its market price will be discounted accordingly.
  
• Some minor replacements will produce big results for minimal cost. Replacing andcoordinating bathroom and kitchen hardware and fixtures are generally inexpensive, buttend to make a big difference. The same can be said for getting rid of any datedfinishes, such as old wallpaper and brass light fixtures.
  
• Homeowners who don’t know when or even if they will be able to sell their home areadvised to choose home improvement projects carefully. Unless the home is located inan upscale neighborhood and the property already is immaculate, owners can skipexpensive upgrades – such as remodeled bathrooms – and focus on the fundamentals.