Smart Renovations: Improvements that Pay
So you’re thinking about doing a kitchen facelift, putting on an addition or landscaping your yard.
If you’re renoing your house with an eye to upping resale value, you may want to focus your dollars on projects that will give you the best return.
1) THE KITCHEN
Kitchen renos usually offer the best return of any major improvement. Just make sure you’re keeping your update in line with the rest of the house and with other homes in the neighborhood. If you put a $60,000 kitchen into a $200,000 house, you don’t have much of a chance of recouping your costs.
Don’t have major bucks to sink into your kitchen? Sometimes a small facelift like new hardware, freshly painted cabinets or new appliances can make a big difference – to both your resale value and your own appreciation of the space.
2) THE BATHROOM
Buyers like bathrooms that are up-to-date and stylish. Despite being one of the most expensive renos you can undertake (second only to kitchens) updating an existing bathroom or adding a new one can really boost the value of your home. If your home only has one bathroom, adding a second one is always a good idea. Or, if you live in a neighborhood where everyone else has three bathrooms and you only have two, keeping up with the Joneses can keep your property values up, too.
3) THE BASEMENT
Finishing your basement (or your attic or any other unfinished area) can increase the value of your home tremendously. Adding living space almost always pays for itself. Plus, it’s more cost-effective than building an addition.
4) ADDITIONS
A well-constructed addition usually offers a good return at resale. Improvements that increase functional space (rather than just making your home look better) hold their value longer. Just be careful not to add on so much that there’s no space left on the outside; a yard that’s too small may not appeal to buyers.
5) HARDWOOD FLOORS
Wood floors are elegant, durable and easy to keep clean. Stick with light or medium wood; dark wood looks formal and isn’t to everyone’s taste. It’s a pricey update, but you can usually recoup a good portion of what you pay for new floors – as long as your buyer doesn’t prefer wall-to-wall.
6) NEW PAINT (Interior and Exterior)
Painting your home is inexpensive, easy, and is one of the few investments you can make that will likely see a significant profit. Stay away from intense or unusual colors that won’t appeal to most buyers – tasteful, current neutrals are best. If you’re painting the outside, keep colors in line with other homes on your street.
7) NEW DECK
An attractive, well-designed deck is a cost-efficient way to add usable square footage to your home, and offers excellent payback.
8) GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS
These may seem boring, but overall, fixing the small stuff may increase the value of your home the most. Before you spend money putting in a Jacuzzi tub, first see if any structural or mechanical fixes take priority (like roof repairs, fixing a leaky basement, repairing doors that stick, dripping faucets, etc.) The Jacuzzi isn’t going to impress anyone if the toilet doesn’t work.
Improvements that DON’T pay
# An In-ground Pool: Since many buyers don’t want the maintenance and responsibility that goes with having a pool, installing one can actually detract from the value of your home.
# Major Lanscaping: If it looks like it will require a lot of work and money to keep up, it generally won’t appeal to buyers, no matter how nice it looks.
# Replacing heating or A/C: You may make half of your money back at resale.
# Replacing windows and doors: If they’re old and drafty, you’ll need to replace them, but it’s an expensive repair that you won’t likely see reflected in your sale price.
=> Quality counts: Whatever improvements you decide to make to your home, don’t cut
corners to save money. A poorly done reno will detract from the value of your home, especially if buyers decide they need to redo it.
=> Callout: If you’re renoing your house with an eye to upping resale value, focus
your dollars on projects that will give you the best return.
MARKETING TIPS
1- Prepare Your Home to Shine
Together, we’ll transform your home into a space buyers instantly fall in love with. I’ll personally walk through your property with you and provide expert staging advice — from furniture placement and décor touches to paint colours and decluttering strategies — all designed to showcase your home’s full potential, attract more buyers, and maximize your selling price.
2- Price Your Home with Confidence
Pricing your home correctly is one of the most important steps to a successful sale. I’ll provide you with a detailed market analysis, including recent sales in your neighbourhood, so you can feel confident knowing your home is positioned competitively and strategically in today’s market.
3- Create a Stunning Presence
Your home deserves to stand out. I’ll craft a compelling listing complete with high-quality photography, captivating descriptions, and all the details buyers are searching for — creating a powerful first impression that drives interest and showings.
4- Market Your Home Everywhere Buyers Are Looking
Exceptional homes deserve exceptional marketing. Your property will be showcased through a strategic marketing campaign tailored to attract qualified buyers — including my website, social media, email campaigns, feature sheets, “Just Listed” postcards, digital presentations, newsletters, and targeted advertising designed specifically for your home and ideal buyer audience.
5- Leverage my Broker Network
Sometimes the right buyer comes through the right connection. I actively promote your property to other Brokers through calls, emails, networking, and personal outreach — doing everything possible to maximize exposure and create opportunities for your sale.
6- Stay Informed After Every Showing
You’ll never be left wondering what buyers are thinking. After every showing, I’ll personally follow up and provide you with honest feedback, buyer impressions, and insights that help us understand interest levels and position your home for success.
7- Guidance and Communication Every Step of the Way
Selling your home is a major milestone, and you deserve constant support throughout the process. I’ll keep you updated regularly so you always know exactly where things stand. Whether you have a quick question or need advice, I’m always just a phone call, text, or email away — seven days a week.
8- Negotiate Fearlessly on Your Behalf
When offers come in, my job is to protect your interests and fight for the best possible outcome. I will skillfully negotiate not only the higher price possible, but also the strongest terms and conditions — ensuring you feel confident, protected, and fully supported from start to finish.