The best advice I can offer any friend or client who is presenting their home for sale to the marketplace now or in the future is this: Update your home!
And I also add, it doesn’t have to be done all at once. Each year, take on a new project.
That is exactly what I have done in my home. Our original master bathroom was the first to go, followed by three upstairs bathrooms. In 2010, we refinished our hardwood floors, installed custom cabinetry in our second-floor family room and then we completed our kitchen makeover.
Now that I work with buyers and sellers, I can honestly say that what my husband and I did has helped us keep pace with rising real estate prices and the buyer expectations that go with an updated home.
Recently, I undertook a renovation for a client who was getting ready to list her home. The options were to put up a fresh coat of paint and list it in its current condition, or do some major updates that would have an impact on the design, the condition of the home and the price.
Here is a list of what we did to 34 Valencia St., a coastal traditional home in the heart of Ponte Vedra beach.
· Rethink your flooring: The buyer today wants clean, sophisticated flooring that is the same throughout the home. Our choice for the home at Valencia Street was a beautiful European Oak floor named Nottingham.
· Paint your home inside and if needed outside: Today’s colors are cool and light. White is the new gray. After putting several samples on the walls on Valencia Street, the winner was Sherwin Williams Pure White. It brings so much life to a room, and other colors can be added with accessories.
· Update kitchens and bathrooms:
o The kitchen: The kitchen is the heart of the home. Whether you are cooking, entertaining or doing homework, the kitchen is the center of activity. Create a kitchen that is unique but one that will also stand the test of time. White cabinets are timeless and the most popular color for buyers.
o The bathroom - Increase and elevate your home’s look and its value. According to HGTV.com., the No. 1 re-model is a minor bathroom remodel, which the site says will cost about $10,500 to replace the tile surround, tub, floor, toilet, sink, vanity and fixtures. The site also says you will get back an average of $10,700 at re-sale and a recoup of 102 percent.
· Countertops, appliances and backsplashes: Whether you choose granite, quartz or marble, this design upgrade will stand out when you are selling your home. Don’t forget the backsplash. This simple and relatively inexpensive upgrade will complete the kitchen along with updated appliances. Stainless steel is still a buyer favorite.
After you complete your renovations, sit back and enjoy the new look of your home for many years.
