Fifteen Quick Improvements For Any Property
To get the biggest bang for your buck, focus on these money-winning
improvements when remodeling any potential investment property:
One - Fresh Paint: Strip any wallpaper from the walls and have
everything repainted with at least two coats of fresh paint. (I
recommend a satin finish for walls and gloss or semi-gloss for the
trim). Choose a light cream or white tint color to create bright yet
warm and inviting rooms. You can easily have the whole house painted in
the same colors. Don't waste time and money figuring out fancy interior
decorating schemes as every buyer has unique tastes and you can never
please everybody; going neutral makes the property appealing to the
widest audience. If you have stained interior trim as was popular twenty
years ago, have it repainted in white gloss. This will have an enormous
impact on the brightness of the interior and make the home feel bright
and fresh. Be sure to paint both the inside and outside of the house.
Don't skimp on painting by trying to do it yourself unless you are
skilled at painting. A bad paint job will deter buyers. (TIP: When
selecting a contractor, find one that places an emphasis on preparation.
Good preparation can take as long or longer than the actual painting. Be
sure all surfaces are properly sanded before being finished otherwise
your new paint job might just rub or peel off).
Two - New Carpets: Replace any carpets that do not look new,
Select a fashionable style (such as Berber) in neutral and light tones.
Don't worry about it getting dirty; you won't be living in the home and
the bright color lifts the room and makes it feel bigger. Be sure to
have a quality under-pad beneath the carpet so it feels luxurious as you
walk on it. Don't worry about using the same carpet throughout the
house; it will match the consistent paint coloring and give a feeling of
connectivity to the various rooms in the house.
Three - Refinish Hardwood: If your house has hardwood floors that
are looking tired and scratched or worn, revitalize them by having them
professionally sanded and refinished with an oil-based lacquer. (Tip:
before selecting a contractor, ask: how many coats the contractor
applies; what type of lacquer is used; how they prevent dust from
getting everywhere; what cleanup they do afterwards. Also make sure you
can pay a deposit upfront but hold the balance until the floors have
dried and you have had an opportunity to inspect the work).
Four - New wall plates: Simply replacing the cover plates on light
switches and power outlets can transform a house. Consider using all
brass plates or natural wood plates for a more rustic feel.
Five - Lighting: Take a close look at the light fittings and ask
yourself if you would choose to install them in your home. You can
probably transform the feeling of any room by easily changing the type
of light fitting in the room. Add dimmer switches to light fittings in
any room (not for fluorescent lamps). Consider how table lamps and
up-lighters might enhance the room or simply make dark corners brighter.
(Brighter rooms are more appealing). On the exterior, add low-voltage
pathway lighting, especially in winter sales months.
Six - Faucets/taps: Dripping taps indicate a lack of repair. It's
relatively straightforward to replace old taps with new washer-less
ceramic taps that both look elegant and give a great feeling to buyers
when they try them during tours. Add elegant kitchen and master bathroom
taps.
Seven - Basements: If the property has one and it's dry, make
sure the walls are either finished or painted so the space is not
perceived as dark and dingy. If the basement is wet, make it a priority
to remediate the problem; few buyers want to spend money to buy your
problems with damp. Add plenty of additional light to make the space
brighter and more inviting than expected (workshop fluorescent lights
are fine for basements).
Eight - Bathrooms: Replace tired old fixtures with new ones. They
are inexpensive and look much better, especially if pure white. The
bathrooms must be spotless. Invest in large floor to ceiling mirrors to
lend a sense of spaciousness in smaller rooms. Make sure lighting is
bright.
Nine - Appliances: If they are old get rid of them. Buy new
low-end appliances (unless your property is in the upper end of the
market). They are relatively cheap and they impress buyers. Be sure to
leave the labels on the appliances so buyers can immediately see they
are new when they are looking around the property.
Ten - Power Washing: Whether the property has a wooden (shingles
or clapboard) or a painted exterior, consider having the whole exterior
cleaned using a power washer. (This is especially effective on
shingle-faced houses, where power washing can make the shingles look
like new).
Eleven - A new front door: A new stained wood door on any home is
impressive. (Consider alternatives based upon the style of the house).
When replacing the door, be sure to use new door fittings too. (The door
trim should be freshly painted). Check the light fittings around the
door and make sure they are working and they look sharp. (Buy
replacement fittings if they are looking tired).
Twelve - Doormat: A new doormat that welcomes buyers is a simple
addition that can make a big difference for a small investment.
Thirteen - The lawn: If the property has a lawn that looks like
it has seen better days, simply replace it with new turf.
Fourteen - Flowers: Buy and plant flowering annuals or perennials
anytime but the winter. Plant these around the entrance and the
walkways. Use hanging baskets or plant pots and window boxes if
necessary to get the same feel without an available garden area.
Fifteen - Let the air in: No matter what the time of year, be
sure to let the house breathe. Open the windows and let the old stale
air out and the fresh air in.
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