Back to School, Back to the Grind

The school bells are ringing again. Welcome to a new school year! Whether you’ve just sent your little one to school for the first time, or you just became empty nesters and yours is now off to college, back to school means back to the grind for the family and the home.

This is a great time in the real estate market. Traditionally speaking, autumn and spring are always the most popular time for sellers to put their houses on the market. Although 2017 has been an interesting year in real estate thus far, it still has lots of promise. Interest rates are still low and home prices haven’t increased much this year. It’s going to be a good time to list.

To get you ‘list-ready’, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 home repairs that are most important to the potential buyers of your home. Remember, not all of these fixes are cosmetic. Many buyers look for homes that don’t entail major repairs right after closing. Also remember, these repairs are an investment to add more equity to your home value.

1. Structural & Mechanical Damage

It’s important to start with the big-ticket items like roof damage, air conditioner and heating system and water heater. Hopefully, these items are all in good working condition, but if you think you may have experienced hail damage or your A/C isn’t working properly, it’s best to have it evaluated at before you put your house on the market. If your budget doesn’t allow you to do these major repairs, talk with your real estate professional, we have ways to work around these issues. And, you can sometimes factor these into the negotiations at closing.

2. Flooring

One of the first things people notice when they walk into a house is the flooring, which means flooring creates value. If your floors haven’t been replaced within the last 10 years, it would be a good idea to invest in updating them now. Wood floors add warmth to the home, and the newest style for this is actually tile that looks like wood. Many prefer the had surface of tile if they have pets in the home.

3. Kitchen

Following flooring, the next two things buyers look for is the kitchen and bathrooms, which is why we’ve made those our #3 and #4 on this list. For so many people, the kitchen is the heart of the home, and so you want your kitchen to appeal to people in an inviting way. Simple ideas would be replacing the cabinet hardware, updated the backsplash or replacing the countertop with granite. Doing even one of these updates will make a big difference.

4. Bathrooms

Another big thing buyers want to see in a bathroom is that it’s clean. Funny as it may sound, it’s true! Clean tile and grout goes a long way in the bathroom especially in the shower. If you want to spruce it up a little, a new light fixture, nice mirror or granite countertop is a good way to go. Just be sure to keep it neutral and not too trendy in the design.

5. Exterior

The final part of the house we’d suggest you scrutinize isn’t the inside, but the outside of the house. How does the exterior of your home look? What’s your first impression as you walk up to the front door? Is the paint fairly new, is the siding clean, does the front door need cleaning or re-staining? How does the landscaping look? Take a walk outside and evaluate how it currently looks and what you could do to make it look better. Planting some seasonal flowers and spreading mulch in the flower beds makes a big impact and good first impression as potential buyers walk up to the house.

Do you have a question about real estate? If so, you can email Louise and ask her directly. Send your questions to AskLouise@louisebeard.com.