Getting Your Home Ready to Sell: Quick Fix or Makeover?

An Industry Insider’s Guide to Value in the Cashiers, NC Real Estate Market

Looking to get the highest dollar for your home? If you’ve got a home for sale in Cashiers, NC, you may be tempted to get it ready for market by updating your fixtures or finally committing to that bathroom remodel you’ve been putting off. While this can be an effective strategy to drive up the asking price for your home, it doesn’t always yield a huge return on your investment.

So, what’s a reliable payoff and what isn’t worth the effort? What areas of the home should you focus on? Should you even bother putting money into your property before selling it? What’s what when it comes to getting the best price for your home?

The Cashiers, NC real estate veterans at Caliber Fine Properties have you covered with insider insights in this month’s blog!

Weighing the Cost

During our decades-long careers in the Cashiers/Highlands real estate market, we’ve seen a lot of home sales. Across the area, from the homes for sale in Sapphire, NC to the ones in Lake Glenville, homes for sale can all benefit from a little TLC when it comes time to sell–it’s the easiest way to increase the value of your home.

But believe it or not, you don’t need to break the bank or undertake huge renovation projects to increase your appraisal price. In fact, in our experience, a series of smaller, quicker updates can see higher returns than one bigger project.

As you go through your house with an eye toward getting it ready for market, there’s some improvements we’ve seen that are always worth the effort .

And then there’s some that aren’t.

Painting the Walls

Painting is always a good idea. But there’s no need to spring for professional painters to come through with a fresh coat. In our experience, you’ll get the same results with a round of paint touch-ups. Taking the time to quickly cover any chipped or marked areas on your walls with a small coat of paint gives the same impression a full-blown paint job would–at a fraction of the time and cost.

Paint touch-ups: Totally Worth It.

Make Windows A Focus

Windows are a feature potential buyers will naturally gravitate towards. Good windows can be the difference between a room someone wants to be in and one they don’t. But short of a total refitting and replacement, there’s only so much you can do to revitalize them. Putting up new curtains is a great way to achieve the appearance of new windows without breaking the bank–and you can even bring them with you to your new place!

New Curtains: Totally Worth It

…But Not That Much of a Focus

At the same time, don’t get trapped into making windows too much of a focus during your improvements. If you’re just looking to increase your asking price, a window treatment is more of an investment than it’s worth, and won’t move the needle much.

Window Treatments: Not Worth It

The Devil’s in the Details

They say the devil’s in the details. Well, it turns out the dollars are in the details too! Specifically, the details in your kitchen, bathrooms, and on the home’s exterior.

To make these areas of the home really stand out and increase the perceived value of your home, just focus on the small stuff: the grouting and the hardware. Cleaning the grout between tiled areas make the tiles stand out and look closer to brand new. Similarly, updating the handles and other cabinet hardware in your kitchen and bathrooms—either to modernize the look or simply replace old, worn pieces—will help those rooms feel like new again.

Outside the home, be sure to replace any old or rotten wood on decks, steps, porches and elsewhere. And don’t underestimate the power of pressure washing the exteriors to brighten and refresh your home’s overall look.

Detailing Inside and Outside: Totally Worth it.

Inspection Time

Before your house goes to market, consider having a certified professional home inspection. In our experience, this is a good idea! For around $400-$500, the inspection report lets you stay ahead of any behind the scenes issues in need of repair. Although a buyer will have their own inspections during their due diligence period, your professional inspection report will call out which items in the house need your extra time and effort.

Pre-Inspections Before Going to Market: Totally Worth it.

Extreme Landscaping Makeover

A lot of folks ask us about their yard. After all, it is the first thing a potential buyer encounters, right? Having a well maintained lawn is great, but hiring a professional landscaping makeover team is more of a headache than anything else.

Between the cost and the scheduling, the return on investment isn’t worth the effort. Besides, most new owners will come through with their own landscapers. At the end of the day, though, folks are buying the home and not the lawn.

At the same time, that isn’t to say you should let your yard become wild, untamed, or overgrown. In fact, there’s a ton of value you can extract from your asking price with a little elbow grease from your regular lawn maintenance company! Having them trim the bushes, mow the lawn, and add new mulch and pinestraw can go a long way towards a sale—there’s just no need to shell out big bucks for something that won’t payoff.

Professional Landscaping: Not Worth It

Take Aim at Your Best Price

Once you’ve got your home list-ready, you’re going to need agents who can help you hit your top value. When you’re ready to hit that bullseye, take aim with Caliber Fine Properties.

For more expert advice on upgrades, improvements, and home sales, schedule a chat with Ali and Kati today!