Home Improvement – Home Goods – Home Decor – Home Furniture

I think you would benefit from watching Home and Garden TV. They have a program called, “My House is Worth What.” You might go on HGTV web site and see what you can find. I’d skip refinishing the basement or adding a deck. If the laundry room is down there, you could probably spruce that up a little and add some organization to it. Instead of a deck, add a patio–that is, if you can walk right out to the yard with the benefit of a step. Tile and granite in the kitchen seems to be what everyone wants. Why don’t you make friends with a real estate agent and have that person come over and give you some pointers.

Ahh, stainless steel appliances.

Pretend to be a buyer walking up to the house for the first time (remember the old proverb about “first impressions”?).

So fix whatever you see that might be objectionable as you walk up to and into the house. Beyond that, kitchens and bathrooms are the number one place to put $ $ , assuming that there aren’t gaping holes in the walls and worn-out hardwood floors elsewhere.

Finishing the basement would be a big plus, then the deck. The insulation is invisible, and I would leave that for last, if at all. The buy may find out about it from a building inspection, but that happens after they’ve invested some time and have had time to appreciate the house, and is unlikely to interfere with the deal going forward.

The agent you have to sell your home should be able to tell you what would get you the most bang for your buck.

Remember that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. Make sure they are done in excellent taste first. Then paint the entire inside of your house to give it a fresh clean look. Paint with flat paint on walls and ceiling; semi-gloss on trim and doors, if they need paint also; on bathroom ceiling and walls use either satin or semi-gloss, and semi-gloss on trim. Use a soft and cozy neutral color color…not white because it makes the room feel cold not cozy. Make sure carpet, if you have any, is updated and clean. Adding more insulation …. Would that be in the walls or floors? That may or may not be something to spend money on. Make sure your heating and cooling system is working efficiently. If you don’t spend money finishing the basement you will need to have it spotless and clutter free. The rest of the house needs to be clutter free as well. If you have a nice yard for cook outs etc. then a deck would be a wonderful selling point or a patio. It depends on what is the going thing in your part of the country….deck or patio? That should be your deciding factor. Make sure your curb appeal is GREAT because your house is a cookie cutter you need to make it stand out from the others. If you don’t have great curb appeal you will not get people into your house……hence….no sale. Sounds like you have a nice house that just needs sprucing up somewhat. Good Luck!!! I know you can do it.

anything that prevents a house from being “move-in ready” has to be first on your list.
Dont give potential buyers any reasons to say to themselves: “that has to be fixed/changed/upgraded before i can settle in”
providing that the plumbing, wiring, shingles,and foundation are all intact and solid, then move on to the more cosmetic aspects: curb appeal is very important as its what gives a buyer the first opportunity to either like or dislike your house, this is especially true in the warmer months when the landscaping will be most obvious.
Neutral, but attractively balanced colors are extremely important. Stick to earth tones for the exterior. Flowers, shrubs, well trimmed hedges, manicured lawn are always important features to welcome and entice buyers.
In all my experience with real estate, the most important points to keep in mind when selling your house are: *remove personal clutter *avoid strong bold colors in paint and furniture (unless you know exactly who your target buyers are for your area and have a perfect sense of what they like).
*make sure the house is as spotlessly clean as you can manage
*if you think your house could use more storage,add built in cabinets and enlarge closets if possible. (storage space is very high on buyers wish lists)
*Having more than one bathroom is an extremely strong selling point, adding one will give you a real edge.

i recommend you watch the show on HGTV, RESALE DESIGN, they have the most interesting tips, from the real estate people to the contractors, and hopeful buyers. and they do it very inexpensivly too! Good luck!