Barbara Corcoran: Make These 4 Affordable Changes To Your Home Before Selling It
Written by
John Schmoll
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Home sellers typically want to receive top dollar on their house sale. With 21% of sellers reducing their price at least once in 2023, according to the National Association of Realtors, it’s reasonable that sellers want to do what they can to improve the probability of maximizing profit on a sale.
In a Modern Wellness Guide article, Barabara Corcoran shared tips on making wise, budget-friendly, upgrades to your home before listing it. Here are four affordable changes she encourages sellers to make to their homes that can reap profits.
Upgrade Your Kitchen Wisely
Kitchens are often the first thing buyers look at. Corcoran argued that the kitchen can make or break a house sale. Unfortunately, upgrading a kitchen can be costly. The average price of a major remodel runs $69,000, according to Home Depot.
Corcoran advised home sellers to be wise and focus efforts on things like a new refrigerator or flooring. She also said something simple like adding a new coat of paint to a room can make a big difference. These options are more cost-conscious and can return the cost spent at least.
Simple Bathroom Upgrades
Bathrooms are another major room buyers look at. Again, you don’t need to do a major upgrade. The average cost of a guest bath remodel is $14,000 to $20,000, according to Home Depot, as an example.
Instead, Corcoran directed sellers to identify ways to spruce up the bathroom. She suggested replacing the shower curtain, adding new, bright towels or reglazing the tub as possibilities. These costs aren’t exorbitant and can brighten a stuffy bathroom.
Add New Windows
It’s important to think like a homebuyer when selling. Buyers want a house to be bright and full of light.
For those with a little more to spend, Corcoran directed people to add new windows as that can improve light in the house. If you can’t afford to replace all of the windows, perhaps focus on the front windows to enhance light.
Improve the Curb Appeal
How a house looks from the curb matters to most buyers. Corcoran explained that the first 15 seconds the prospective buyer spends at a home are the most important.
She encouraged sellers to analyze how the outside of their house looks before listing, including basic things like freshening up the front door or mailbox. If you have any dead plants, she directed sellers to replace them or even spray paint them green to help boost the curb appeal.
Given that minor outdoor work will likely pay off, spending some cash on the exterior improves photos used in the listing, potentially driving more traffic to the house. Selling a house can be stressful. You don’t need to spend a lot to upgrade it to improve salability. Several, purposeful, affordable upgrades can freshen up a house and net a higher sales price.
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