Take the general condition of the outside of the home into account as well. Where the surrounding yards are patchy and overgrown, it is not worth putting a ton of money into flower beds and trellises that people driving bymight mistake for a bed and breakfast stop-over or a fine place for their wedding reception. You know you have gone too far if people stop and ask how much it costs to rent the space. However, prospective buyers will also seek out new homes by driving around areas they like, looking at neighborhoods they think may be in their price range. Stone walks, hanging vines, and attractive flora will catch a buyer’s eye. You should, at a bare minimum, present an image of a well-cared-for house that is in solid condition. Standing out a little bit is not a bad thing, but don’t overdo it. Some agents say that the longer you are in the house after the renovation the more likely you are to recoup the costs as home prices tend to go up over time and natural appreciation will absorb whatever costs you incurred. On the other hand, other real estate professionals say that the more recent the renovation, the more likely a buyer will see that it is new and assign more value to it. If your privacy fence or bathroom are a few years old, they will have begun to show normal signs of age and blend into the rest of the property. In any renovation, be it landscaping, doorways, or kitchens, do not try to meet the highest demands of fashion. Make it contemporary, but don’t go for the bleeding edge of home design. Not only are you likely to spend too much money and price your home out of the market, but you are likely to find that a couple years down the road your height of fashion has become yesterday’s news. In short, keep it simple. If you are remodeling with an eye towards resale, less is often more. Simple projects like replacing exterior doors, fresh stain on the deck, and a fresh coat of paint are more likely to aid your home sale and result in a good ROI than larger projects like wholesale reconstructions and outbuilding additions. Make sure that the basics are set, taking care of leaking pipes and buggy appliances, and make sure all the doors and windows open and close as expected.
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