What home projects add value?
A: The home improvement projects that add the most value to properties are the items that check off the majority of questions and the to-do boxes buyers may have. Typically, bathrooms and kitchens are at the top of those lists — they are the most expensive but eliminate the burden and headache for an interested buyer.
Large projects can sometimes scare away people because of the time, money and logistics they require. Having this type of work done enables the buyer to retain some cash and not come out of pocket so heavily after escrow closes. With historically low rates, it tends to make more sense than doing the work and refinancing once the work is completed.
Typically, painting, new carpets, refinished flooring, sprucing up landscaping, cleaning and staging will make the house look more attractive and ultimately help the sellers achieve the best result. Most people wait until they are ready to sell to do these projects. I would encourage you to do some of these projects sooner so you can enjoy the improvements as well.
Also, it is a good idea to have a handyman, electrician or plumber come annually to do ongoing repairs and maintenance. Real estate in California has become so expensive that it is probably one on your biggest investments — and it is always wise to take care of your investments.
Matt Heafey, Grubb Co., (510) 541-1754, heafey@grubbco.com.
A: In order of effectiveness: Get rid of stuff, clean, paint, refinish floors and spruce up the garden.
Since open houses are concentrated into a short viewing period, buyers often need to rank which homes to visit. They often first drive past potential choices, and if the front of the house lacks appeal, it goes to the bottom of the list.
So start working on that garden right away, let plants mature while other tasks are done and cast a critical eye on your outside paint job. If you can’t repaint, at least power wash the exterior.
Also, start getting rid of stuff. Nothing makes a place feel smaller than crammed closets, cluttered kitchen and bathroom counters and overflowing cabinets.
After a thorough cleaning that includes washing windows inside and out, painting comes next. Ask for help from a professional as to what colors to choose, and do not cut corners by omitting some rooms or the woodwork.
Gleaming floors are a nice finishing touch and they should be done right before the home goes on the market. Finally, if at all possible, vacate the house and hire a stager. But if you need to be in the house during marketing, still bring in a stager to advise on what furniture to keep and how to rearrange what you have to appeal to the widest possible audience.
Astrid Lacitis, Vanguard Properties, (415) 860-0765, astrid@vanguardsf.com. A: The old adage that kitchens and bathrooms add the most value still rings true. When walking through a home with buyers, these are the two of the places we see people fall in love with a home.
A beautiful, functional kitchen conjures emotional images of entertaining and evenings with friends and a well-done bathroom feels spa-like and luxurious. Unless it’s your forever home, you want to keep resale in mind when remodeling. Choose cabinets and finishes that feel timeless but interesting and can easily be refreshed down the road when you’re ready to sell.
Clients also see a big return on opening walls to create a modern floor plan, installing hardwood floors and focusing on an indoor/ outdoor connection.
If you can’t afford or don’t want to take on a full-scale remodel, there are some very affordable fixes that can make a world of difference: Replacing light fixtures, painting kitchen cabinets (make sure you hire a professional painter to spray them), choosing new countertops and adding new kitchen/bath hardware are just a few ways to make a room feel brand new on a smaller budget. We’ve created a guide to just these changes here: www.realsfproperties.com/staging.
Kira Mead, Zephyr Real Estate, (415) 305-8737, kira@realsfproperties.com.
Want to contribute to Sound Off?
Send an email to Jordan Guinn at Realestate@sfchronicle.com