Pre-Sale Renovation Checklist
Flooring
Remove outdated carpets and replace them with either laminate, hardwood flooring or ceramic tiles. These surfaces are easier to clean and are helpful to people who have allergies. Buyers are often specifically looking for updated flooring when they evaluate a potential home.
Fixtures and Hardware
Replace outdated doorknobs and handles on all doors, entrances and exits; cabinet hardware; bathroom fixtures; and lighting fixtures. This is an easy and fairly inexpensive fix that can offer a nice return on investment. If fixtures and hardware are not replaced, they can date a property and make it appear as if it has not been maintained.
Bathrooms
If your client does opt to undertake a bathroom upgrade, it’s often worth the money, as it’s considered the second most important room in the house. Upgrades can include new tile and grout, a new faucet and hardware, a new coat of paint, and upgrading or replacing cabinets.
Kitchen
This is widely considered the most valuable room in the house, but your clients don’t need to spend a fortune to make it look spectacular. Simple add-ons such as a deluxe faucet, cabinet door hardware, upgraded or new appliances, new lighting or adding a backsplash can help jazz up its appearance and functionality. They can also rebuild standard cabinetry at half the price of custom cabinets or using expensive materials.
Add an Income Suite
Depending on the city or municipality, if the neighborhood allows for income suites, your clients could potentially add 150 to 160 percent of equity into their home by putting in an extra suite, which could also be used for adult children or housing aging parents. This allows the owner to also potentially receive additional income through a tenant, though it depends on the market.
This article was provided by Pillar To Post home inspectors. For more information, go to pillartopost.com.
