Realistically, before most homes go on the market they may need to go through some minor, or perhaps major, renovations so that buyers can not only envision themselves in a new beautiful home, but are faster to buy the home since less work is needed to complete it. When it comes to home renovations that provide a good return on investment, the first things that often come to mind are kitchens and bathrooms. While turning your old kitchen into a bright centrepiece definitely has its pro’s, it’s not always clear whether you should invest thousands of dollars in a kitchen renovation just before listing.

Here are some tips to keep in mind before taking the dive into renovating your home.

Did The Neighbours Renovate?

The first step in planning a home renovation right before selling is to consider what is typical for comparable homes in your neighbourhood. The Sidorova Inwood Team will most definitely be able to help present comparable properties that have sold in your neighbourhood to give you a feel as to whether other homes in the area have updates which you in turn should also consider. Ideally, you’d find one or two that have renovated kitchens and one or two with older, more lived in kitchens.

With the help of an agent, you can determine if your home will appreciate in value after the renovation, or if it will seem over-priced in comparison to other homes in your neighbourhood.

Don’t Over-Do It

While the researched comparable homes may support the idea of renovating your kitchen, it’s important not to over-improve your home. Don’t decide on a double wide gas range with pot fillers if the homes around you have builder basic stainless steel. These improvements won’t necessarily equal up to dollars on the sale price, and may end up doing more harm than good.

Keep It Neutral

Renovating a kitchen for resale versus for your personal enjoyment are definitely two different things. The point of renovating your kitchen is to appeal potential buyers, so it’s important to stick to choices that will appeal to the mass market or at least something that’s neutral. Choices like cabinet and wall colouring and appliances are crucial. While we all have very specific taste, try to move away from personalizing the kitchen to your individual style.

Don’t Go Overboard

You would be surprised just how far a small renovation will go. You don’t need to renovate the entire kitchen and spend thousands of dollars. Small-scale updates like switching your counters or adding a tile backsplash may have the perfect effect you’re hoping for without the crazy cost. Also, rearranging the kitchen’s layout as the cost of rerouting power and plumbing is expensive and may not even be noticed by potential buyers. Only make these types of changes if there are serious issues with the current layout that could affect your sale.

Consider Renovating Elsewhere

A real estate agent will be able to help you and let you know whether you should focus on renovating the kitchen or whether renovations are needed elsewhere. While a new kitchen is ideal, you may need to focus on improving other areas of the home. These renovations include painting the whole house with neutral but appealing colours, changing light fixtures, etc. While these changes may sound simple, they will definitely appeal more to buyers and won’t cost much.

Thinking of selling your home and are unsure whether you should invest in some renovations? Give us a call!