Need to move along? Recoup your investment in Breckenridge real estate by paying attention to curb appeal, repaint with neutral colors, making repairs, and modernizing the kitchen and bathrooms. You'll sure to see the benefits at closing time. A little extra work can mean not only a smoother sale or a higher listing price but if there is a closing at all.
First things first. Simply drive up to your Summit County real estate and deliberately notice what you'd have to do to get your place on the cover of House Beautiful. Is the walk manicured? How about the trees? Look at the driveway and entryway. Many times the few thousand that it would take to paint the outside can be recouped immediately.
Anything you do cosmetically to increase curb appeal is going to add value to your Breckenridge home. A well-kept lawn gives the impression that the home is also well cared for. One professional advises "keep it green and keep it cut." Fertilize and mow the lawn to about three inches high at least twice a week when a home is on the market and two inches if the home is in a warm climate. Mowing creates density. Another way to help yourself out is to hire a landscaping company when you put the house on the market.
And some of the most effective improvements aren't very expensive. How about a shiny coat of burgundy paint on the front door and the shutters and a couple of potted plants outside? You want to make a good impression from the moment potential buyers pull up to the house, experts say.
Note the gutters, any peeling paint, especially note if the paint color on the outside of your home fits into the neighborhood.
When it comes to preparing a home's interior, any real estate professional will tell you to go with neutral colors and to remove the clutter. Clutter is distracting and makes it difficult for buyers to visualize their families in your space. Neutral colors, including beige and ivory, have the added advantage of making a room appear larger. And, of course, Shampoo the carpets, rebuff hardwood floors and oil wood cabinetry.
Make necessary repairs before selling. Homebuyers recognize the value of a house that doesn't need major repairs. According to the 2006 "Cost vs. Value" report from Remodeling magazine, a roof replacement for a midrange home cost an average of $14,276 and returned $10,553, or 73%, at resale. Replacing vinyl siding cost $9,134 on average, returning $7,963, or 87%, at resale.
Additionally, buyers love updated kitchens and bathrooms. It's hard to go wrong with a kitchen or bath remodel, unless you get a little too edgy with the design or the materials you use. Sellers should zero in on where these rooms need the most improvement and then decide how much they want to spend. If kitchen cabinets are structurally fine but their exteriors are outdated, it might be worth it to reface them. If counters are old, replacing them may add new life to the room. In the bathroom, look into resurfacing a chipped or damaged bathtub.
Sellers can provide some extra peace of mind to buyers by purchasing a warranty on their home that will cover such things as heating and plumbing, should the buyer run into problems after closing. Short of that, provide proof of any major repairs that have taken place in important spots such as the furnace. In the current "green" era, if any of the improvements cut energy costs, make that known, too.
© Copyright 2005-2008 by IMC & RealEstateColorado.com
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