Thinking of Selling, Top 10 Home Improvements that Pay You Back!

If you're planning to sell your house any time soon, home improvements that build property value should be on your to-do list.  With the market picking up, more and more people are starting to get their homes on the market and the demand for new homes is still out there!   With so much competition out there it is always a good idea to stage your home well and have it in "move-in ready" condition.  It will be make it more appealing to those looking at your home and comparing it to the other homes on the market.

Planning home improvements that pay you back at the time of sale requires a strategic vision as well as design, finish and product selections that welcome the widest possible range of buyer tastes. Drawing on tips from real estate pros, along with Remodeling magazine's annual Cost vs. Value Report, here are 10 home improvements that pay you back when you sell.
  

Front entry doors: Curb appeal is the first step in a successful home sale, and installing a beautiful, high-quality entry door is a simple home improvement that delivers impact both in buyer drive-by's and online listings. A new entry door will also help lower home energy costs and stand up to weather extremes. 


Siding: A tight, tidy home contributes to curb appeal and takes major home improvement worries off a potential buyer's list. Spruce up your home's exterior by repairing or replacing siding for an eye-catching, protective finish.


Attic bedroom: Converting an attic into useful living space is a smart way to add value and attract those shopping for multi-generational family homes. "Parents are moving in with their kids and vice versa.


Decks: Building a deck is one of the least-expensive ways to extend your living space. Composite decking is a great low-maintenance option, and even building a deck from pressure-treated wood can bring a return on investment of up to 80 percent at the time of sale.


Kitchen: The kitchen is a major selling point for a home, and its appearance and layout can often be a deal-breaker. Improving your kitchen doesn't have to be a huge investment, however: just replacing counter tops, key appliances or cabinet hardware can transform a kitchen's look and impact.


Windows: Installing replacement windows is a pre-sale home improvement that pays for everyone, with the seller earning valuable energy tax credits and the buyer enjoying lower home energy bills. Especially in older homes, buyers always seem to appreciate when new, better windows have been put in. People like the energy efficiency aspect now more than ever.

Basement: Make the most of this bonus space by finishing it for use as an apartment, office or entertainment zone ─ more great ways to appeal to multi-generational households.

Bathroom: Along with kitchens, bathrooms tend to age easily, so neutralize potential design objections by replacing the vanity, installing efficient fixtures and choosing hardware that facilitates easy access for all. 

Backup power generator: With the aging electrical grid becoming less reliable, access to backup power is essential for a home. Gone are the days of bulky, smelly, portable gas-powered generators: You can now have a neat, compact standby generator installed right next to your outdoor AC unit that can repower most of your home within seconds of losing electricity from the utility.

Additions: If done wisely and in a way that won't price your home out of the local market, additions are valuable home improvements. Add a second story, expand into a master suite, enlarge the garage or create an extra bathroom for a busy household.

A final thought, of course your home is your castle, and you want to be pleased with the way your home looks while you're in it, but you don't want to put in things that are extremely personal. For instance, choose colors that are neutral, it doesn't mean that everything has to be beige and bland, but you don't want to pick colors that the average person isn't going to like.

And remember when someone is out looking for their new home and thinking about the cost of investing in a new home, the last thing they want to add to that list is a "to-do list."