If you’re like many people, you know that making a few home improvements can boost your house’s resale value – so if you’re selling a home in Scottsdale this year, these three upgrades may make a big difference.
3 Home Improvements to Consider Before You Sell Your Home in Scottsdale
Although you should always talk to your Scottsdale real estate agent before you make any home improvements, these may be worth looking into:
- Invest in energy efficiency
- Improve curb appeal
- Update fixtures
Before you tackle any of these tasks, it’s important that you make repairs wherever necessary. If you have a dripping faucet, a cracked paver leading up to your home, or peeling paint somewhere, you should choose to handle those issues before you make any upgrades. And as always, you should talk to your real estate agent before you pour your hard-earned cash into a home you’re trying to sell – you want to make sure your investments are wise ones that will pay off at the closing table.
Here’s a closer look at each of these potential improvements; you can check them out before you even talk to a real estate agent.
#1. Invest in Energy Efficiency
Buyers love energy efficient home features, from smart and programmable thermostats to ENERGY STAR-certified appliances in the kitchen. That’s because buyers know that over time, energy efficient homes save them money, cause less harm to the Earth and are easier to live in. Even better news for you, too: There’s a growing body of evidence that suggests homes with a green footprint sell faster and for more money, too.
#2. Improve Curb Appeal
Your home’s exterior is the first thing that prospective buyers see when they show up for a tour, and they begin forming their first impressions from inside the car. You need buyers’ first impressions to be good ones because they’ll bring them into the house, which works in your favor.
You can boost your curb appeal in several ways, including:
- Painting the door and trim
- Investing in a new mailbox
- Putting up new house numbers
- Adding potted plants to your porch
Your real estate agent can talk to you about other great ways to improve curb appeal, too, so you can give buyers a positive (and long-lasting) first impression.
#3. Update Fixtures
Fixtures can date a home – and that goes for faucets, lights, switch plates and more. Stroll through your home and look at the faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms, the light fixtures in each room (including bedrooms and bathrooms), and even the light fixtures attached to the outside of your home. If any of them look a bit dated, you may want to make a quick trip to your favorite home improvement store to see if there are affordable, modern alternatives. Most people can upgrade a faucet or light fixture without professional help, but if you’re in doubt about your abilities, talk to your real estate agent. He or she may be able to recommend a local contractor with a great reputation.