The Repairs That Will Help Sell Your House in a Cooling Market
More sellers are remodelling properties to avoid cutting prices, though some projects pay off more than others
More sellers are remodelling properties to avoid cutting prices, though some projects pay off more than others
The playbook for selling a home needs a makeover, and often so do the houses.
Selling a house takes much more elbow grease than it did a year ago. Homeowners earlier could expect a bidding war the moment they staked the for-sale sign in the front yard, even if the property was in dire need of updating.
With mortgage rates now pushing 7%, buyers are harder to come by and easier to turn off, real-estate agents say. Making repairs or even small cosmetic improvements that buyers care about could make the difference between getting your asking price or giving a discount.
Between mid-July and mid-August, about 95% of home sellers made updates or repairs before listing their properties, up from 71% of sellers six to 12 months ago, according to Realtor.com. They spent an average of $14,163.
Not all renovations are worth the cost for sellers, data suggest. The top three interior remodelling projects with the highest return on investment are a hardwood-flooring refinish, new wood flooring and an insulation upgrade, according to a recent National Association of Realtors report.
Some sellers might find that smaller fixes such as a fresh paint job can make a bigger impression on buyers than pricier changes such as a renovated third bathroom, real-estate agents said.
“Sometimes, the upgrades that aren’t the sexiest pay off the most,” said Judy Dutton, executive editor at Realtor.com.
A big remodelling project, such as a new kitchen or deck, might not be worth the investment and delay a seller’s timeline, given supply and labor shortages, said Jessica Lautz, a vice president at NAR. Focus on more affordable projects that appeal to buyers and look beautiful in photos, such as refinishing hardwood floors, she said.
A hardwood-flooring refinish has a 147% cost recovery, meaning homeowners are likely to recoup well more than the cost, said Ms. Lautz. For comparison, a kitchen upgrade has a 67% cost recovery.
Consider the smaller things that are likely to turn buyers off and fix them fast. Mitigating strong odours is a relatively low-cost fix that helps sell a home, said Mark Barnes, a Realtor in Charleston, S.C.
Mr. Barnes got one client’s home a deep cleaning before showing it to potential buyers, because the scent of the owner’s dog overpowered the house.
The owner paid about $400 for the service, which included two carpet cleanings. The house sold for $475,000, about 5% over the list price, Mr. Barnes said. A deep cleaning could add $3,731 to the sale of a home, according to a recent report by HomeLight, a marketplace that connects home sellers with real-estate agents.
Enhancing curb appeal helps a home stand out to buyers and reduces seller concessions, said Darin Eppich, a Realtor in Los Angeles.
Mr. Eppich recommended his client David Garonzik resod the front lawn of a three-bedroom Woodland Hills, Calif., home as an improvement from the lawn that was dying from the drought. Mr. Garonzik considered putting in a desert landscape with rocks, but Mr. Eppich didn’t think the roughly $10,000 cost would be worth it or would seem as appealing to buyers.
Mr. Garonzik is hoping the $4,000 improvement will help him land more than the home’s $1 million asking price, though it is too soon to know whether the gambit worked.
For apartment sellers, focus on cosmetic upgrades—unless there is an apparent flaw such as a leaky faucet or nonworking appliances, said Renée Lee, a real-estate agent in New York City.
Anything that isn’t broken, is costly to replace and isn’t overtly visible, such as a new central air-conditioning system, won’t impress buyers as much as improvements they can see, such as new doors for the kitchen cabinets or customisable closet shelves, she said. Aim to fix anything that an inspection would turn up, real-estate agents said.
Rising material costs are one reason to be judicious with the projects you choose. Utility is another.
Cindy Scholz said one of her clients wasted more than $1,000 repainting his home’s garage floor and re-wallpapering the inside of closets.
“Don’t fixate on items that don’t matter,” said Ms. Scholz, a Realtor in East Hampton, N.Y.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Americans now think they need at least $1.25 million for retirement, a 20% increase from a year ago, according to a survey by Northwestern Mutual
The construction sector is roaring back to life in some Australian states while others languish in the doldrums
The home building market is on the rebound as building approvals rise, new data reveals.
Information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the total number of dwellings approved in August was up 7 percent seasonally adjusted, with apartments leading the way.
Private sector house approvals gained 5.8 percent in August while private sector residences excluding houses were up 9.4 percent. This follows on from a decrease of 14.6 percent in July and indicates a solid recovery in the Australian construction sector as the end of the year approaches.
Approvals for total dwellings were strongest in the two largest states, with Victoria recording a rise of 22.2 percent and NSW 12.5 percent. Western Australia also saw a significant rise of 12.3 percent.
In Queensland, the results were less positive for the sector, with total dwelling approvals falling by -26.9 percent. Tasmania also experienced a drop in approvals in August, down -10.1 percent and South Australia -6.9 percent.
Chris Dixon, a partner who led the charge, says he has a ‘very long-term horizon’
Americans now think they need at least $1.25 million for retirement, a 20% increase from a year ago, according to a survey by Northwestern Mutual