4,571,656
Actually here the answer is not short and it is certainly diverse. It is likely hyper-local and possibly more defined than that since people are unique. Cleanliness is important when establishing a good starting point and a desirable location....next....so many things come to mind....and then...poof... there is one more...
-
Erica Glessing
Morgan Hill, CA
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
David Gibson CNE, 719-...
Colorado Springs, CO
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
-
Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
3,344,906
I am with Michael Jacobs on this one. Every home is unique. One size "what works" does not fit in my market. I just sold a home that was very dated. The only thing the seller did was clean it and landscaped the backyard. We had multiple offers - home sold for over $1M.
-
Erica Glessing
Morgan Hill, CA
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
David Gibson CNE, 719-...
Colorado Springs, CO
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
-
Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
6,392,899
A good map
Good boundaries, clearly marked and mapped
Timber and Wildlife habitat assessment
Trails
Food plots
and more.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
David Gibson CNE, 719-...
Colorado Springs, CO
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
5,583,278
In my marketplace, most of our listings are in the $500,000 to $650,000 range.... an updated kitchen and bathrooms are fully expected in that price range.....
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Carpinteria, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,844,171
White trim & 6 panel doors with slightly darker walls than before.
Kitchen cabinet upgrades
Laminate is just horrible so hardwood or the ceramic tile that looks like wood in the 6x16" panels.
New windows
-
Erica Glessing
Morgan Hill, CA
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
David Gibson CNE, 719-...
Colorado Springs, CO
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
1,502,858
Kitchens and bathrooms bring the most money. Those are probably the hardest to live through while remodeling (I know, I lived through a whole house remodel this year). Modern, white shaker cabinets and light counters. Plus good fixtures are key.
Urban "bedroom commuity" - Ventura County, CA
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
David Gibson CNE, 719-...
Colorado Springs, CO
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
5,215,698
Cleanliness tops the emotions list followed by kitchens and bathrooms, but all have their individual ideas and remodeling can be a crap shoot!
-
Erica Glessing
Morgan Hill, CA
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
David Gibson CNE, 719-...
Colorado Springs, CO
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
343,050
Almost always the return is found in the kitchen and baths. Naturally sound plumbing, roofing, electrical and structure are vital.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
1,712,676
Anything that makes the home brighter.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
2,178,433
Dollar for dollar ROI... fresh neutral paint and cleaning. As for specific upgrades, I don't recommend it if they're just going to sell because the dollar for dollar return isn't there.
Our high-end luxury market here is limited. Not a market I ever specialized in.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
David Gibson CNE, 719-...
Colorado Springs, CO
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
2,390,010
I retired a year ago Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573 but fresh paint and new flooring always helped sell a home.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
David Gibson CNE, 719-...
Colorado Springs, CO
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
617,935
Andrew,
My market includes starter homes, move up and luxury.
I agree with Michael Jacobs who said:
“Actually here the answer is not short and it is certainly diverse.”
But here is where I start with clients who are thinking of listing regardless of the location, age of the house, style, etc.
# 1 We have to have at least a dozen very good pictures for the MLS. Buyers and buyer agents make their first “buying” decision about a house from the pictures in the MLS. While it is wonderful if you have a top of the line kitchen, and master suite I’ve had many houses that didn’t have that yet still got my buyers to ask to see the property.
# 2 I ask sellers, “what are the 3-5 reasons, other than price, someone will buy your property over all the other properties available.” I have previously sent them all of their “competition.”
At first they tend to think too highly of their property (halo effect) but as they settle in they get serious in their assessment of their property. We then embark on two simultaneous approaches.
# A Whatever their best points are, we try to make those even better. Maybe some paint, new light fixtures, etc.
# B Whatever their weak points are we try to move those from weak to at least neutral if not a plus.
Unless it is just an “as is” listing in poor condition, I pay for professional staging and photography for all of my listings. I don’t give the seller a chance to go cheap or wait and maybe do it later. If you want me to list your house staging and photography are included in my commission.
So before I bring in the stager and professional photographer the seller and I talk through which pictures will be taken. I may even have them shoot a draft photo with their phone. They look at that photo and it helps determine if we need to paint or do other work.
The key is to make the most of what you’ve got and to the degree possible, favorably differentiate yourself from the competition.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Kris Collis, Associate...
East Stroudsburg, PA
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
7,835,260
Updating the kitchen
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
536,943
Neighborhood, kitchen and baths.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
5,104,931
Updated kitchens and bathrooms always sell; screened porches are very popular. Fresh neutral paint and updated floors also sell. Age of mechanicals is alway a factor. As for all the rest... this is the stuff of entire blog posts which I'm not ready to write here and now.... as it's really hard to generalize.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
David Gibson CNE, 719-...
Colorado Springs, CO
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
629,608
Bathrooms and kitchens Are what matters
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
5,772,575
I am in agreement with Michael Jacobs
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
2,781,013
Function rules the day along with being in good condition around here
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
5,048,718
Updating the kitchen and master bath is likely to bring the most, but it will depend on the house and the area...tract homes versus not, neighborhood. Adding a bath where there is only 1 could make a big difference as another example.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
-
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
509,449
To sell the home, nice kitchen and master bed/bath. This is regardless of the price range. In the upper price range such as $500k and above, even with updated kitchen and master the home may stay longer on the market. That's because there are not that many people who qualify financially, plus there are more competition. Also we have many people from different backgrounds and cultures. Eventhough they qualify they are not willing to pay. I have sold many homes in the $300k range while the buyers actually qualify in the $500k and $600k range.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
901,187
In our area, it really depends on price point and town. We have urban, suburban, and rural areas. Overall, the kitchen and floors are important. It really depends on the area as to what updates are expected. Granite or quartz is put in about every new kitchen so re-sales are expected to have granite or quartz in most areas. Cabinets are scrutinized more. It is so easy to paint cabinets these days. Most people seem to love white. Flooring can be wood or LVP for main areas. In rural areas people seem to be OK with laminate. It seems you find handy people in rural areas and they aren't as concerned about little things. They know how to fix and upgrade. That is a generalization that seems to hold true for now. Bathrooms would be next on the list. In higher end homes, people expect the nice upgraded kitchens, baths, and floors. They love screen porches and nice outdoor entertaining areas although those don't always seem to bring higher values, just faster sales.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Susie Kay
Plano, TX
4,882,349
Paint, carpet, and front landscaping.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
3,416,038
Here in Southern NH we have 3 types of markets. Starter homes 150k-230k, mid level 250k to 350k and luxury $500,000 plus. Most common update and renovations buyer want are new roof, new windows, new kitchen, new baths, new furnace, new flooring
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
-
Carla Freund
Raleigh, NC
3,383,334
In middle income suburbs of DC, well outside the beltway, neural paint, luxury vinyl plank flooring and granite counters are crowd pleasers.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
2,182,502
Kitchen and baths, flooring and some Landscaping
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
-
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Charlotte, NC
-
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,598,452
No, no top $$ in return.
Most of the buyers in our area buying second home ans want to update themselves.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
5,229,290
Top Updates in the Charlotte Market:
- Kitchens (full renos - cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring [if necessary])
- Baths
- Outdoor hardscaping (porches, patios, fireplaces, grill/kitchen areas, etc.)
- flooring
- lighting
- neutral paint
All of those and making sure maintenance is up-to-date are a recipe for great ROI, high list-to-sales price and a quick sale. However, that's here - I'm not sure what your market supports.
-
Andrew Mooers | 207.53...
Houlton, ME
337,754
98% of sales are condo and co-op apartments (2% are townhouses/brownstones). Speaking to the majority of the market- apartment sales, since sellers can't control the exterior, lobbies or other common area spaces- renovations are purely geared toward interior spaces. Entry level renovations start at $350/sq ft including carrying costs for the duration of the project is standard, though luxury starts at $500/sq ft and goes up from there. Gut renovation is expected in apartments not updated in more than a few decades. Most Pre-war apartments require replacement of plumbing branch lines even if you are doing minor updates in the kitchen and baths (which is among the reasons why renovation costs tend to be so high) - so it makes sense to do total gut renovations in many cases. Updated electrical is also expected. Standard finishes are stainless steel high end appliances, stone counters, semi-custom mill work with kitchens opened if possible. Higher end renos include waterfall kitchen islands, full custom mill work, central A/C added, W/D added if permitted, etc.
5,868,372
Kitchens and master bath are the two items buyers in Denver are looking for.
1,725,896
We all know renovated kitchens and baths score high. Beyond those two items, it is up to the wants of each prospective buyer
2,071,025