Will I see a return if I spruce up my home before listing?

Sellers all of Hampton Roads are wondering: will I get my money back and then some if I spruce up my home before listing? We get this question all the time!  We all have a mile-long to-do list of things we'd like to do to improve our homes.  Eventually, we get used to things the way they are and might not actually get around to those cosmetic improvements until we think about selling our home.

All of a sudden that dated kitchen is glaringly obvious.  Those hinges and door handles, do they really make a difference in the bottom line when it comes to offers and sales price?  How much do light fixtures matter, shouldn't I just do a carpet allowance?  At Verity Group, one of the things we hear often is:  Won't the buyer want to pick out their own decor?  

In theory, it seems logical, and with houses selling so quickly, some sellers are tempted to just put it on as is, and let the buyer decorate it as they'd like. In reality, marketing matters.  We recently posted about how important listing photos are to make sure your home is featured in the most flattering way possible. Read about that here: Listing Photos Matter! But let's be real, we can hire a pro, and if what they are shooting isn't pretty, the majority of buyers aren't going to swipe right on that listing.  

In reality, home buyers are coming out of pocket in record numbers just to get the house.  They are cashing out 401k's, getting gifts from relatives, and liquidating assets just to cover closing costs and appraisal guarantees.  Some of them are all tapped out and don't feel like they have the time, money, or energy to paint.  It seems silly, we know... but buyers will offer tens of thousands over asking before they'll buy a five-gallon bucket of Sherwin Williams' color of the year and update your home. Countertops, flooring, light fixtures, and hardware?  Superficial and relatively inexpensive ways of giving your home a quick facelift so that future buyers are struck but it's charm before they ever walk through your door. However, major obstacles for your exhausted buyers.

In our society, we're short on time and energy.  We want an easy button, and we'll pay a premium to protect our time. Most of the time, contrary to many sellers' beliefs: your buyers don't want to pick out their own finishes as much as they want to move into a home that's current and up to date, and cosmetically appealing.

Most of the time our sellers want to know, what's the least amount of money I can spend, to make the most of my investment. We've got you! We'll do an in-depth analysis on the cost and effort involved in your potential improvements, and make recommendations that can help you decide the best options for you.  We've had clients who have decided it was best to sell as-is and walk away and clients who have made some minor improvements for major returns. 

If you take the plunge to decide it's best to freshen up your space, have no fear! At Verity Group, we're a full-service solution.  We'll help you with selections, pointing out the latest trends and what's HOT right now!  Stay tuned for our "What's In Our Cart" blog where we share all about the latest and greatest trends in home decor.  Ask about our listing packages that include: professional contractors, managing the job, and even financing the repairs for you! 

We know that you are super busy too, and at the end of a long day, the last thing you need is to figure out what to select, how to pay for the renovations, and how to get them done.  We're here for you, we'll make it happen, we'll get the job done.  You can take it to the bank, we've got your back.

Wondering about what to do to get your home ready to market?  Before you spend money painting it the wrong color, or put in last year's countertops- reach out to us right away.  We'll make the process simple, give you direction, and put it all together. Step One: Call the Verity Group, we'll take care of the rest.