Home Improvements that are simply Good Investments

By Helen London

So, you’ve made the decision to sell your home, and now you’re wondering how you can maximize its market appeal without breaking the bank. You’ll most likely want to make at least a few improvements or upgrades before listing your home, but choosing which ones can be difficult. When it comes to making your home more attractive to prospective buyers, not all upgrades are valued equally. To really impress today’s buyers, one of the best places to invest a few dollars is in the kitchen.
The kitchen can make the difference in whether someone decides to buy your home or not. Today’s buyers are looking for a quality kitchen that will serve their lifestyle. Whether they are gourmet cooks, or social entertainers, the right kitchen can be a tipping point to make a buyer choose your house to buy-and at the right price.
Giving your kitchen a makeover doesn’t always mean moving walls around or changing the configuration of your setup. Simple improvements can go a long way to brighten up your home.
Consider your appliances first. Are they old and outdated? A simple remedy would be to replace tired appliances before you put your house on the market. You might spend a few hundred dollars, but the result could end up making you thousands in the end. At the very least, this update could make your home sell faster because most buyers’ value updated kitchens.
Another way to update your kitchen with just a little investment of time and money is to add a fresh coat of paint. Choose neutral tones that work well with your cabinets and decor. If the knobs on your cabinets tend to “date” them, consider updating the knobs to give a current and fresh look to them with minimal investment.
As you finish your kitchen update, pay special attention to area rugs in the kitchen and dining area. Are they in need of cleaning or replacing? Remember, the details in your kitchen matter. Also, keep countertops clean of clutter to make the working space look larger.
Once your kitchen is completed, you might just decide to stay in your home and enjoy your new kitchen! But if you decide you’re ready to put your house on the market, and see just how much your updated kitchen will bring, you’ll want to call an experienced real estate agent.
A good REALTOR will work with you to determine what the appropriate sales price for your home should be. Then you can sit back, relax, and simply let your agent bring home the bacon.

Helen London has been selling real estate in the Athens area for over 20 years. An Athens native, she also understands the needs of buyers relocating to the area through 20 years of corporate transferring throughout the Eastern seaboard. Helen has two married children and one grandchild. She and her husband Jim enjoy working together as agents at Coldwell Banks Upchurch Realty in Athens.