Maximize Your Home's Value Before Selling
Preparing to sell your home is no small endeavor. From hiring a real estate agent and getting your home appraised to passing every inspection, selling your home is often a months-long feat. One of the most crucial aspects of selling your home is ensuring that you’re getting the most bang for your buck and maximizing your home’s asking price.
While painting your front door and staging your home can create a great first impression, there are a few additional, straightforward projects that can significantly boost your sale price. According to Zillow, there are ten home improvements, ranging from simple swaps to full renovation projects, that can make your home sell for well above the asking price. New research from Zillow finds that features like outdoor TVs, outdoor showers, and outdoor kitchens can help homes sell for as much as 3.1 percent more than expected.
Homes with other desirable backyard features such as an outdoor shower, pizza oven, and bluestone patio also fetch higher-than-expected sale prices when those features are mentioned in a listing description. Additionally, some viral or trendy features like rounded corners can attract more competing buyers, contributing to a speedier sale. With affordability compromised for many, especially first-time buyers, the prospect of taking on necessary projects to enhance a home can be daunting, making it worth paying a premium for something move-in ready with appealing updates.
Landscaping is another hot topic, especially considering the costs of hiring a talented landscape architect and designing various gardens or zones for select purposes. For example, rose-cutting gardens are beautiful and timeless. There are also select plants ideal for privacy, like hemlocks, which work as sound buffers if you live near a busy street or a train station or enjoy entertaining in the backyard. Knowing you can move into a home and count on the garden returning yearly with little maintenance is a huge selling point.
This year’s trends seem to be all about doors and windows. Everything from garage doors to front doors to window replacements with hurricane-resistant materials yields big results, not only in terms of the speed of sale but also in the return on investment. Replacing or painting your front entry door is crucial. Depending on the condition of your front door, you may be able to get away with simply painting it to make it pop. But if it needs to be replaced, it is still one of the most cost-effective improvements proven to fetch higher offers. An attractive front door improves both digital curb appeal and curb appeal properly, getting passersby to take notice of your home.
Smart home products can also help a home sell for more. Things like smart locks, smart thermostats, and smart lighting are all in high demand from many buyers today. They serve practical, helpful purposes, such as improving the security of a house and enhancing energy usage, which saves homeowners money. The desire for these items, as well as the tangible benefits they bring, can often convince buyers to agree to a higher price.
BEVERAGE CENTER
Percent Above Asking: 2.4
Average Cost to Complete: At Home Depot, undercounter refrigerators range from $600 for a dual-sided drinks fridge to over $3,000 for drawer-style appliances with a paneled front that blends seamlessly with your cabinetry.
A beverage center is quickly becoming the new wine fridge. These functional features often include undercounter refrigerators with different temperature settings, ice drawers, and more. When a beverage center is mentioned in a home’s listing description, the home can sell for 2.4 percent more, compared to only 0.9 percent more for a wine fridge.
If you already have a home bar, consider a rebrand. Home bars typically help a home sell for just 0.1 percent more than the asking price.
BLUE STONE PATIO
Percent Above Asking: 2.3
Average Cost to Complete: Bluestone pavers cost $6 to $14 per square foot on average, according to Home Guide.
While patios are commonly finished with brick, concrete, or other stone slabs, bluestone offers a more elegant natural stone alternative. This durable material is more expensive than other patio options but comes with a tempting ROI. A home with a bluestone patio could sell for 2.3 percent more than expected.
She Shed
Percent Above Asking: 2.0
Average Cost to Complete: A she shed could cost around $350 on the lower end, while a larger, more luxurious option could be priced as high as $13,000.
New research suggests that homes with she sheds can sell for up to 2 percent more than expected. This might seem low, but depending on the price of your home, it can amount to thousands of extra dollars. For instance, if your home sells for $800,000, the she shed could account for an additional $16,000. These versatile spaces can be used as additional storage, office spaces, hobby rooms, and even home gyms. The best part is that there is a shed option for every yard size, budget, and design style.
Pizza Oven
Percent Above Asking: 1.9
Average Cost to Complete: The national average for an outdoor pizza oven, including installation, is $5,000, according to Angi data. However, costs can range from $2,000 to $8,000 depending on the project's scale.
Outdoor pizza kitchens, whether brick, ceramic, or metal, are becoming popular for summer entertaining. Adding one to your outdoor room or kitchen can help boost your home’s selling price.
Backyard pizza ovens help increase the sales price for a home and have a dramatic impact on the bottom line. Some of our favorites that we have helped homeowners with over the years are sunrooms, home gyms, walk-in closets, pantries, skylights, game rooms, wine cellars, rooftop gardens, chef’s kitchens, secret rooms, gazebos, and home theaters. While a home gym doesn’t require much construction work to get it in shape, it usually means converting a space such as a basement or storage area into an actual room that you won’t mind being in. If it’s possible to add walk-in closets to your space, do it! Walk-in closets are like gold when it comes to resale price points because everyone thinks of them as an extra amenity. Luxury, even perceived, can bring in a hefty premium on a sale price. Another example is a gazebo. A gazebo isn’t just a great backyard space to escape the sun while still enjoying the outdoors; it’s also a statement piece that carries a premium in the sale price.
Soapstone Countertops
Average Cost to Complete: Soapstone slabs cost $70 to $120 per square foot (and above) on average, according to Caesarstone.
Although we've been using Soapstone for decades out in Bucks County, Soapstone is quickly becoming the most sought-after countertop material for kitchens. Beloved by designers and chefs alike, this stone is more durable than marble and easier to clean than other types of stone. While it may come with a slightly higher price tag, this natural, nonporous stone can help a home sell for 3 percent more than expected, compared to a 1.7 percent price premium for quartz and 0.5 percent for marble countertops.
Quartz Countertops
Percent Above Asking: 1.7
Average Cost to Complete: Expect to spend between $50 to $200 per square foot depending on material size, coloring, and grade.
While soapstone is currently the most requested countertop material, quartz still holds significant value. Adding quartz countertops to your kitchen or bathroom can result in your home selling for 1.7 percent above the asking price.
Take Action Today!
Explore how these strategic improvements can elevate your home's market appeal. Contact B&B Luxury Properties for expert advice and begin your journey to a successful sale. Let us help you maximize your home's value and achieve the sale price you deserve.
215.436.9772
