With the ending of quarantines around the country, many families are emerging with some significant changes to their lives. These could include a change of employment; some people are now working from home, others have had to seek employment elsewhere. Monetary impact have many people considering selling their homes. Some people are considering a move out of the city and into the country, to escape the unrest in some major cities. But to move or improve?
Before making such a monumental decision, consider all of your reasons for wanting to make a move. Do you need more square footage because you’ve had to move elderly parents in, or have your adult children needed move back in for a while? Instead of selling, it may be a better idea to make some improvements to your existing home instead of moving to another property.
Making Some Improvements
If it’s a matter of adding space; you may be able to add square footage without a complete construction overhaul. If you have an attached garage, consider a conversion. If you have a multiple car garage, you can still leave space for one car by only walling off half of the garage. This could be ample space for a living quarters for your parents or even a home office.
The same can be done if you have a large attic space. It may be just the matter of adding flooring over the subfloor and drywall to the walls. Attic spaces can make really attractive living spaces with their interesting ceilings and overall layout. You can easily turn your large attic into living space. You just need to do some research on what others have done with their attic spaces.
If you have no alternative but to put your house on the market, you’ll want to get top dollar for your home.
Can I Add Value
Making some improvements will certainly add value to the overall price of your home. Just know that you’ll possibly have to be living on a construction site for a time while improvements are going on. It can be frustrating, but you have to keep your eye on the prize; which is making as much money as possible on the sale of your home.
Adding square footage will no doubt up the value of your property. How much depends on what type of square footage you’re adding. A three bedroom house is more desirable than a two bedroom for instance. Large closets are a big seller also. Think of adding a dressing room if you can steal the space from another part of your bathroom or adjacent room. If your bathroom is huge but the closet attached to it is small; stretch out into that bathroom space with a walk in closet.
Kitchens sell houses. I’ve often shared ways to update your kitchen. Painting cabinets and changing door and drawer pulls are the easiest things to do. If you can upgrade your appliances, do that. State of the art appliances are very appealing to today’s home buyers. Deep clean everything and remove all counter clutter. It makes the kitchen seem larger.
Fresh paint in all rooms gives a home a feeling of newness. If a buyer feels like a home is turn key, they’ll feel better about making an offer. To get an idea about the current value of your home, consider approaching a real estate agent for a valuation. They won’t only tell you what your home is currently worth, they can advise you on how much value improvements will add.
There are so many ways to boost the sale value of your home. You just need to do the research and see what is possible for your situation.
Make Your House Shine
Even if you can’t make value increasing changes and you have to sell your home just as it is, there are things you can do to present your home in the best possible light. The most important thing you can do to prepare your home for sale is clean, clean, clean. Not just the inside of the home. Get your yard into shape. Be sure your grass is cut and tidy. Add potted flowers all around to add curb appeal. Trim any trees and hedges. Make the buyer want to add your house to their list by making it grab their attention. De-clutter every room inside. If you have to rent a storage facility; do it. Remove large furniture to give your home a feeling of space.
What is Best for Your Family
At the end of the day, only you can decide what is best for your family. Hopefully you can stay in your home. Buying a new home is expensive with all of the realtor fees, prepaids, down payment, etc. Selling may not be as appealing as you think. Even if you’re scraping by today, it won’t always be that way. Try to hold on to your property if possible. Better days will surely come.
If there’s just no way to make the changes to your home to accommodate your needs, selling may be the only option. There are services that can make the moving process easier. Moving Feedback can help find the right moving supplies and movers for the job. Don’t just go into a move blindly. Use all of the resources available.
Clean everything thoroughly. Make your baseboards sparkle. Buyers will notice. You want to make your home look irresistible. Try to keep a positive outlook. You may be experiencing a set back, but things will get better. Whether you need to move or improve your property, you’re doing what is best for your family situation. That means whichever it is, it’s the right thing. Your positive attitude will help your family with the transition.