When you purchase a home, what are the main features you look for?

Question

I am doing rennovations to my home and want to sell it in the near future. What can I do to boost its appeal most?

Answer 1

i think it would help you, not hurt you, to hire a home inspector first. the buyer is going to make his contract contingent upon a home inspection, so why shouldn't you know what might come up?

i think anyone in their right mind would not want a house that has structural problems. first, make sure your foundation is not cracked. that is the absolute worst structural problem, and i'd have my buyers walk if we found that. the roof should not have little holes in it, it shouldn't leak. the gutters should be in good shape and clean. the basement should not flood. the water heater and furnace should stand on a solid surface above the floor. the furnace should have been cleaned each year, and if you have receipts to prove it, good. there should not be any dangerous wiring or plumbing problems. (i tell my buyers to do all of this at one time: flush the toilet, turn on both sink faucets, and turn on the shower--they will also be checking how long it takes to get hot water). if you have to fix any structural elements, be sure that they are fixed according to the codes in effect in your municipality, and get a permit to do the work if they require it.

after all of that, then you want to give your property "curb appeal," so put some time into landscapping. then, always, baths and kitchens bring in the most profit. so does natural light. if you can put a sky window into the kitchen if it's dark, do it, but flash it well. adding a half bath down in the basement is a great idea, as well as putting one on the first floor if none is there. if the only full bathroom is a master bath (off your master bedroom), then put another one in--no one wants to think that their guests will have to walk through their private quarters to use the washroom. a deck is nice, in fact, any outdoor recreation space is good. floors shouldn't slope, even under carpet. if they do, ask your home inspector why, and then perhaps you can fix it. yes, i agree that people these days want pretty, very clean, hardwood floors and very good windows, which do tend to be expensive.

basically, one, do not overimprove your house. don't put things in it that the neighborhood does not call for. the only way you will really learn about that is from a Realtor.

two, know that this is a buyer's market and that if you spend too much money on improvements, you may be sitting with that house a long, long time.

third, just think what would attract you into offering for a house? if you put yourself into the skin of a buyer, you are doing yourself a big favor.

best of luck to you!

Answer 2

Location first, good neighborhood, but you can't change that.

Premium floors tile for bathrooms and on the counters, hardwood on the main rooms or plush neutral carpets in light browns/earth tones.

Double paned windows.

Big water heater.

Central heat/air.

Nice landscaping.

Answer 3

The most important rooms in the house are the kitchen and bathroom.

Answer 4

Hardwood floors, molding updated kitchen. neutral colors. !!! no pet stink inside. CLEAN.

Answer 5

TILE ----BATHS AND KITCHEN

CLEAN CARPETS

COUNTERTOPS------ A MUST

LIGHT FIXTURES ------ WOMEN LOVE THESE

NEW FAUCETS, CLEAN CLEAN BATHTUBS, TOILETS

NEW LANDSCAPING ----OUTSIDE IS WHAT THEY SEE FIRST RIGHT?