Blog Post

Do Homes for Sale Need Many Upgrades?

Dotcom Design • Jun 29, 2019
Upgrades in houses for sale

You own a handful of houses for sale in Iowa City, North Liberty, or Coralville, Iowa and you want to ensure that you get the most money out of each. The best step here is to upgrade the look, style, and operating efficiency of each home with several upgrades. This step will ensure that your house is durable, resistant to decay and weather damage, and much more.

When Selling "As Is" is a Good Choice

Although you're most likely going to want to upgrade your home before you sell it, there may be some instances in which selling "as is" is the right choice. For example, you may have a home that has minimal damage and doesn't require any repairs or upgrades. In this situation, buying expensive upgrades isn't as likely to turn you that high of a profit and may be unnecessary.

Similarly, you may have houses for salethat you need to get off of your hands because they are in rough shape. As a result, you want to shift them off to a home flipper and walk away with what little money you can make from them. Desperation is typically common in these situations, such as if you don't have the kind of money necessary to upgrade your home correctly.

You may also want to sell the home as a "fixer-upper," as some homeowners enjoy doing a little work to enhance their appreciation of a home. This situation does require you to be honest about the quality of the house – for example, a few minor issues indicate a fixer upper, but severe problems that will need days and thousands of dollars to fix do not make a fixer-upper.

Why Upgrading a Home is a Good Choice

If you want to make the most money out of your houses for sale, you need to upgrade their appliances, their aesthetics, and other elements as soon as possible. A failure to improve your home could make it much harder to sell, particularly if there are a few minor issues that complicate its design.

For example, your home may have a skylight that you know would boost its sale value, but the window suffers from damage around the edges that let in water and other exterior elements. Unfortunately, this means that this element of your home is now a detriment to the value of your house.

That said, the value of a home upgrade is related directly to how much money it makes when you resell the home. Not every renovation is equal in this sense, and some may decrease the value of your home. Thankfully, many renovation projects exist that will hurt – not hinder – the quality of your house.

Upgrades That Make You Real Money

If you want to add upgrades to any houses for salethat you own, you need to make sure that you choose the best options for your needs. A large number of updates might seem like they'd add instant quality to a home – such as a pool or hot tub – but many upgrades simply don't provide the bang for the buck that you want for your house.

As a result, you should look through the options below to find upgrades that work the best for your home and its design. These upgrades will give you a high return on your installation investment and will ensure that your house sells for more if you try to flip it at any point in the future. It also ensures that your home is more comfortable and relaxing for you to live in before you sell.

Boosting Home Efficiency

The best way to make your home worth more money with upgrades is to boost your efficiency. For example, a study on this subject found that attic insulation alone can recoup you 116 percent on what you pay for the improvement. Other processes, such as adding better efficiency appliances, increase the home value at about the same level.

HVAC units, water heaters, and windows are all great options because they turn an almost instant profit that makes them incredibly beneficial. You can also add solar panels and other upgrades, but will still get a good level of profit out of lower-quality updates.

Enhancing Curb Appeal

The exterior of your home is such an essential part of the upgrade process on houses for sale. Simply put, you need to do what you can to make your home more appealing and attractive on the outside. This step is called enhancing the curb appeal of a house and will draw more people to a home.

Just as importantly, a spruced-up exterior will look better for your needs and provide you with a more fun and relaxing place to hang out when you're outdoors. For example, you can add decorative bush elements, upgrades to your home's siding, and even barbecue areas to get the best out of this process.

Improve Your Kitchen

Upgrades to the kitchen remain one of the best and most essential ways of upgrading your home. These steps include adding a variety of new appliances to your home – with better operation and more efficient designs – and a myriad of unique decorative items.

For example, new flooring, cabinets, counters, and more can improve the look of your kitchen and make it more appealing to a more significant number of people. Just as importantly, you can enhance the coherent design of your home to make it look more attractive.

Enhance Your Bathroom

The bathroom is second only to the kitchen in upgrade importance. Essentially, you want to upgrade the style of your bathroom to make it more open and light. Adding white fixtures, flooring, and wall elements help here by drawing in more light and making your facility more appealing.

For example, you can add new bathroom tiles and a more modern design to your bathroom to make it more appealing to a broader range of buyers. Homeowners like a bathroom that looks attractive and which isn't too off-putting. If you do this renovation properly, you may make as much as 102 percent on the building costs.

Who to Contact for Help

So if you want your houses for sale in Iowa City, Tiffin, Solon, or Ely, Iowa to look as great as possible, you should contact us today to learn more about the benefits of the renovation process. We understand what home buyers want in their homes these days and will work hard to match you up to a buyer who is not only motivated but willing to buy your home at a price that works for your needs.


By Dotcom Design 21 Oct, 2022
Gateway Access Realty will assist you if you are thinking about selling or purchasing a house. We focus on your real estate objectives and work hard to discover solutions that work for you. Please contact us right away!
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