Pretty houses sell faster, but what should I fix up?

With so many houses on the market today, it is a fact that those listed in "as-is" condition and in need of lots of updates and repairs will sit with no offers MUCH longer than those that look pretty and are in move in condition. There's no denying that buyers have their choice of more houses than they could possibly wish for, so it is only common sence that they will choose the nicest house they can and ignore a percieved fixer-uppper.

If you are looking to sell your home and want to do it in a reasonable amount of time, you should take steps to freshen, update and repair all the major things buyers look for in a home. In many cases this will be a daunting task, but it is well worth the investment of time and money if you can manage it.

Aside from any structural or safety issues that must be addressed to sell your home, here are a few things that will also help to get your home sold faster and their average costs:

• Paint - The easiest and most cost effective fix-up. Paint interior and exterior (if wood siding) in a neautral or earth-tones color scheme. Every wall, ceiling and trim surface should be repainted to lend a freshness and newness to the home. Estimated average cost: $400-$800 for supplies if done yourself, $2,000-$4,000 if you hire professionals.
  
• Kitchen - The "big ticket" item that wil cost you the most but also be the biggest selling point for your home. Depending on the age and condition of your kitchen and appliances, you may be able to do a quick spruce up by painting cabinets and replacing countertops, hardware and older appliances. In many cases, though, the entire kitchen must be replaced in order to compete in today's marketplace. Estimated average cost: $2,000-$50,000 depending on original condition, type of finishes chosen and amount of work done yourself.
  
• Bathroom(s) - Usually the second biggest item(s) that you will have to tackle. As with the kitchen, a lot will depend on the age and current condition. Estimated average cost: $500-$5,000 each bathroom depending on original condition, type of finishes chosen and amount of work done yourself.
  
• Flooring - Ideally all carpeting should be replaced and all wood floors refinished. Dated or worn tile, vinyl and linoleaum should also be replaced. Replacing carpet in common areas like the living and dining rooms with hardwood floors is also an excellent way to attract buyers faster. Estimated average cost: $1,200-$10,000 depending on square footage, items to be replaced and original condition.
  
• Curb Appeal - The beauty of your home from the street is the single most important factor to bring buyrs to your door. Some "fixes" in this catagory may include repaving driveways, adding trees, shrubs and flowers, pruning or removing existing trees and shrubs, installing or repairing walkways, and/or adding architectural elements to the home's exterior. Estimated average cost: $2,000-$10,000 depending on original condition and amount of work done yourself.

In addition to these mostly "cosmetic" items, you also may need to consider some other costly items that buyers will be looking for. These include replacing the roof, replacing old single pane windows, removing old sheds and/or freestanding garages, repointing old brick, upgrading elecrtical and/or plumbing, installing central air and many others. Sometimes these things will need to be addressed immediately in order for the home to have a chance at selling, while in other cases you may be able to wait and negotiate the repairs in the contract if or when you get an offer.

Very few home owners are able to sell their homes today without making at least a few of these major changes. As you can see, the average amount you can expect to invest in fixing up and repairing your home would range from a minimum of about $6,000 to as much as $75,000 or more depending on the overall condition of your home.

If you are able to use a credit line or home equity loan to make these types of changes, they are well worth your investment of time and money. With your home in top shape you can then list it with an agent and sell reletively quickly and (hopefully!) for top dollar.

Understandably, not everyone has the ability to make the needed changes to their homes in order to hasten a sale. Whether because of financial propblems or lack of time to address them, these repairs are sometimes an insurmoutnable hurdle to some home owners. In these cases you may want to consider contacting a local real estate investor and getting an offer on your home in its current condition. Chances are that after you factor in the repair costs and the holding costs of 6 or more months while the property would have been repaired and listed, the investor's offer will be very fair for your peace of mind that the home is sold.

visit REstorePropertyGroup.com for more information on selling your home