Adding Value

What Adds Value Westchester County NY Real EstateWhich items will add value to your home and help with resale when the time comes to sell? The answer is: “Only those that future buyers will also want and be willing to pay for.”

As a general rule, choosing the functional over the merely cosmetic and choosing neutral over "unusual" will serve you well when selling your home in Westchester County NY.  Neutral paint such as gray, white, and beige for instance, do not distract and may allow buyers to visualize their own furnishings in a room. Unusual colors can actually be detrimental if the buyers can only think of the time, cost and effort it would take to repaint a purple or neon green wall.

Taste and trends can also affect value. Remember that orange shag carpet of years gone by? Things like that can date your home - and not in a good way. Think "timeless" when updating your home, and save those unusual or bright colors you love, to use in upholstery, pillows and accessories for the home.   

So - which updates will add the most value to your home?

  • Updates that increase usable space (an extra bathroom, enlarging the kitchen, creating a master bedroom suite, more closet space, converting unused space to a home office or a pantry).
  • Updates that will lighten and brighten your rooms (white or light color paint and floor coverings, light woods, skylights, larger windows, French doors).
  • Updates that will open your home to the outdoors for fresh air and entertaining (French doors to the patio or garden).
  • Updates that will increase privacy and security (fencing, landscaping).
  • Updates that upgrade quality of finishes or replace dated appliances (better windows, upgraded appliances if they would be included in the sale, upgraded counter tops and or flooring in kitchens and baths.)

Although it may not add value, per se - it is extremely important that if you are thinking of putting your home on the market, your home should have curb appeal. If your home has no curb appeal, buyers may not even click on your listing or ask for a showing and you will have missed out on a potential buyer. Some of the things we recommend:

  • mow and trim the yard
  • put away stray toys or bikes
  • sweep the porch or entry
  • tidy up your flower bed, or if you don't have one, consider planting some flowers or shrubbery or at least put out a nice pot of flowers or greenery by your front door.
  • Another task might be painting the shutters if a bit worn

The key point to remember is that you want your home to be as appealing as possible inside and out, to as many buyers as you can. So go ahead and paint that neon green wall IF you are willing to prime and paint it a more neutral color when it comes time to sell.

If you would like more great ideas about how best to prepare your home for selling, call the experts at Hire Realty LLC, at  914-458-5677 .