Five Tips for Remodeling to Sell Your Home

In a competitive real estate market, it can be a good idea to remodel your home to make it more attractive to prospective buyers. Before starting a remodeling project, consider these five tips to help spend your dollars wisely and get the best results on your home remodel. Keep a budget in mind as well. You don’t want to remodel your home past its value in the existing neighborhood, but some remodeling jobs will be well worth the investment when they are done well. The return on investment can be rewarding.

1. Hire a professional remodeler.
   When remodeling, hire a professional. Using an experienced home remodeler will make the job smoother and produce better results. Check their qualifications, ask if they are a member of NAHB Remodelers or another association that provides training and education, and follow the advice on hiring a professional available at www.nahb.org/remodel.
   
   
2. Improve curb appeal. (This One May Have to Wait for Spring! But Plan Now)
   Making a positive first impression helps to sell the home. Data from Remodeling Magazine’s 2009 Cost Vs. Value report shows that exterior remodels are cost effective and have a high return on home value. For example, installing a steel entry door can return 129% of the cost! Also consider, refreshing the home’s landscaping with new plants and a path to the door. Have the house painted or update the siding. Inspect the roof and repair unsightly holes or broken shingles.
   
   
3. Improve energy efficiency.
   According to a McGraw Hill Construction study , energy efficiency improvements can halve utility bills. Ninety percent of green home buyers said they wanted lower utilities, maintenance, and overall operating costs. A home remodeler can help to reduce energy waste by sealing gaps, replacing windows and doors, adding insulation, and upgrading appliances to ENERGY STAR®-rated products. These investments can return money with lower utility bills, especially when paired with the Federal energy-efficiency tax credit (more information at www.nahb.org/efficiencytaxcredit).
   
   
4. Modernize the kitchen.
   Homeowners concentrate on kitchens because it’s the room where they spend the most time with family and entertaining guests. You may be tempted to go overboard with large remodels and high-end appliances, but trend monitors note that simple may be best when remodeling a kitchen for a home going on sale. Consider opening up the space for better maneuvering, updating with new cabinets, and using colors that appeal to popular tastes. According to the Cost Vs. Value report, a minor kitchen remodel that replaces cabinet fronts, updates fixture hardware, repaints and installs energy-efficient appliances can return 78% of the costs.
   
   
5. Update the bathroom.
   Home buyers are always interested in bathrooms. Small details can go a long way in making the bathroom more attractive and comfortable. Installing new tile, cabinets, and fixtures can give the bathroom a better, clean look. The Cost Vs. Value report shows that a mid-range bathroom remodel can recoup 71% of the expense.
   

For more home remodeling tips and tricks, visit www.nahb.org/remodel.


i Hanley Wood (2009). Cost Vs. Value Report. http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue

ii McGraw Hill Construction (2007). The Green Homeowner: Attitudes & Preferences for Remodeling and Buying Green Homes.