What Would You Fix to attract homebuyers?

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user 26

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Well ... here goes. I'm putting this in here because I consider you my friends and you know about property. I joined an online forum but immediately got ads and promos from realtors etc which is not what I'm looking for. I inherited a house from my dad ... free and clear after I paid off the taxes. It is not where I want to live, currently has renters that are divorcing and going their separate ways so now is the time to act.
My goal is to fix it up, sell it and buy a small condo ... If I could afford it, a small b&b would be my dream! If I sold it as is, I'd have to sell low and some flipper would come in and make it beautiful.
I have a $25000 budget ... $10000 more if absolutely necessary (edited out some personal info)
What would be your priorities? The house has a new roof. It needs new windows.
I know you can't see it but I'm casting about for 'must haves'. Modern Kitchens, no popcorn ceilings and curb appeal are what I'm seeing on line and this house needs work on all three. I've got pictures and stats of houses in the area (right across the street, too) that recently sold to compare to so I have realistic goals.
I appreciate any suggestions.
 
For me its Kitchens and bathrooms - people want you to do what they don't want to do and certainly don't want to live in the disruption while its been done - I wouldn't however recommend going mad - functional and practical not every mod con and gadget - clean and simple is the way to go.
 
Kitchen number one. New paint and counters and sink at least. New cabinets would likely eat up your entire budget, so see if you can get away with keeping them.
Bathrooms only if they are noticeably tired.
Then paint. Everything clean and fresh. If the house looks dirty, people wonder if the electrical and heat and water systems are badly cared for too.
If the house looks clean and cared for, people won't be nervous about systems not working.
 
You want to keep as much of your money unspent as you can. So, clean the carpets, use one of those wood products on the hardwood floors, paint everything a neutral color, clean the kitchen cabinets, or repaint them.
If the stove and fridge are super old or beyond cleaning, replace them with decent, but not high end appliances. (Unless dad's house is in an upscale neighborhood.)
Countertops - replace if needed, not with granite, but a good laminate.
Bathrooms - scrub the tub or get it resurfaced ($500). Clean the grout, redo the caulking, new floor of it's in bad shape.
Paint the front door. Make sure the landscaping is trimmed back.
Tighten anything that's loose, oil squeaky doors, patch holes in walls.
I hate popcorn ceilings and it 'looks' like that's an easy thing to remove, but what's underneath? Were they done to hide flaws or is that how the house was built?
95% of this you can do yourself, but it takes time. I know you have the skills!
 
Thank you The kitchen has its original cabinets from 1986. The cabinets are sound, I was thinking of getting new doors and hardware and painting the sides and trim to match. New appliances. New sink, new counter tops and switching the crazy back door to open on the other side as it hits the stove!
 
Popcorn original ceilings. yuck.
When he had bathroom painted, they scraped it off and painted flat.
I love wood but it seems grey and white tone cabinets are really popular.
 
Thank you Jcam..
in the UK its a big industry just refurbing kitchens ie doors etc they also do a plastic mounding thing that slots over your existing counter tops ill try and find the link.
 
something like - Leggari Products - good you t tube vids
 
Thank you The kitchen has its original cabinets from 1986. The cabinets are sound, I was thinking of getting new doors and hardware and painting the sides and trim to match. New appliances. New sink, new counter tops and switching the crazy back door to open on the other side as it hits the stove!.
So, the popcorn ceilings are original as that was the thing to do in the 80's. They may not have primed first which means you'll hit the tape when you start to scrape. Possibly peeling off the sheetrock paper. I'd leave them alone. (Or, if one room has already been done, it might not be bad underneath!)
Definitely new hardware. You may just be able to clean the cabinet doors and shine them up again. Are they painted already?
 
It's scary if I think of all the details. The current renters tried to paint the cabinets red - with dad's permission - and got half way there. Look terrible. I'm meeting with my son this weekend who used to do carpentry and has done amazing work at his on home to brainstorm. See what he thinks.
 
It would be well worth it to have a landscape company come in and trim edges, mulch beds, prune trees and mow the lawn.
 
Mort covered my list. Don't go crazy redoing kitchen or baths clean it up well fresh coat of paint on everything. Get rid of popcorn ceilings. Most people will make it their own so just go neutral.
 
Okay, I'm the opposing view, for me I'd always rather have the lowest price as I may not like the way the other fellow improves the property, but qualify that I know nothing about the property you are wanting to sell or the value. Most of my homes over the years were projects as that was all I felt I could afford and then I set about improving as I was able. Somehow fixing up always costs way more than we first estimate especially if we are dependent on hiring it down.
 
Jim thank you for your opinion.
I can't do more than my budget allows, period. But fixed up should bring me $100,000 more than if I don't. So it is worth the investment. Understand, I need to bring in as much as I can from the sale in order to buy a place for myself.
 
Jim thank you for your opinion.
I can't do more than my budget allows, period. But fixed up should bring me $100,000 more than if I don't. So it is worth the investment. Understand, I need to bring in as much as I can from the sale in order to buy a place for myself..
Seashanty, areas are different and times have changed, I know I'm out of date. If you want a laugh the first house we bought was listed for $6300, I ask them to raise it to $6800 and let me use the 500 for some initial improvements. House number 2 (my dream house) was $8000, yeah long time ago
 
It's scary if I think of all the details. The current renters tried to paint the cabinets red - with dad's permission - and got half way there. Look terrible. I'm meeting with my son this weekend who used to do carpentry and has done amazing work at his on home to brainstorm. See what he thinks..
I have to redo my parents' house once it's empty. Not looking forward to that.
 
Jim thank you for your opinion.
I can't do more than my budget allows, period. But fixed up should bring me $100,000 more than if I don't. So it is worth the investment. Understand, I need to bring in as much as I can from the sale in order to buy a place for myself..
Seashanty, areas are different and times have changed, I know I'm out of date. If you want a laugh the first house we bought was listed for $6300, I ask them to raise it to $6800 and let me use the 500 for some initial improvements. House number 2 (my dream house) was $8000, yeah long time ago
.
I can top that! My first house was around $17k. My last house, that belonged only to me, I sold for around $150k in 1995. It last sold for $228k. I paid $98k to have it built.
It's now on the tax records at $315k.
 
ha ... The lowest price within a 15 mile radius near my children for a small condo is $275,000 and I don't know if I could afford the condo fees. If I could find a habitable fixer upper for myself once this is all done, you bet I'd grab it. Spend the rest of my years fixin 'er up. :)
 
ha ... The lowest price within a 15 mile radius near my children for a small condo is $275,000 and I don't know if I could afford the condo fees. If I could find a habitable fixer upper for myself once this is all done, you bet I'd grab it. Spend the rest of my years fixin 'er up. :).
Well, in my neighbourhood, the lowest price for a 1 room condo... is $210K. Surprising part is that it actually has a seperate bedroom. Usually in that price range, you are on a futon or a murphy bed.
 
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