Should I Renovate Before Selling My Washington DC or Maryland Home?
Deciding to sell your home is a big decision, and it can be scary. Getting caught up in all the details and paperwork and making sure you don’t miss anything can be pretty stressful. Aside from the sale price and when you want to move, there’s one more decision you have to make before agreeing to sell to someone: Should you renovate beforehand?
We’ve gathered all the information we could to help you make this huge decision. If, in the end, you do decide to renovate, we have the perfect team of designing and building specialists who would be more than happy to help.
Winthorpe Design and Build has done hundreds, if not thousands, of renovations and have years of experience in the matter. We’re cheaper, more efficient, and more practical than most architects or firms specializing in design alone because we also do construction.
Things to Consider
Many things go into selling a house, and even more goes into renovating one. Weighing all the things you need to factor into your renovation decision can be overwhelming. Rolling that into whether or not you want to renovate your house before selling it can feel nearly impossible. However, having a helping hand or a point of reference can be a huge relief, so that’s why we gathered up these tips for you. Below are some of the things you should consider before making a decision. Feel free to contact us and ask our expert designers for a consultation.
Finances
Assuming you’re selling your house for financial reasons, the return on investment (ROI) that your renovations will yield during the sale is one of the first things you’ll want to consider. If your expected ROI is likely to be negative, you probably shouldn’t renovate your house before selling it. If this is the case, you should consider minor or less expensive renovations instead.
Interior Changes
Certain renovations may cost relatively little but drastically increase market value. Tearing down a non-structural wall to create an open kitchen and dining area is one example of a minor renovation that could have a big payout. Turning a closet into increased bathroom space will be a bit more expensive, but roomy bathrooms are valuable to buyers, and it may be worth it to avoid being passed over. On a similar note, adding a half bath to a basement or attic space can make your home more appealing to larger families that may otherwise have difficulty juggling bathroom access for multiple people.
Completely redesigning a bathroom or finishing a basement or attic is more substantial and may end up costing you more than you’ll recoup in a sale. That’s why it’s important to talk to a firm knowledgeable about both design and construction, providing you with accurate pricing that you can weigh against current housing prices.
Exterior Changes
The exterior of your home is the first thing passers-by will see. If it’s drab or run-down looking, it won’t catch a potential buyer’s eye when they’re driving past unless they’re specifically looking for it. New siding and roofing is the easiest way to perk up the exterior of your house, but these options can quickly become pricey. A new roof will cost you a substantial amount of money, depending upon the square footage and number of peaks. However, potential buyers will appreciate knowing that they won’t need to worry about replacement for a minimum of ten years, excluding storm or weather damage. So if your roof is old or damaged, it may be well worth it to replace it before the sale, because the prospect of replacing a roof right after buying a house isn’t anyone’s idea of fun.
Likewise, re-siding your house can add substantial value to your home, but only if it’s fairly rundown. It’s not worth it to re-side your house just to change or brighten the colors. An alternative option is to pressure-wash it, removing dirt, moss, and mold, which will make it look less drab even if the original color has faded. So long as your siding isn’t broken or missing, it’s probably better to clean it up rather than replace it before a sale.
If you’re not sure whether or not your house needs to be updated, feel free to contact us for an initial consultation.
Winthorpe Design and Build
It’s okay to be unsure when you’re making major financial decisions, and that can result in a lot of pressure. That’s why the team here at Winthorpe Design and Build is always willing and ready to help clients with design choices and schedule consultations whenever they contact us.
We’ve got years and years of experience with renovations — both designing and constructing them. As a result, we have more hands-on experience than most architects and a good idea of what will attract potential buyers. We also tend to be quicker, cheaper, and more efficient because you can get all of your designing and building done by one company instead of going back and forth between two or more.
We value you and our clients above all else, and your satisfaction is our number one priority. That’s why we consult you before making any major decisions or changes to the plan and do everything we can to give you the best results without going over budget.
Contact us now to take the first step toward achieving your dream home!
We look forward to doing business with you!
