When it comes to upgrading one’s home, you can’t help but think about what it will do for your resale value when you decide to sell. Remodeled kitchens with their custom cabinets, shiny new appliances and pretty granite counters impress a potential buyer. Pretty wood floors, new plush carpets and custom built-ins are nice to look at and definitely add extra, but do they really give you the most bang for your buck? According to Home & Garden Television “Basic maintenance, such as the roof and exterior painting, are frequently more important than an awesome kitchen”. This has some truth to it. No matter how fabulous a home’s kitchen is, a major electrical issue or a leaky roof will stop potential buyers dead in their tracks. Since maintenance repairs can be so costly, people typically prefer the basic systems and foundation of the home is in good standing. If you are considering doing upgrades before selling, consider these options instead of doing a cosmetic remodel.

1. The front door, surprisingly. On average, this upgrade adds an extra 96.6 % to your homes resale value. Don’t get just any front door though. Make sure it is right in size, color and style for your home. If your door is in good condition, but you think it needs an update, consider painting. This simple, and much more affordable action, can result in almost the same bump in value as replacing your door altogether.

2.) Outside projects such as new siding, a new deck or garage door all have about 85% return on investment. A deck is around $10,000 and a new garage door around $1,500. If the deck is teeny or the garage door is banged up and doesn’t work properly, most buyers would probably prefer those amenities over something that just looks pretty.

3.) New windows are expensive, and no one wants to get the news that theirs need to be replaced. Especially in Lake Tahoe with a need for double pane windows, this spendy project has a return on investment of about 74%.

4.) Extra space such as an additional bathroom or attic bedroom is a great alternative that can almost pay for itself by the time the upgrade is finished. Now that homes are being equipped with rooms for several different purposes such as a workout room, sewing room, wrapping room, etc. people appreciate the extra indoor square footage.

If you have any questions regarding listing your home and what you can do before hand, call Peter Delilli at 530-308-4331.