To Renovate or Not To Renovate

One of the most common questions our sellers have at listing appointments is whether to invest in renovations before putting their home on the market. It’s a decision that will significantly impact their timeline, budget, and ultimately the selling price.

The answer? It depends on the condition of the home and your goals as a seller.

Overview

PROS: First Impressions Matter, Higher Selling Price, Fewer Buyer Objections

CONS: Higher Upfront Costs, Time Delays, Buyers Might Want To Customize

Must Do’s

In most cases, there are a few things that all sellers should do before showing their home to prospective buyers which are a worthwhile return on investment.

  • Repair – anything that is obviously broken to not draw a buyer’s attention away from all the positive features in a home
  • Fresh paint – relatively inexpensive and works wonders for updating a home’s appearance both in person and in photographs
  • Curb Appeal – landscaping refresh, front door paint or hardware, power washing the walkway, anything to improve a buyer’s first impressions
  • Deep Cleaning – this could include carpet cleaning, and don’t neglect windows and grout/caulking areas

Get An Expert Opinion

Too many times we have heard a seller say that they needed to do a lot of work before having a realtor look at their home. Unfortunately, sellers often choose the wrong things to focus on – repairs or renovations which ultimately will not improve their sale price!

Sellers often underestimate how much can be achieved with strategic updates, staging and good photography.

Realtors also often have a network of trusted professionals who can do the work, sparing sellers the headache of interviewing, vetting and scheduling.

If you are considering renovations before selling your home, schedule a free no-obligation consultation.

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A Day in the Life of an OC Realtor

This busy Friday happened to be Valentine’s Day and kicked off with a team meeting at Lamppost Pizza in Yorba Linda. We had a great social media presentation from First American Title. Most importantly, we shared our upcoming listings so we can get the inside scoop for any of our buyers.

Then it was off to Huntington Beach for a home inspection. The buyers are out of state in this transaction, so once the inspector checked everything out, we did a video call with my clients so they could get a summary and ask any questions. Fortunately there weren’t many issues to go over.

I had a couple of hours before my next appointment, and since this listing is located right next to Main St, I grabbed a quick snack. Eating on the run is par for the course as a realtor. I had an evening showing scheduled at a nearby building and decided to go early since I hadn’t been there before. Good thing I did – the lockbox wasn’t on the property yet! Quick call to the listing agent and he was able to have someone run down to bring the lockbox.

I still had time to set up the place so it would look nice before my clients arrived. These were brand-new buyers and my first time meeting them. They were originally interested in my nearby listing but it was already in escrow. They were a lovely couple and the showing went well. By now it was dark and time to begin the long trek home in rush-hour traffic 😩

Not all days are this jam-packed, but it happens! Always grateful,

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Listing Preparation

If you want to sell your home for top dollar, you need a listing agent who will do more than put up a listing sign. Our full-service listing preparation will get your home ready to show! Professional photography will bring buyers in, and entire home staging will make them fall in love. We handle every detail because the better your home looks, the easier our job is. See more examples of our listing preparations here: https://vivianakim.com/whatweoffer/

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