Condo Renovation Guide
Feature: “Renovations and Repairs – Getting your Condominium or Townhome Ready to Sell”
Why renovate?
If your condominium or townhome is in need of some work, making some smart renovations will usually yield a good return on your investment. And doing some work on your condominium or townhome prior to listing can be a great way to get your unit looking its best and to help you sell faster and for more money. But before you get started on any renovations or repairs there are a few things that you should think about first:
Will the results of a particular renovation justify the time money and effort that went into it?
Whenever you think about breaking out the hammer and paint brushes you should pause for a moment and consider this question carefully. Many renovations do not justify themselves. They fail to increase either the speed with which your home sells or the selling price of your home.
Do the renovation results look professional? Painting your home can be a great way to make it more saleable, but only if the finished product looks really sharp. Buyers will not pay more for a poorly applied paint job. Lines must be smooth and finishes must be even. Similarly, an uneven or poorly laid tile job will wind up costing you time and money.
If your inclination and skills are such that you want to tackle these types of tasks on your own then you can certainly do so. But if you are uncertain about the quality of your finished product it might be better to spend a little more to get a professional or to pass on the project entirely.
What to renovate:
Unfinished tasks - If there is a partial repair or renovation that you have started but haven’t yet gotten around to finishing then this definitely needs to be addressed. The average buyer is generally not a visualizer or innovator – they won’t see the value of a ¾ finished project. They will just see a big mess. It is always a good idea to finish up repairs and renovations prior to listing your home.
Dark, dated or dingy painted interiors – Paint is arguably the best value for your dollar spent so long as the finished job looks bright and professional. Light or neutral colors are usually a safer bet. Some research indicates that darkly painted homes may take up to twice as long to sell as homes painted with light colors. Light colors also make rooms look larger.
Signs of water damage – repair these immediately. Few things turn off potential buyers more than the prospect of water damage. So if you have marks from a minor issue that was addressed in the past then take the time to paint and refinish to remove the signs of water damage.
Kitchens and Bathrooms – other than painting, nothing will yield you a better return on your investment then making sure that your kitchens and bathrooms are in good shape. If either of these rooms is looking worn or dated, you may benefit from having these rooms attended to.
All cupboard and closet doors should open smoothly. Doorknobs should be tightened where needed. Loose or rattling items leave the impression that maintenance might not be high on your list, so fix or replace them.
Faucets and light switches should be shiny and clean. If a good cleaning cannot achieve this effect then replacing them is cheap and easy to accomplish.
If your cabinetry is looking worn or dated and you can’t afford to replace them, consider refinishing and repainting the doors, and swapping old and dated cupboard hinges and handles for more contemporary ones.
What Not to Renovate
Don’t launch into big scale renovations without careful analysis. If your house is already well maintained, then you are unlikely to get your money back by making things nicer. Yes, it’s usually a money loser… so don’t bother.
Keep consistency in your renovation efforts with the lifestyle of the audience most likely to buy it. A renovation effort where it seems clear that the seller has tried a little too hard to save money will not have a positive effect and will likely just have wasted the seller’s time and money.
And on the flip side don’t overspend either, especially in one room or area. One room should not be palatial while other rooms are markedly less so. You are looking to create a consistent feel throughout your home.
Before you begin renovations on your condominium or townhome to get it ready for sale, you might want to consider first talking with a condo and townhome specialist. Part of my job is to help sellers focus their efforts in ways that will help them get the biggest return on the sale of their home. If you would like a consultation then please feel free to contact me at: 778 862 5542.
You can also request my detailed ‘Insider’s Guide to Buying and Selling Condos in Langley’ absolutely free! And it’s jam packed with even more tips and advice about:
- Which Langley neighborhoods to watch and which ones to avoid
- How to spot the best complexes for quality of living and financial appreciation
- What condo and town home features you can use to negotiate 1000’s of dollars off of your purchase
- How to avoid the condo nightmare mistakes that even experienced buyers can sometimes make And much, much more…
Call Andrew at 778.862.5542 to request your free guide now!
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