Summer is an opportunity to display your home at it’s very best. The vibrant green of a well-kept lawn, the beckoning of outdoor spaces for rest and reflection and cooking on the grill. What’s not to love? Of course, here are a few, ahem, “concerns” to address before that for sale sign hits the front lawn. Make sure your home looks “purchase perfect” by acknowledging some of these troublesome items that could derail an open house or turn off a prospective buyer.
- Water drainage: We’ve had a rainy spring in the northeastern part of the country and with the ground in many places fully saturated, even homes that have never experienced the problems of excess water are now wondering if they are susceptible to potential damage. Sometimes it’s a nearby home or property with water run-off that has the potential to impact your own home.To assure a dry basement and yard, it’s worth consulting a professional to assess your risk before putting your home on the market. There are many products that can be discreetly installed and effectively keep water at bay such as grates and catch basins, channel drains and trenches, standard drains and water discharge emitters. Residential ResQ is one example of a company that can assess your risk and recommend preventive measures as well as solutions to any existing problems.Even the front yard and walkway contain plenty of options to create functional water drainage on your property. Check with a local expert.
- Critter control: Fortunately here in the Northeast, we don’t often have problems with snakes and other creepy crawlers that are prevalent in other parts of the US. (If you’re brave, watch this video of a snake at someone’s front door. Ugh.) Unfortunately, we’re not completely rodent and insect free, especially in the summer! When your home is inspected and treated for hornet nests, seasonal bugs, mice, ticks, carpenter bees and termites, it’s guaranteed insurance against any unexpected guests showing up at your open house or home showing. Plus, paperwork that proves you’ve maintained a pest control protocol tells the buyer that your home’s welfare is top notch no matter the season.
- Bird house fan or foe? Bird houses – Many people love birdhouses; others don’t care for birdhouses and the mess they can create without regular cleaning. To some, it’s a real turn off. Plus, dirty feeders can also have an odor, which can attract unwanted pests, such as wasps, raccoons, rats, and other visitors that will damage or destroy the feeder. Google “birdhouse maintenance” for tips to keep your birdhouses clean and attractive. A tiny detail, but something that can stand out in the summer and easily turn off an eager buyer.
- Creepy Lawn Ornaments: Everyone has a lawn ornament memory they just can’t shake. Whether it’s a positive memory of a wagon planter that you and your siblings sat on for a picture every summer or the neighbor’s creepy gargoyle that gave you nightmares, lawn planters and ornaments have much more staying power than expected. Do a careful walk through of your property, maybe even ask a friend to weigh in—is there anything on your lawn or deck that needs to go ? If you’d like for me to take a walk through your home to dole out advice for YOUR “purchase perfect” home this summer, give me a call: (203) 550 6082. Or send me an email.
Winter brings out the nesting instinct. So once you can move away from your fireplace and hot chocolate – what house projects are you up for? Are you itching for some sledgehammer action a la Chip Gaines of Fixer Upper? Or is a complete style and color overhaul of one room calling your inner weekend warrior?
The best home improvements give you a feeling of accomplishment and increase the value of your home. Here are a few worthy of the pain, suffering and pennies that will likely deliver a resale return here in Greenwich, CT.
Add a Bathroom
Add a bathroom, add value. Every real estate listing starts with these two key stats: how many bedrooms and BATHROOMS. Little known secret to family harmony: one bathroom per teenager and spouse. It may seem excessive—until you’re the one desperately waiting to get in.
You can indulge your home improvement spirit animal and take on the job yourself, but it’s a good idea to talk with a contractor about your home’s layout and the best spot to add another bathroom. For a few hundred well-spent dollars, a contractor or designer can help you create a plan and avoid heinous pitfalls. Even a half bath added to the mudroom or off the kitchen adds resale dollars and keeps dinner guests from having to wander your home in order to find and use the facilities.
Return on investment: High
Update a Bathroom
Did you do a kitchen makeover recently? Your bathrooms are jealous. Lose the early aughts (or older!) décor and enhance your home’s market value. Functionality options for bathrooms are endless today and you’ll be amazed what you can accomplish in even the smallest spaces. Browse on HGTV.com, Houzz.com, or any of the big box home stores websites. Regardless of your budget or style, you’ll find endless bathroom cabinet, shower & tub options.
Return on investment: High
Get Rid of Rugs and Consider Hardwood, Laminates or Tile Flooring
Modern flooring options offer great benefits: they are easier to clean, they don’t hold on to dust and dirt the way carpet does, and it’s a proven way to reduce allergens in the home. A definite plus for buyers and another update worth the investment.
Return on investment: High
Not up to those big changes but itching to start some renovations to get your house on the market? Consider these:
- Paint the front door;
- Install crown molding (try it in a bathroom and see how you like the results);
- Consider implementing some tech: auto shades, charging stations, tv mounts, HVAC updates;
- Clean out the linen closet and/or master closet and install better shelving.
I’m getting ready for spring too with new houses coming on the Greenwich market. Stay tuned! And do follow me on Facebook or Instagram.
Fences and stone walls are distinctive and enduring elements in New England. Whether they are traditional stone walls or split-rail wood fences, visitors and residents alike are charmed by these borders. But have you ever wondered…do fences and walls add value to your Greenwich CT home?
Here’s what I know from my years as a real estate professional:
Stone Walls
What’s more New England than an old-stone wall? Or a new stone wall that looks like a 250-year old stone wall? These stone borders add personality and historic charm to vintage homes and help newer homes to fit into the landscape.
Does this type of fence add value to your home? The answer is yes, it can. If the wall is at the front of your home, it should be well-maintained to increase the overall value of the property. Crumbling stone walls in the depths of a property aren’t detrimental for the right buyer – someone who is looking for a traditional experience. If you want to add a stone wall to your property before sale, you’ll likely make back the cost or experience a slight bump from it. According to this infographic, you’ll experience a 100% return on your investment.
Old-Style Wood Fences
Classic wood fences add to the overall “brand” of your home, for example: a rambling old farmhouse with split-rail fencing; a cottage with a white picket fence; a rustic cabin with an Adirondack-style fence.
On the positive side, wood fences are durable and blend with the natural elements surrounding them. A well-maintained wood fence with wonderful landscaping can be a beautiful asset. On the negative side, aging fences with missing rails or insect-infestation damage are going to make potential buyers think twice. Just like outdated bathrooms and kitchens, buyers think about all they need to do to make the home current. If you’re selling your home and don’t already have a wood fence on your property, don’t add one: it won’t add much value compared to material and construction costs.
Today most full-time and seasonal Greenwich homeowners know that well-maintained fences – whether stone, wood or other material – make good neighbors and happy future home owners. The key term is “well maintained.”
