Strategic Remodeling to Increase the Resale Value of Your Home

Posted On October 17, 2011

When it comes to remodeling your home for improved resale value, each project should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis because every home is different. Generally, kitchens and bathrooms are the weak points when it comes to home value, so they are good rooms to update. Occasionally front façade enhancements are a necessary improvement and will add value to your home.

How long you plan to stay in your house is an important consideration when determining the best way to remodel for resale. If your plans are long-term (ten years or more), you don’t have to feel as constrained by budget. In this case, larger projects are doable and appropriate. Go ahead – gut the old kitchen, and remodel the old bathroom. These larger projects will pay off – both in terms of your own personal enjoyment and the enhanced resale value!

But if you are planning to sell your home in the near future (5 years or less), you’ll want to consider cost-effective cosmetic enhancements instead of major home improvements. Depending on the age, condition and location of your home, each of these minor enhancements should also be considered on an individual basis. The Wentworth team will work with you to consider all of the options and to work through the best solutions for your home.

Resale Value Remodeling Tips for Your DC Area Home

Over the years, we’ve amassed quite a few guidelines and tips for improving the curb appeal and resale value of Washington, DC metropolitan area homes. Here are a few of our favorites, from living rooms to kitchens to bathrooms:

The Living Room

As any realtor will tell you, a new carpet and a fresh coat of paint are smart, cost-effective ways to improve your home. If you have wood floors, buff or wax them. Spend a bit more to refinish them if necessary. A little bit of elbow grease and financial investment will go a long way in making your home seem fresh and inviting.

The Kitchen

Kitchen improvements vary depending upon the age of the kitchen. If your current appliances are antiques, installing new ones is an easy way to improve the look and function of your kitchen. But if your kitchen is so old and so poorly laid out that any new buyer will mostly likely rip it out anyway, a good cleaning is probably all you need. Let the new buyer worry about appliances and layout.

If you do happen to have a kitchen with a good floor plan and decent cabinets, new countertops, a new backsplash and improved lighting will add tremendous value to your kitchen. Painting your cabinets and refreshing hardware can be a simple fix for outdated cabinets. For many clients, we’ve put new cabinet doors and drawer faces over the old cabinet boxes and installed a new floor when necessary. Whatever you choose, a practical layout with fresh new finishes is always appealing to a prospective buyer. Just remember to keep all products and finishes neutral so it appeals to a wide range of potential buyers.

The Bathroom

When you’re not planning to stay in your home for the long-term and want to upgrade your home for resale value, keep bathroom remodeling simple.

Work within the bathroom’s footprint. If necessary, we can install new tile over the old, but if the old tile is acceptable, our interior designers can find paint colors to complement the old tile and enhance the space. For example, if a wainscot wall tile is an unsavory color, you might consider a white spray-on coating used to re-glaze old tubs and sinks. The spray-on coating will make the old wall tile look much better, and the white glaze is better for increasing resale value than a hot pink wall tile, for instance. Ripping out old bathtubs isn’t always necessary – we can re-glaze and/or update them instead. Pedestal sinks and toilets are easy to replace with new white fixtures.

Simple and strategic design choices are ideal in a bathroom remodeling project meant to increase resale value. Adding simple storage will appeal to a prospective buyer, and it’s a relatively inexpensive improvement. An outdated or damaged glass enclosure at an old tub can be replaced with a relatively inexpensive shower curtain and rod and still look aesthetically pleasing to potential buyers. Small improvements – from updated lighting fixtures to an exhaust fan – will be noticed by most buyers and home inspectors. Better yet, these improvements don’t cost a whole lot and can add considerable value to your bathroom.

Resale Value Remodeling in Washington, DC & Surrounding Areas

From the simple improvements to more complex remodeling, the Wentworth team can walk you through any project to improve the resale value of your home. To explore your options, call us for a consultation today!