Whether you are thinking about selling your home in the distant future or in the short term, design decisions on improvements that you make now will have a lasting effect on future salability. Following is a check list of minor home improvements that increase desirability and add value and will help your home sell quickly when you decide it's time to move on.
- Front Door - The front door reflects the home's personality. From modern to traditional, choose a front door style that is compatible with the overall architecture of the home. Select a complimentary color that is timeless such as ebony or walnut stain. ROI about 70%.
- Garage Door - Usually the garage door is visible from the street and adds to the curb appeal. Again, select a door style compatible with the architecture. Color should match trim used on the exterior and the garage door should be insulated. ROI about 97%.
- Fiber Cement Siding Replacement - This siding is a bit more costly than vinyl, yet much more attractive and desirable. Baked on paint colors in deep, appealing colors come with a long warranty. Most popular are grays and blues with white trim. ROI about 85%.
- Kitchen and bathrooms sell houses. No buyer wants to deal with the mess of updating those rooms unless they plan to offer you a fixer-upper price. Keep it neutral and save the color for decor items.
- Bathroom Counters, Sinks and Plumbing Fixtures - Buyers still ask for granite in the higher-level options. Quartz is also desirable and comparable in price. Keep colors neutral in grays, greiges, and whites. If you have an older home with the shorter cabinet height, install a vessel sink and tall facets to visually increase the height. ROI about 70%.
- Kitchen Counters and Backsplash - Buyers still want things light and bright. Select a higher-level granite or quartz countertop in neutral shades of gray, greige, and white. Compliment the counters with a ceramic backsplash in those colors and with a gray grout. Paint your outdated stained cabinets in a white or pale greige. ROI about 80%.
Joan Inglis has been featured dozens of times on TV, online and in print. She has won numerous local, state, regional and international awards since forming her company, Carolina Spaces in 2004. Carolina Spaces is the leading expert in Home Staging, Luxury Home Staging, Model Home Merchandising and Interior Design in the Charlotte, NC region and provides award-winning services throughout the Southeast. Model Home services for home builders are available nationwide.
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Joan Inglis had the honor of presenting two seminars at the 2017 Fall Home Improvement and Outdoor Living Show at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. She also had the opportunity to share a sneak peek of her presentation "Update Tips to Add Style and Value to Your Home" with WBTW News 13 viewers and provide some DIY tips too.
Joan's tips included:
- What are the safest colors to use on big-ticket renovation projects? Begin all projects on permanent fixtures in the house (like tile, hardwood, and cabinets) with streamlined colors – the timeless colors – black, white, brown, and tan.
- What if we’re just looking to update the look of a living room? Light-colored furnishings are really popular. Instead of going stark white with upholstery, look for cream or gray fabrics. Then use an accent color or two in art, pillows, and accessories. Keep the color flowing throughout the room.
- What can we do to make our bedroom more inviting? Replace your light fixture with a chandelier; clear away all clutter from nightstands and chests; and add a plush rug under the bed.
Joan Inglis, Interior Designer and Master Accredited Staging Professional®, is the owner and lead designer of Carolina Spaces, a full-service home staging, luxury home staging, model home merchandising and interior design firm based outside of Charlotte in Lake Wylie, SC. Carolina Spaces provides services to the Charlotte, NC region and throughout the Southeast. Call 1-855-SPACES-5 or visit CarolinaSpaces.com for more information on our award-winning services.