What are some cant-live-without upgrades to pre-construction homes to increase the selling price? I have spoken with the sales consultant and she advised me to upgrade the carpet padding for $152 and upgrade the range to a self-cleaning range for $116. Are there any other must have upgrades? There are a lot to choose from. And are the current upgrades needed? Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
Don
Don,
It’s hard to say because we have no idea what comes ‘standard’ on the properties and what your end-goal for the property is. Also, a lot of "gotta-haves’ are regional. For instance in some parts of the country, a garage is a must have to be competetive, in my area a carport is usually fine – in other places, neither is acceptable.
I like an ice maker in the refrig…is it standard? I owned a townhouse in Virginia and it wouldn’t sell until I added a deck – it sold the next week!
Keith
This is a 2bd/2bth paired ranch in Surfside Beach (myrtle). It already has 10-12k in equity and I just signed the contract friday. I plan on flipping once it is completed in mid-summer. It comes standard with a side-load garage. I had an investment in Jacksonville, FL that I had a hard time selling because there was no fence!? I just don’t want the same headaches on this one. The sales consultant just told me that a screened in porch is a big selling point as well. They offer this upgrade at $1900. I was also thinking of a garden tub in the master bath. Any other upgrades to the master baths and kitchen that you would think of?
Thanks in advance,
Don
Central Vac is a big thing around here. Maybe add some front yard landscaping.
Thanks for the advice, I will be sure to look into these.
The way to answer this for everybody is to remember that the person that is going to buy your house is looking for a house that costs similar to yours with the same size (2000 sqft, 3 br/2/ba/2 gr, etc) just like yours within a street or two of yours. When they look at your house, they are going to look at the other ones too. What you want to know is what those houses have in them. You then want to create the atmosphere that when they compare your house to these, they would rather buy yours.
Saying that make sure you have what the houses around you have in them (decks, icemakers, carpet). But when you want to put in the upgrades to create the desire, I focus on the kitchens and master baths. Women buy houses for the kitchen and bath, men buy houses for game rooms and garages. But women make the decisions.
As previous poster noted, kitchens and master bath are the best bang for your buck. A nice kitchen facuet and countertop can go a long way to give it that “custom” kitchen look.
I my opinion the same goes for nice fixtures or tile in the master shower.
The most important thing is don’t put immentities that are way above the other homes in the immediate area. For example if you are buying a home in a blue-collar, starter home area, laminate counters are probably fine as the potential buyer will not pay for granite. But if all the other homes have natural stone counters, spring for some really nice granite tops to “wow” them when they come in.
I always get an extra 3rd car garage and upgrade the kitchen and master bath. these are all good selling points
I have never seen a central vac system increase the price of any home. They are gimmics. Why buy an inferior expensive Vacuum system when you can buy a good upright vacuum for 100 bucks or less? It makes no sense.
Landscaping on the other hand seems to pay, in my area for 2 to 1. That means of every dollar of landscaping you pay, you get about 2 dollars back in an increased sale price. (of course there is a limit to this, so don’t go out and do 250K worth of landscapping thinking you will get 500K back)
You’re WRONG on this one Dan! My wife had a central vac in the house that she owned when we got married…if she was buying a house under construction, she would absolutely, positively get a central vac…no question about it.
Good central vacs are NOT inferior (actually a $100 vacuum is a POS!). The one in our townhouse had outlets on all four levels and had outstanding suction all the way to the 4th floor loft! You haven’t lived until you’re toted one of your $100 eighty pound vacs up and down three flights of stairs three or for times!
You may be right about it not adding value, but my wife would pay a premium for one!
Keith
everyone here has had good ideas but i haven’t heard one thing…appraisal!
of all the items discussed, i think only the screen porch would be fully recognized in an appraisal. also, how is the screen porch being construsted? would it be easy to convert into heated living space at some point in the future?
how about sunroom conversion?
i live in Charlotte and reclaim alot of screened porches, converting them (easily sometimes) into heated living space. adds alot of value if its easy to run power and hvac into…much easier to build foundations and roof structures now than latter!
good luck
Put a over-the-range microwave in the kitchen - the lady of the house will love it as it will free up valuable counter space. You can buy one and install alot cheaper than the builder doing it, just make sure it’s in that kitchen when you start showing the house to prospective buyers. Anything you can tack under cabinets to free up kitchen space is a must.