Think you need to spend a ton to get your home ready to sell? As you’ll see in this revealing video series, a small budget can go a long way. These small but impactful improvements not only paid for themselves but resulted in a 5x return on investment for our sellers!
This home we helped prep for sale is a great example of the fact that you don’t have to undertake a major renovation at high costs to make a home marketable. Though the total cost for improving this house only came to $25,400, the home sold for $125,000 over its list price!
Improvement #1: The Front Porch
First impressions matter a whole lot—we want buyers to fall in love at first sight. Transforming this home’s front porch to make it more inviting didn’t take a ton of effort, but it did result in a dramatic boost to curb appeal. This project was a complete rebuild from scratch, done with high quality materials and brand new concrete footers.
Improvement #2: Fresh Paint
Dark, dated interiors and surfaces that have stains or damage can get a quick makeover with a fresh coat of paint. This is probably the most impactful change you can make. Choosing high-gloss finishes on all the trim is particularly effective in helping to amplify natural light and give the home a fresh, modern feel. The entire home was completely repainted including the trim.
Improvement #3: Revealing Hardwoods Under Carpet
It was so satisfying to tear up that dingy carpet layer to uncover a beautiful fir floor underneath! This is a particularly cost-effective move because you’re not paying for something new, but rather revealing what’s already there.
Improvement #4: Recently Remodeled Kitchen
In our experience, kitchens and baths sell homes. Though this home had a recently remodeled kitchen, it did need a good clean, a fresh coat of paint and some new lighting to help brighten it up.
Improvement #5: Basement Bathroom
If you have the space and the plumbing hookups ready to go, fixing up an existing basement bathroom is a no-brainer. That extra bathroom opens up a lot of possibilities for living arrangements, and it doesn’t take a big investment to simply replace some fixtures.
Improvement #6: Basement Makeover
Did you know that you can have basement floors steam cleaned? That’s one of a few simple steps we took to transform this space into a welcoming part of the house without actually having to do a major remodel.
Improvement #7: Fireplace Refresh
This home already had two fireplaces installed, but they needed a little TLC. Some simple professional cleaning gave them a new lease on life.
Improvement #8: Attic Attack
All we had to do to transform this previously forgotten part of the house? Add some drywall, paint, and now it’s ready to serve as an office.
TOTAL IMPROVEMENT COSTS: $25,402.70
Need our magic touch to get your home ready to compete on the Portland real estate market? Call us at 503.819.4851 or email us at karoline@ashleyrealtyworks.com to grab a coffee and discuss your real estate needs!
