It’s hard to believe we’re already at the end of 2018. We hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season with your families.
As we move toward 2019, we wanted to share a couple of insights from our local real estate market and share some adjustments that you can make now if you’re looking to make a move in the new year.
People often ask me what simple home improvement projects can help their homes stand out and sell more quickly.
As you might expect, when it comes to selling your home, not all home improvements are created equal. That’s why I’ve collected the three top home improvement projects that buyers love, which is backed by a report by the National Association of Home Builders.
#1 A laundry room
More than anything, homebuyers currently want a separate room for washing, folding, and ironing clothes, so they can keep the mess out of their living space.
The good news is this project can be surprisingly easy to complete.
If you have an unused basement, it makes a lot of sense to put the laundry room there, because all the utility lines will be accessible, and you probably won’t have to demolish anything.
In this case, a new laundry room could cost as little as $1,000 and could contribute a lot when you look to sell your home.
#2 Exterior lighting
Exterior lighting is the most desired outdoor feature by homebuyers, appearing on the wish list for 92% of them.
Your options for exterior lighting include spotlights, walkway lights, and pendant lights. Fixtures range in price between $65 to $132.
As you might guess, beautiful exterior lights can make the difference and convince buyers who are already viewing your home.
And the good news is they might do even more than that. That’s because 64% of prospective buyers will drive by your home before even considering a viewing.
In other words, exterior lighting will present your home in the best possible light, impressing these potential buyers, and increasing overall interest in your home.
#3 Energy-efficient windows
Most homebuyers today care about energy efficiency. Specifically, 90% want energy-efficient windows in their new home.
A set of energy-efficient windows will drive down the costs for your utilities, improve comfort inside your home, and increase your home’s curb appeal.
That’s why whether you are planning on staying in your home for a while or are looking to sell quickly, energy efficient windows are worth considering. In fact, that’s true for all of the above projects.
If you want to get an idea of what such a project could contribute to the value of your home, then the first step is to find out what your home is worth in our current market. You can do that with the following home value calculator, which is based on recent Champaign County sales:
Enter your street address here to find out what your home is worth
Once you do this, give us a call at 217-351-4900. We can discuss the specifics of your home, and we can give you our expert opinion on which improvements might contribute most to your home’s value.
From all of us at Ryan Dallas Real Estate, we wish you lots of joy in 2019!