Home Selling Guide

When a potential home buyer walks into a house they are thinking about buying, the very first place that they want to see is typically the kitchen. The story is not much different when people view images of homes online. An improved kitchen can make or break a deal. The master suite is not far behind in the emotional pull it has on buyers.

In modern homes and the prevalence of open floor plans that buyers love, the kitchen is a central aspect of the home. Plus, everyone in the home will enjoy the kitchen. 

However, spending thousands of dollars on a full kitchen remodel before listing your home for sale may not provide the return on investment that you may expect. It is very unlikely that you will see a 100% or greater return on your investment if you foot the bill for a full kitchen remodel, unless your home is highly antiquated, malfunctioning, or damaged. On the other hand, giving your kitchen a minor facelift may provide a sufficient return on investment for a kitchen remodel and at the same time may provide you the sweetener you need to stand toe to toe with competing properties when you decide to sell.

Minor Kitchen Remodel vs Major Kitchen Remodel in Atlanta

Remodeling Magazine has grouped kitchen remodels into two major categories: major kitchen remodels and minor kitchen remodels. 

In a minor kitchen remodel, the kitchen is functional but outdated. In a remodel of his nature, the appliances may be replaced with updated energy-efficient models, cabinets resurfaced, or replaced with modern favorites such as shaker cabinet styles. In the addition, the counter and floors may get updated as well.

On the other hand, a major kitchen remodel may involve a full overall of the kitchen. This may include removing walls, moving the kitchen around entirely, installing custom appliances, top-tier sinks, faucets, pot fillers, a showpiece island with a waterfall edge countertop, and so forth.   A major kitchen overall can get very expensive.

Minor Kitchen Remodel Return on Investment in Atlanta

• ROI: 72%
• Average cost: $26,055
• Return: $18,752

Major Kitchen Remodel Return on Investment in Atlanta

• ROI: 55.8%
• Average cost: $147,439 
• Return: $82,342

A full renovation may not be feasible for every homeowner or seller. What is more important is that your update meets your needs. In addition, if you are planning on selling your home in the near future, you want to make sure that your updates meet the needs of the market when you decide to list-future proofing your home.  

Does painting kitchen cabinets increase home value?

Definitely. A fresh coat of paint is a great way to add value to your home. Kitchen cabinets tend to get used a lot and a fresh coat of paint will spruce them without breaking the bank. YOu could simply resurface the cabinets and apply a nice coat of paint

Do high-end appliances increase home value?

High-end appliances will add value to the right home. If the home is an entry-level home, adding top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances or designer appliances may not add much in terms of value to your home. Instead, check out the housing market in your area and look at the types of kitchens that buyers are loving.

How much should you spend on a kitchen remodel?

You should spend money on your kitchen that you are comfortable spending. To determine how much to spend on a kitchen remodel, look at the current value of your home and your equity situation in the home. In addition, think about how long you may keep your home before selling it and what will make you happy. At the end of the day, you do not want to spend more on your home than what it is worth unless that is not a concern to you.

Is remodeling a kitchen worth it?

Remodeling a  kitchen is definitely worth it and will help to make the home more of a destination for the entire family. A Remodeled kitchen is among the top ten renovations that can be done on a home and provide a good return on investment for sellers. 

What are the best kitchen updates for resale?

Among the best updates that add value to a kitchen are a freshly painted kitchen, updated appliances, updated countertops, cabinets (and pulls), and excellent lighting. These updates can be had without breaking the bank, especially if you add some elbow grease.

A garage door is commonly the largest door on a house. They can be opened manually or with electronics. For most homes, the garage door is a prominent aspect of the home. On average, a garage door takes up 20% of a home’s facade. In simple terms, a garage door can significantly affect a home’s curb appeal. A newly improved garage door may contribute as much as 4% to a home’s perceived value. 

Here is a list of 7 reasons to upgrade your garage door. Upgrading your garage door may include adding decals to your current garage door, painting it, improving the springs, or changing the panels. For some homeowners, an upgrade may mean replacing the garage and operating mechanism.

Improved Curb Appeal

As stated above, as much as 20% of a home’s facade may be taken up by the garage door. That means, upgrading your garage door can significantly improve the way your home is showcased from the street. You do not need to even replace the entire garage door to improve the appearance of the doors. You could simply splash on a new coat of paint or add decals to the garage door to spruce it up to make a banging impact.

Great Return on Investment

According to the analysis by Remodeling Magazine, investing $3,611 to replace a premium garage door might net you $3,520 when you sell it. That is a whopping 97.5 percent return on investment.

Increase a Home’s Resale Value

Garage doors are among the most used doors on a typical home. Some people may go months without opening their front doors, but they may use their garage doors on a daily basis. That means that a defective garage door, or one that is unappealing, may diminish the value of a home in the minds of some buyers. Therefore, a great garage door may be a compelling selling feature and a great selling point to highlight to potential buyers.

Reduce Noise

Since garage doors occupy so much of a home’s surface area, if your garage door faces a busy street or the neighborhood is prone to noise, a properly insulated garage door may buffer noise entering the home and make the occupants more comfortable.

Improved Energy Efficiency

Older garage doors are notoriously energy inefficient. This is particularly important if you have conditioned space above the garage. Most rooms above garages tend to be affected by the temperature of the garage. That means that those rooms may be warmer than other parts of the home during the summer months and cooler in the winter months. Therefore, if you do not use your garage to store chemicals and your garage door is south facing, it may be a good idea to have a garage door that is insulated to help mitigate the impact of the climate on your home. It will keep the home at a comfortable temperature throughout the year and save you money when it comes to heating and cooling.

Lower Maintenance Cost

If you have an older garage door, you may notice that it requires more maintenance and repairs. In one of my previous homes, I heard a huge commotion in the garage. When I went to investigate, the garage door had fallen. Upon closer examination, I discovered that the garage door had a failed spring. That was a huge expense. More on that another time.

Whatever your circumstance is, installing a new garage door might be the solution to lower your maintenance cost and potential safety issues. A newer garage door will save you money in the long run when it comes to maintenance.

Improved Security and Safety

A garage is an excellent security blanket for your home. It is an additional door that has to be opened before someone can get into your home. That means that the garage door will help to shield your home from burglars.  

Modern garage doors come with a slue of security features and enhancements that are great selling features to modern homebuyers. Some garage doors have enhanced security features such as WIFI, cameras, motion sensors, etc. Some garage doors come with internet connectivity that allows them to be controlled remotely over the internet. That means that you could be halfway around the world and open and close your garage doors and even set schedules for your door. 

A great safety feature is a safety sensor. The safety sensor on a grade door stops the garage door from closing if motion is detected under the door when the door is closing. This is is a great feature if you have pets or small children.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that a new, or renewed, garage door significantly improves a home’s curb appeal among many other benefits. A new garage door is estimated to provide the highest return on investment when compared to other noteworthy home improvements. A newer garage door has technological improvements that may be of interest to many buyers.