On Apr 22, 11:58*am, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
> spermtrap1888 wrote:
>
> > If you're looking to make your house appealing to today's buyers, make
> > a tour of open houses in your area, and note what sort of cabinets,
> > sinks, etc., the developers are putting in.
>
> What good will that do... are you going to rebuild... you'll never see
> any return on that kind of investment. *It's far wiser to spruce up
> what you already have than to replace.

The object is to sell your house quickly. Your competition is the
model houses. Few people want to buy a house out of nostalgia for the
50s or even the 70s (burnt orange shag carpeting? Avocado
appliances?).

> Get out the cleaning supplies,
> wash all walls and woodwork, repaint if need be... even paint is no
> longer cheap, today a gallon of decent paint costs about $50, and
> cheap paint won't cover so you'll need twice as much. *Hire Stanley
> Steemer to spruce up your tired carpeting... have the hosue exterior
> power washed.

Fresh paint, and new carpeting depending how old it was. Do you want
to get a fixer-upper price or a market price?

> It's smarter to price a home realistically than to
> invest good money into a worn out abode.

Good for the guy who buys your house, spends a few K at Lowe's, and
flips it for a nice fat profit.

> Old fashioned elbow grease
> costs very little compared with rebuilding and will actually give a
> return... no legitimate buyers will even look at your new counters
> because to address them at all can only raise the purchase price. When
> selling the best one can do is go down the check list of the
> mechanicals a bank will look at, bring those into compliance to save
> the sale from failing at closing. *No lender will disqualify for old
> fashioned worn counters but they will for a broken heating/cooling
> system, a contaminated well, a malfunctioning septic, a leaky roof,
> bad wiring, etc. *I've seen deals fall through due to broken door
> locks... be sure every door in the house latches properly, that
> bathroom lock emergency entry is operable, and all exterior door keys
> work. *Be sure all stair railings and exterior lights are to code.

Once you have a buyer lined up, you can work on your punch list.
Houses are sold first based on emotional reactions, then on
practicalities.

> There are companys that a realtor will recommend that will make sure a
> house passes the lender's check list, that service is reasonably
> priced and most repairs are nominal, even bringing a slow septic up to
> par costs little... that's a much better investment than granite
> counters... save buying granite for your cemetery plot.

If everybody else has granite, you can no longer skate by with
Formica. If everybody else has central air, you can no longer skate by
with window units. If everybody has a microwave over the stove, you
can no longer skate by with one on the counter. You have to have a
built-in dishwasher, even if you don't use it.

But what does it matter? Brokelyn will die in that house and then the
Cat Welfare Society will have to fix it up for sale.