Ever wondered if you should consult a real estate agent before doing renovations ahead of selling your home?
It’s the job of real estate agents and brokerages to help clients buy or sell homes at the best price possible and they exert every effort to make sure that they can provide good, reliable service. For example, brokerages make use of tools like Broker kit to find the best real estate agents; these agents will then work with clients to make sure that they get the most from their investment.
In short, real estate agents are the best people to consult if you’re interested in boosting the value of your property. In fact, you should check in with an agent before you make any major renovation or remodelling decisions! Why? Here are a few key reasons.
You Can Avoid Over-Improvements
If you’re planning on selling your home, the first thing that comes into mind is to improve it to drive up its market price. It sounds logical, of course, but remember that not every addition will give you a decent return on investment. For example, if your house only has one bathroom, adding a second one is usually a good investment. On the other hand, a pool or a hot tub may not be preferable to some buyers depending on the market.
A real estate agent has knowledge of the existing industry trends, so if you consult a real estate agent, you’ll have proper guidance on what kinds of improvements you should do. Sometimes, what you think might be a valuable addition isn’t really what buyers are looking for in your area.
You Can Keep or Add Valuable Features
In direct contrast to over-improvements, working with a real estate agent in renovating or remodelling your home helps you keep valuable existing features. Some of the things you may want to keep include hardwood floors, spacious closets, and large windows. If your home has an open floor layout, you should consider keeping it as well so that the new owners can divvy up the rooms the way they want.
Of course, real estate agents will give you their input about which features to actually keep. For many homeowners, hardwood floors are desirable. However, the location your house is in may dictate otherwise. In the same vein, you may personally like a large bathroom but the market may be more in favour of walk-in closets. Before you make any changes, wait for advice from your agent.
Consult a Real Estate Agent for Design References
Different homeowners have different tastes when it comes to home architecture, themes, and decor. Nevertheless, there are some trends that can influence or even dictate a house’s sale price—and a real estate agent would be well aware of these trends. If you want to get the highest possible value on the sale, follow the advice of a reliable real estate agent.
The most important thing to remember is that at the end of the day, if you’re selling your house, your design preferences should take a backseat. This is especially true if you’re already living somewhere else or are leaving soon.
You Can Get Referrals and Save Money
Major home renovations or remodeling projects cost a lot of money. They also require good contractors or else you might spend even more money because of botched construction work. The problem is that it can be difficult to find contractors who are not only good but also don’t charge exorbitant fees.
Fortunately, real estate agents are guaranteed to have connections in the building and construction industry. From carpenters and plumbers to roofers and painters, a real estate agent can point you in the right direction. They may even be able to help you haggle and get lower rates (within reason, of course). In addition, real estate agents can also refer you to interior decorators and furnishing suppliers.
You Might Not Need Renovations at All
Last but certainly not least, if you’re planning on selling your home, it’s best to hold off on all renovations until after you’ve consulted a real estate agent. Why? Because it may end up that you don’t need renovations at all to get the best value for your home.
What you have to keep in mind is that there’s no way to know for sure what will “sell” in the future. There’s always the economy to think about, as well as design trends. The area where your house is located can also affect the features that buyers value. For example, if you live in an area where families tend to settle, a bigger dining room may be preferred more than a walk-in closet in the master.
You won’t know, however, until you consult a real estate agent. Once you do, you’ll have a better idea about the changes you need to make. In the end, you may only need a little bit of touching up instead of having to do major changes.
Whether you’re planning to sell your property in the short or long term, it’s beneficial to consult a real estate agent before you renovate. Indeed, you should contact a real estate agent as soon as you decide that you want to sell your home. Doing so could save you a lot of time, money, and effort.
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