Why Sellers Should Get a Home Inspection After Remodel – How to Increase Your Home’s ROI

A home inspection after remodel might not be the first thing you think about making home improvements for an impending sale. You probably expect prospective homebuyers to hire a home inspector anyway. So why should you hire one?

In order to sell your property at an above-average rate, it needs to communicate that value to prospective homebuyers through a balance of maintenance and home improvements. Your goal is to increase your list price by renovating and/or remodeling. In order to do this, you have to calculate how much to invest in your project. This calculation should include the costs for a home inspection. After all, your improvements will eventually be scrutinized by the buyer’s home inspector. That’s why it is best to know beforehand that they will pass muster.

However, let’s start with talking about your home improvement/remodel options:

Value vs ROI

Increasing the value of a home is not the same as your return on investment (ROI). Calculate how much a project costs and compare it to the expected home value increase to determine your net gain.

Maintenance vs Improvements

Both maintenance and improvements are necessary to receive the highest price possible.

Maintenance is the act of restoring or repairing elements in your home to maintain their condition. This helps to control the value. 

Improvements are upgrades or renovation projects that raise the value of your home. When owning a home, an improvement project that is completed properly with quality materials increases the property value.

What Kind of Maintenance or Improvements Should a Seller Do?

When analyzing which projects to tackle first, begin where the homebuyer will start – at the curb.

Curb Appeal

• Driveway
  • Repair
  • Seal
• Front Door 
  • Sand
  • Paint
  • New door handle
  • New lock
• Look Up
  • Replace missing shingles
  • Clean gutters
• Windows /Energy Efficiency
  • Caulk
  • Weatherstripping
  • Replace if damaged
• Mailbox
  • Replace if old or damaged
• Deck or Patio
  • Wash
  • Repair
  • Paint, stain, and/or seal
• Fences
  • Paint
  • Replace if damaged
• Landscaping
  • Groom trees, bushes, and the lawn
  • Plant new trees or bushes for appeal
  • Add planters with flowers 

Interior Walls

• Fix cracks and holes

It pays to have these done professionally if your handy work isn’t at an expert level. A careless repair that creates unsightly spackle and plaster marks might make buyers think twice. 

• Apply a solid coat of paint in neutral, light colors

This renews old walls, brightens rooms, and makes them look bigger.

• Replace old electrical switches 
• Replace outlet covers

Flooring

• Tile
  • Clean tile
  • Restore grout
  • Replace broken tile
• Carpets
  • Exchange or clean them

Especially in areas with a lot of heat and high humidity like here in Tampa Bay, Florida, carpets as floor coverings tend to be less popular. However, if you decide against exchanging them with a different kind of flooring, you need to at least deep-clean them.

Ceiling

• Replace dated light fixtures with new classic ones
• Install a high-quality ceiling fan
• Apply a coat of paint

Appliances and Mechanicals

Check the age and condition of your:

• Furnace
• Water heater
• Electrical panel

If they are close to the end or beyond their expected lifespan, replace them.

Bathroom

• New light fixture
• New shower head 
• New faucets 
• Caulk the tub and showers

Take a look at the sink, toilet, and vanity, especially paying attention to the mirror. If you cannot restore their original beauty, replace them.

Kitchen

• Replace damaged countertops
• Consider replacing worn appliances
• New cabinet knobs and handles
• Apply a fresh coat of paint or restore wood

Low-End vs High-End Property ROI

If your home value is under the median cost of homes in Florida, the methods you use to improve your ROI will be much different than if the home value is well above this average. For instance, according to OpenDoor, an expensive home in Tampa, Florida, will benefit from adding on an attached garage. But a low-cost home has a better ROI when adding on a full bathroom.

Home Inspection Services for Sellers

Many home sellers choose to hire a home inspector. This offers guidance for homeowners to prioritize renovation and improvement projects. 

The last thing you want to do is put your home up for sale and let it remain on the market for months while you comb through repairs that are holding you back. The longer a property is on the market, the harder it is to sell. People assume that unsold homes are riddled with serious problems. Most of the time, they’re right. 

Don’t get stuck in “for sale” limbo. By paying for your own meticulously crafted home inspection report from Divinity Inspection Services before you list, you won’t be blindsided. Every issue will be outlined in detail so that you can be on top of potential roadblocks. 

Contact us today and schedule a home inspection after remodel!

Further reading:

• https://homeia.com/selling-your-house-choose-home-improvements-that-sway-and-sell/
• https://www.opendoor.com/w/guides/how-to-increase-your-home-value
• https://goloadup.com/home-improvements-increase-value/