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Most Plainfield and Naperville homeowners are eager and willing to make the necessary improvements to their homes in order to get them ready to be put on the market, but it's important to know what improvements will have the biggest impact on the bottom line.  It's also important to know which features actually add value to your Plainfield or Naperville home and which ones are considered to be "over-improvements".

Over-improvements are improvements that are made in which the features of the home actually exceed the current market value of the property. Over-improvements also create an inflated sense of value for homeowners who often over-price their homes in hope of recovering the cost of their investment into their residence.  Market value reflects the price that an appraiser can assign to a home in a particular neighborhood with specific features based on closed home com-parables within the last 3-6 months.

Read more about over-improvements here.

Typically when it comes to home improvements, the kitchens and bathrooms have it...  and yes, kitchens and bathrooms are often the most costly improvements you can make your Plainfield or Naperville Home.  These home improvements, however, traditionally yield the best return on your investment, making them wise areas to consider spending money on when it comes time to sell.  These two rooms have the biggest potential for disrupting a household, which makes the need for updating and renovating a big turn off for any potential buyer that isn't handy with a hammer.

Landscaping is another huge area that is worth spending a little money on.  Consider the exterior of your home your first impression. 

The first time someone sees your home will either be in a photo from the MLS, or while driving by while scouting out the neighborhood. It only makes sense that if you are going to spend any money making your Plainfield or Naperville home look it's best, you spend it getting them to go through the front door. 

Believe it or not, curb appeal plays a huge role in booking showings for your Plainfield or Naperville home.  The Norman Rockwell image of suburbia is alive and well!

Landscaping doesn't have to cost a fortune, and most of it can be done yourself: trimming over grown greenery, keeping the grass neatly mowed, making sure weeds are kept at bay, staining a faded fence, a fresh coat of blacktop, and planting colorful flowers will usually do it, but some things may require the help of professionals.  Turn offs to buyers include: lack of landscaping, garbage and litter in the yard, broken shutters, damaged siding, and drooping gutters.

When my husband and I were shopping for our last two homes in Plainfield, we immediately began discounting the asking price every time we saw an item that needed to be repaired or that was going to cost us money in the first two years of ownership.  There is a delicate balance between maximizing the sale price on the home and giving the buyers as little to object to the asking price as possible. 

Granite counter tops and marble floors would be considered over-improvements in a Naperville or Plainfield neighborhood where laminate countertops and flooring are the norm.  Those features may get your house to sell faster than competing homes on the market, but you probably won't recover the cost of adding them to your home.  There is a ceiling on the market value that a neighborhood can withstand. 

If you are going to get your house ready to sell and don't know how much is enough and how much is over-kill, it's best to stick to the basics:

• Make your house look as nice from the outside as it is on the inside.  Remember, you want people to see more of a good thing!
• Update kitchens and bathrooms if necessary. (by necessary I mean, what are the other homes in your neighborhood like?)
• A fresh coat of neutral paint and new carpeting are always a hit with buyers.  It kind of makes it feel like a brand new house :)
• Refinishing wood floors and re-grouting old ceramic tile will put a new spin on a dated and weathered look.
• Update the essentials.  Make sure all of the mechanicals are in good working order and that nothing needs to be replaced or repaired.

Sellers in Plainfield are still selling, and buyers in Plainfield are still buying. The real estate climate has changed over the last 18 months, so it's important to keep up with what is happening week to week and month to month.  Subscribe to this site and make sure you never miss a post!