Mass. Real Estate Rebound: Five Areas to Remodel in Anticipation of Home Sale

Has the Massachusetts’ housing market bottomed out? Are home prices on their way toward making the steady climb that will benefit homeowners who are thinking about selling? RemodelWerks thinks it appears so!

According to the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, August 2012 was the 14th month in a row for year-over-year sales increases. August also represented the first time since spring 2010 when sales exceeded 5,000 homes—that was the last month a federal homebuyer tax credit was in effect, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reported this week.

The fact is that sales of single-family homes here in the Bay State have increased more than 20 percent compared to August 2011.

Translation: If you’re thinking about selling your home, now may be a good time to get back into the real estate ring, but not before making giving your home some needed remodeling TLC, so you position your investment to deliver the most bang for your buck when you do list it on the market.

Here are RemodelWerks top five tips on where to concentrate your remodeling efforts as you gear up for selling your home:

Focus on the floors—If you have hardwood floors under wall-to-wall carpeting, now’s a good time to rip it up and have those floors refinished so they shine. Buyers love hardwood floors, and homes with them tend to have better selling potential. Also, if you’ve got cracked or chipped bathroom or kitchen tiles, get those replaced and be sure to clean or replace aging grout.

Seal the ceiling—Use a fresh coat of paint to get rid of stubborn stains, and fill cracks with fiberglass tape, covered with joint compound that’s been lightly sanded.

Remodel that kitchen to yield a high rate of return on investment! Consider replacing outdated kitchen cabinetry and adding granite countertops. Consult with an experienced design/build team like RemodelWerks to discuss whether knocking down a wall to create a wide-open space that’s fully functional for cooking and entertaining makes the most sense for your home. We’ve got plenty more tips for making your kitchen remodel a success to share with you!

Bathe in newness—Think new porcelin or ceramic tile for your bathroom floor, plus some new lights and fixtures to give your bathroom the wow factor that will shower potential buyers with good thoughts about your home!

Get that aging roof replaced. It’s not the most glamorous of repairs, but if the roof is in need of attention, now is the time to get it done. Check out RemodelWerks tips on how to tell if it’s time for a new roof.

With the housing market recovery underway, now is a great time to spruce up your home in anticipation of a potentially lucrative sale.

Do you have questions or concerns about remodeling your home in anticipating of a sale? Contact RemodelWerks today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

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