By Joanne Sasvari, Postmedia News
When Samantha Geer started looking for a house to buy recently, she was surprised by the poor condition of the homes she found on the market in Vancouver.
"I don't believe that people aren't putting a little more effort into it," says the publicist and principal of Avenue Communications.
"A $25,000 renovation can give you a couple hundred thousand more on the price. A lot of it is just paint. In the grand scheme of things, it costs you nothing."
But is it worth doing a major renovation just to sell your place?
Stephen Dupuis doesn't think so. "Do the simple things," says the president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association in Toronto (BILD). "Fix the obvious stuff."
On the other hand, real estate agents say that some renovations are worth the cost and effort because they'll increase the value of your home substantially.
"It depends on what you're renovating," says John Geha, president of Coldwell Banker Canada. "You have to be careful if you are going to renovate that you're going to get your money back."
Renovations are a different story if you're planning to stay in your home for a while. That's when people tend to tackle major projects such as new additions.
"When people buy resale, that's when they go big on renovations," Dupuis says. "For those people, I say take your time, think it through, get it right."
So we asked the experts: What are the top three renos you should do if you're planning to sell your place? And what are the top three if you're planning to stay?
If you're selling
Fix the obvious
Research suggests that most buyers make up their minds within the first two minutes of entering a home, so it makes sense to concentrate on the things that will first catch their eye. In general that means the entrance, kitchen and main-floor bath.
It also means repairing anything that is obviously broken or damaged.
"It's very important that they see the brightness and the light," says Geha. "You're going to paint because you're going to clean it up and make it neutral. Get rid of the scrapes and scratches. Just make sure that when I walk in, I get that 'wow' effect. I want to feel like I'm walking into my castle."
And consider hiring a contractor rather than doing it yourself.
"Let's face it. Most people aren't that good at doing it themselves," Dupuis says. "When you're fixing to sell, if it's a poorly done job, that will detract from the value of the house."
He advises looking for a contractor who is a member of RenoMark (www.renomark.ca), a national organization of professional renovators and custom homebuilders who have to abide by both an industry Code of Ethics as well as a renovation-specific Code of Conduct.
Depersonalize
You want buyers to see themselves
in your home, so this is not the time to show off your kooky personal style.
"You want to make it neutral if you're putting the house up for sale because the new owners are going to put their own personality in," Geha says.
"What you want to see is brightess, cleanliness and space."
"Most people when they're buying a house have to look past the decor and most people are not good at that. Not everyone can visualize," says Dupuis."
That means you'll have to clean up, put away the family photos and paint.
That's what Geer concentrated on when she and her husband sold their home.
"We were lucky because our house was only three years old," she says. "We staged it by depersonalizing it. We did some landscaping around the entrance. We did a little painting, we cleaned up and we decluttered."
Consider the kitchen
If there is one room it's worthwhile spending money to renovate when you plan to sell, it's the kitchen.
"How much time do we spend in our kitchen? We spend a lot of time in our kitchen," says Geha. "And with the price of gas, we're going to be spending more time at home."
Buyers are seduced by great appliances, good work flow, quality cabinetry, generous counter space and practical details.
"It's not so much superficial as it is practicality and functionality," Geha says.
If you're staying
Consider the kitchen
"Spend most of your money where you spend most of your time," Dupuis recommends. For most of us, that means the kitchen.
A well-designed, functional kitchen is not only a pleasure for the cook, but it adds long-term value to your home. That's why real estate agents recommend tackling the kitchen and bathrooms first when you move into your new place.
But it's essential to do the job right, starting with a proper plan. And don't be tempted to cut corners because you'll likely end up doing it all again later.
Plan for the future
If you're planning to stay in your home long-term, think about what your needs will be in 10 years' time.
For instance, with baby boomers entering their senior years, mobility will become an issue for many people. Consider making your home more accessible, with wheelchair ramps, raised countertops, walk-in tubs and other redesigns.
Also, look at the energy efficiency of your home and consider upgrading your windows and heating systems.
"Anything that can make the home more efficient and environmentally friendly is a good investment," Geha says.
Get advice
There are so many choices out there, it's hard to decide what's right for you and your home.
"That's why it's so important to consult with the people that know, so you can make a good decisions, and you don't just renovate to renovate," Geha says.
But one thing is certain: It's always worth the time and money it takes to do a job properly, not just to help you sell your home, but to enjoy it while you're living in it.
"The solutions are as individual as the homeowners themselves. People really have to spend some time before they call a contractor and start throwing money at them," Dupuis says.
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