I'm new to this forum, although I've been a TexAgs member for over 20 years.

My wife and I are planning on putting our house on the market later this year or early next year. The house is 3200 SF, single story brick veneer with a detached 3-car garage, and a couple of small outbuildings. It's 30 years old, and we've lived here for the past 24 years. It's located on a 1.33-acre lot about 8-miles out of Fredericksburg in a small, one-street development.

We know that we need to update and upgrade the place before we put it on the market but aren't sure how much. Here are our thoughts on what we probably need to do, and I would like your opinions.

1. Repaint the outside of the house, garage, deck and outbuildings.

2. Repaint the inside of the house.

3. Replace the older kitchen appliances.

4. Replace the countertop - the current one is the original pink Formica.

5. Replace the carpet in the Family Room and the Hallway because of pet damage.

6. Refinish sections of the kitchen cabinets that look worn.

That's pretty much what's on our list. I should note that there are two HVAC units and both are about 18 years old. One is currently undergoing repairs, but the other is working OK for now.

Any thoughts?

Get a price from your realtor. Go look at the comparables that are on the market. This will tell you all you need to know.

this is always a tough one, and now that the market is returning to normalcy, I would probably disagree with expecting the buyers make the updates for things like flooring.

Even if you are fairly certain a buyer will change the carpet, your place is still going to show a ton better with new carpet than with old, pet stained flooring. In my experience, you'll typically get your money out of replacing worn carpet. Same goes for painting the interior, if it needs it. A light, neutral color is usually the way to go here.

Home will sell faster and for more money.

Big difference between a two month gut job and changing paint and carpet.

htxag09 said:

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Not answering the op one way or the other, but it's crazy how much money is wasted in situations like this. My neighbor's home was very "unique". Think very in your face Italian/Mediterranean theme. They dang near did a full reno, about 2 months of work to make it more approachable for everyone, new flooring, new, less intricate and white cabinets, updated bathrooms, etc.

The person who bought it completely gutted and redid it anyway

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Yep, that's why when I was looking to buy the house I live in now I wanted to find one that wasn't just remodeled. I didn't want to pay for something I was just going to demo anyway. Just about everyone goes for a super traditional look because this is the southeast, and that's about the exact opposite of what I like.

This debate can always be tough.

My wife and I are looking for a house in northeast PA. We are about to move out of our existing home which was fairly traditional and unique but it sold in less than 3 weeks for asking price. The house was renovated completely over the last 10 years. Some things by now may be considered a bit 'dated' by the younger crowd?

Since I do renovation for a living, I am obviously looking for a fixer-upper. Most homes we look at are in need of renovation/updating and are sitting on the market, weeks, but likely will be more like months... Seems like the market in that area has cooled off fairly quickly. However, the homes that are updated and move-in condition still sell in just a few days. Our realtor said especially the younger crowd does not want, or cannot, do renovations.

So OP, I think you need to ask yourself 'how long are we willing to have the house on the market?' If you want it to sell quickly, you may have to do the reno work? That is a fair amount of work though. If you are patient, not sure if I would do it? Things may be a bit different in your geographic area though.

And just remember, grey is the new beige. Just look at pictures of new-builds to see what's currently the style of things that are selling.

Win At Life said:

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And just remember, grey is the new beige. Just look at pictures of new-builds to see what's currently the style of things that are selling.

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Agreeable Grey and Respectable Beige need to be discontinued.

And barn doors. Good grief.

Quote:

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Agreeable Grey and Respectable Beige need to be discontinued.

And barn doors. Good grief.

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Agree 100%

Ducks4brkfast said:

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And barn doors. Good grief.

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Barn doors on a bathroom are the worst thing about houses that were remodeled in the 2010s. They do a terrible job of blocking sound. Got the cheap beer ****s? Congratulations, everyone else knows about it thanks to the barn door!