It is very hard for people who need a starter or step-down home in that price range to find a move-in ready unit. Your basic goal should be immaculately clean and in good repair, even if that means modest fixtures and finishes. There will always be prospective buyers who expect champagne on a beer budget, but save any splurges for show for a few unexpected touches like suggested........better hardware on the cabinets, or a more blingy light or faucet. I think you are heading in the right direction with your plan. Good vinyl flooring for kitchen and bath, decent laminate for the rest. I like your idea of installing a dishwasher. Don't leave that gap, and of itself is a big hit with a buyer for the money. There's nothing wrong with leaving curtains out of the equation, other than to perhaps provide privacy when it's on the market. I put up new blinds to all the windows when I sold a little 'extra' house in town, but made sure that they were all up and the rooms bright before any showings. I figured it removed any decorating bias to lookers, kept passers-by from scoping out the house for theft or vandalism, and provided a buyer with some sort of privacy until they could install curtains of their own choiceif they wanted them. If you think windowless looks too austere, just pop up a valance in a neutral shade. Keep it bright! Good luck.

I mean that a house can be in perfect condition, with brand new appliances and granite counters etc, etc, but if buyer just doesn't like the floor plan, or if the perfectly painted ceilings just aren't high enough or if there is no perfect lovely corner in which to place the piano, or -- well, you get the picture. I didn't mean to say that new appliances or perfect maintenance are a negative. Only that a home can have them and still not be desireable to a given buyer. Or, to see it another way, a poorly maintained addition could be desireable for a buyer who wanted to tear it down to make room for a patio and pool. In this case, poor condition would be more desirable.

Behavior: If you don't like being a homeowner, then you will HATE HATE HATE being a landlord. You are not only a homeowner, you also have to maintain something that someone else doesn't usually care for as much as you would. And, you have to maintain for someone else and because of this you often have to do so faster than you would for yourself. renters won't weed or put out mulch, and the list goes on. It is hard work and worry and a lot of responsibility to be a landlord. I was a landlord and am telling you from hard learned experience. It is, in my opinion, three times harder than being a standard homeowner for a home that you live in. And I had good renters. My advice to you...either sell it outright, or stay there. Don't rent it out (even as option to sell) and don't do owner financing either. just make a clean sale unless you want to carry extra worry (with small amt of control) with you for the next few years. Please tell...why do you no longer want to be a homeowner?

I just went back and had a look at the garage door. I absolutely disagree that it looks faded and blotchy but then I am a person who loves subtlety and things that blend, especially when it comes to garage doors and garages. So from the photo, I like the way it is. In fact, often I find that a garage dominates a house and this is something that I particularly dislike. A house is for people not for cars and when I feel that a car is somehow more important and the people are living with one, including its fumes, I look the other way. I do not feel that this garage dominates. And my gosh, what a clever idea to have a room above it and that facade. Really lovely.