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House Resale priority help

T C
3 years ago

Hello! We're thinking about moving, but our house was built in 1989 and it's time for some updates. If we stay, obviously, we'll update it the way we want it, but if we leave, we have a dilemma. What, if anything do we do before we list? We live in a desirable, established neighborhood with a wide range of properties. The oldest houses are from about the 1920s, and the newest ones are about 2018. The prices range from about $80k - $400k+ (up to probably $600k) depending on house size, lot size and location, age and finish of home. Our house is about 2500sf, 4 bedroom (3 upstairs + 1st floor master addition), 4.5 bathroom, 2c garage, 0.57ac lot. That is above average for sf size and lot size, but smaller sf and lot size than the highest priced homes. Some of the biggest issues with the house include:


- No central AC, new furnace installed in 2014

- First floor has great room (kitchen, EIC, family), dining room, foyer, living room, each with different flooring, all showing age. Roll vinyl is peeling, tiles are cracking, carpet is dirty. Floor squeaks in places. (For us with kids, was thinking vinyl plank throughout, but hardwood/engineered hardwood might be better for resale?) Drywall tape in ceiling is starting to crack, but it's a swirled ceiling.

- Kitchen cabinets are only laminate case. Most in good shape, but with some exception (sink cabinet is destroyed following a faucet failure). Faces in good shape, but honey oak. Not much good pantry storage.

- bathrooms could all use some updating, but could probably get away with cosmetic only in most of them

- Upstairs Master bathroom is the worst design ever. It's a nice wide open space with a walk in closet, but it only has a 32" shower stall and 48" single vanity. It is located above kitchen. I have a great idea for how to redesign the space, but it would involve moving the shower and toilet to the wall backed up against the other 2nd floor bathroom.

- Basement used to be 1/2 finished with a large (again, poorly laid out) bathroom w/shower, but we had a big water infiltration a while back. Water taken care of now, but we lost the carpet, so we just have a 12x15ish chunk of carpet from Lowe's rolled out right now. Husband uses it as a man cave, but we have (potential) plans to fix it up and expand the finished section.


So the question is, if we do decide to sell, what should we prioritize? Where can we get the biggest return? Any thoughts or suggestions?

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