Posted on December 4th, 2013
It might sound odd to recommend that you consider selling a home you don’t own yet, but chances are good that you may move at some point. If such a moment comes, you would certainly want to have a home with a good resale value that is easy to sell again. That’s why it is good to think of reselling your home even before you have bought it. It may be harder to find a home that is what you need and has good chances to be sold, but the efforts are worth making. There are three aspects you can take into consideration in order to make the process easier.
The Location
One of the most important characteristics of the perfect home is the good location. A good location now increases your chances to resell your home later. A few points can help you determine the quality of the location:
• What makes a certain location popular and has it been popular for a long time?
• Are there other areas becoming popular lately?
• Is the area showing growth and development (for example, are there new attractions, shops, stores and services)?
• Are the properties in the area mostly used for commercial or for residential purposes? Is this changing? (If the location becomes more commercial, congestion and noise may disturb the residents.)
• Who usually prefers to buy homes in this area (for example, age and marital status may be taken in consideration)?
As a rule, senior residents prefer one-level homes, while couples with children prefer to be away from busy streets. A good way to evaluate a location is to follow the trends in specialized magazines for brokers. The qualities mentioned in the ads in these magazines are what a prospective buyer looks for.
The Features
Nowadays, buyers look for certain features in their prospective new home. If the interior is outdated, you may find it harder to sell it or move in the future. Here are some of the important features:
• The more bathrooms, the better – homes with one bathroom are not popular.
• The heating system matters – furnaces are preferred to gas.
• The appearance and condition of the bathroom and kitchen are really important.
• Popcorn ceilings are not popular anymore and may affect the price.
• Carpets may be a positive or a negative feature – it depends on the buyer.
Some of the negative features can be improved, but you should not spend too much money or efforts for this. Consider the necessary expenses and what the improvements will add to the value of the house before you act.
The Cosmetics
Have in mind that cosmetics are easy to change, refresh and improve. Consider the following points:
• A new paintwork can always refresh the interior.
• The appliances can be shifted to add some space.
• New kitchen hardware and bathroom interior can make wonders.
• Glass doors, a lot of light, mirrors, quality skylights and new light fixtures make everything lighter and fresher.
To cut a long story short, when buying a new home, it is wise to make a long-term investment and choose property that is popular and would be easy to resell with a higher resale value in the future. In addition to the above characteristics, you can always look for mountain views, properties with streams, “quiet” homes (away from busy streets), homes with a lot of storage space and split bedrooms – all these features add to the value of your home.