Have you been searching for a home and been outbid multiple times? The competition is tough out there, especially for move in ready, HGTV styled homes. What if I told you there are move in ready homes out there that you have a better chance of getting into while staying within your budget?
First, what makes a home move in ready? A home that doesn’t require any immediate, major renovations before moving in (think: heating system, electrical, plumbing, roofing, functional kitchen and bath) is move in ready. There is nothing that has to be done to make the space livable. Notice I didn’t say anything about updating?
The most common reasons buyers tell me they are not interested in a home are the carpeting, paneling, dark or vibrant wall colors and an outdated kitchen and/or bath. These are cosmetic changes and can be remedied at a reasonable cost, I promise!
Painting a room is an instant and easy update. Right now neutral grey, beige and white colors are trending. Those colors not only make the space more modern, they also brighten the space and make it appear larger. I just experienced this in my own kitchen (circa 2007) which had the dark burgundy color so popular when I renovated. I repainted the walls a pale blue/grey. Not only is the kitchen brighter, but it appears bigger as well.
What about paneling? Paint it! The groves on paneling give dimension and texture to the walls. How about if the house has kitchen or bathroom cabinets that are worn out or are in a color you just do not want look at every day? They can be painted as well!
Tiles? Yes, you guessed correctly, tiles can also be painted. Your local paint store will point you towards the best paints for tiles. I saw a house in Bellport Village where they painted the backsplash and updated the cabinet hardware for a totally new look.
Cabinet hardware is also an easy way to update kitchens and baths– I changed the knobs and handles in my kitchen from oiled bronzed, farm style pulls and knobs to gold in a modern style. It gave my kitchen enough of a refresher that I don’t feel the need to re-tile the circa 2007 floor and wall tiles anymore.
Don’t let wall to wall carpets deter you from making an offer on a house! Many of those homes out there today with carpeting actually have beautiful hardwoods under them. They were covered up when wall to wall carpeting was the thing to do. Since the floors were protected by carpet for decades, they are usually in fabulous shape. They may need refinishing but it will be worth it. What if there are no hardwoods under the carpet? No problem! Adding hardwoods is not as expensive as it used to be and the vinyl wood plank look floors are a great option as well. It will really change the look of the room. Yes, it will cost money to have someone do the refinishing or install of new floors, however you will have the choice of what you really want in a floor. Remember too, you are not paying as much for your hidden gem which was overlooked by those who could not see the potential of the home the way you did.
Remember that you can get into a house and start building your equity sooner by going with a hidden gem, a move in ready home that needs updating, rather than waiting for the “perfect” move in ready house. The “outdated” houses often have less competition than their HGTV ready counterparts meaning you will not pay as much for it. The money you saved on the purchase price can be used towards the painting, refinishing/adding flooring and other cosmetic improvements you will make.