Q. The tile in my bathroom is in good shape, but it’s brightly colored and may not appeal to everyone. Should I replace it before selling?
A. Although real estate agents and designers often recommend decorating with neutral colors to make a home more appealing to a buyer, it may not make sense to replace your tile if it’s in good ...
Q. I have a small under-counter refrigerator in my kitchen. Is it worth the investment to replace it with a full-size unit?
A. If you’re marketing your place toward supermodels, a tiny refrigerator is fine. Otherwise, compared with a full-size unit, a small under-counter fridge “is always a negative,” even in the tiniest kitchens, ...
Q. How can I make my front porch more appealing to buyers?
A. It’s worth putting some extra effort into sprucing up the front porch, because potential buyers spend a lot of time there, chatting with real estate agents and waiting to get into the house during showings, says Cindy Shea, a vice president with Sotheby’s Internationa ...
Q. Should I remove the family photos hanging on my wall before listing my apartment?
A. Clearing out family photos “should be the very first thing you do when you prepare an apartment for sale,” said Elizabeth Kee, an associate broker with the New York real estate company Core.
It’s important “to depersonalize and declutter,” ...
Q. I have a built-in banquette in my kitchen. Should I reupholster it before trying to sell my home?
A. If you have a kitchen banquette that’s covered with stained or worn fabric, it may be a good idea to reupholster it before opening your home to potential buyers.
“Oftentimes banquettes have a lot of food stains on ...
Originally Published in New York Times on January 18, 2012:
Q. I’ve inherited a rundown home. Is it better to sell as is or invest in repairs and upgrades?
A. If the home has serious problems or damage, like a water leak, mold or severely peeling paint, it should be repaired before you list the property, says Elayne Roskin, a senior vice president and managing director at Brown Harris St ...
Q. My apartment doesn’t get much natural light. What can I do to improve the way it looks to buyers?
A. “You can’t create exposures or more natural light, but you can enhance the natural light you get,” said Leonard Steinberg, a managing director at Prudential Douglas Elliman. The objective, he said, is to “show how you can live in that space ...
Q. The neighboring apartment has a loud dog. Should we add soundproofing along the shared wall?
A. Effective soundproofing can be expensive, but it may be worth it if potential buyers are going to be put off by noisy neighbors.
Ilsa Vasquez, a sales associate with MNS Real Estate in New York, said: “I’ve had the issue myself, and I’ve also ha ...