There is a certain allure surrounding the house flipping shows we see on TV or Netflix, where a team comes into a property and totally transforms it; It looks so effortless, it went so smoothly, and the presenter was able to totally justify every expense and why each different cost would generate a return on the home sale! But is this a good idea, and should you go through with it?
Being your own Construction Manager is sometimes a little more of a commitment than it might seem, but a carefully calculated handful of changes to a property can sometimes be the key to scoring a quick, stress free sale. If you do go ahead with the decision to renovate, a question every potential home seller must ask themselves is what specific home features are buyers looking for now, in a post-pandemic world?
1. Outdoor Living Spaces
It is no secret that every landscaping company across the continent was fully booked last summer. Now that we have all taken a step back and perhaps had some time to appreciate our backyard spaces, decks, patios, seating areas, and other little retreats on our property, buyers have a keen awareness of these aspects when looking for a new home. In fact, recent stats show that the budget for outdoor maintenance or landscape takes up a much larger portion of renovation budgets, and it does not look like this is going to change any time soon.
2. A distinction between a workspace, and a play space.
This is going to mean something a little different for every family, but in the hectic everyday bustle of balancing your daily work schedule with setting your kids up with their next online class, having the ability to close the door on our workspaces the end of the day, is a huge mental health boost.
Whether this means a home office, a home classroom, studio, or whatever your career entails, a set of boundaries (a door, in particular) between work and pleasure is one of the key demands of today’s home buyer, and that leads us to our next point…
3. Think twice before knocking down any walls.
HGTV’s favorite buzz word, the “open-floor plan,” may have been one of the biggest sought after elements in a home’s layout in the past, but if there is one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s that a little bit of privacy goes a long way for keeping the peace between you, your spouse, your children, your in laws, parents, and anyone else you share a roof with.
We all love our expansive living rooms with vaulted ceilings and beautiful large open windows. The key, as we hear from more and more homebuyers, is to strike the right balance. Maybe you have a 2nd family room that would serve better split into an office, at-home yoga studio, and guest bedroom? Consider who is buying in your neighborhood. This is a conversation we would love to have with you if you are exploring this type of project. Give us a call!
Speaking of large windows…
4. A Window to Nature
Large windows (That hopefully reveal some green space!) have been proven time and time again to boost mental health, and make a home office or classroom space that much more pleasant to be in. There are a variety of options to retrofit an existing home with new windows, from skylights for bathrooms that do not share a wall with the outside, to a complete window expansion to open up a dark walkout basement. We have seen some very cool new window solutions our clients have chosen in some of our more recent listings in Lakeview and North Glenmore park. If you are considering options for your home sale, we would love to offer a few pointers!
5. A cool breeze
Don’t let this week’s spell of nice cool rain fool you, we have no idea if we will see the return of the crazy high temperatures that set all kinds of records will return to Alberta again this summer! You can bet that air conditioning, climate control, HEPA filters, and efficient heating will be top of mind to new buyers for the rest of this summer.
For the eco-conscious among us, now is the time to consider updating any older AC to a modern, efficient systems, taking care of any aging drafty windows, and making sure that our furnaces and water heaters are up to date with the latest sustainable technology. Ask us about ways to make your home more attractive to the green-conscious home buyer!
If you have a newer home that may only need some minor tweaking, the path forward may seem straightforward in terms of planning a renovation prior to selling your home in Calgary’s market. Don’t feel dissuaded if you have an older home and feel like the task seems overwhelming – Sometimes a few well planned and executed adjustments to an older character home can make all the difference, and we’d love to help assure you this can be done while sticking to your budget and schedule!
Contact Realtor® Ron Garneau today for advice, pointers, and insight into selling in the Calgary market this summer.
