While selling your Waterloo Region home may increase your bank account balance, depending on how much equity you have invested in the home, it’s an unfortunate truth that it can also cost you money in the short term to make the sale.
In addition to real estate agent commissions, the cost of presale home inspections and other fees, things like home renovations and home staging may need to be paid for out-of-pocket – your pocket – before you’ve received an offer from a buyer.
Savvy Waterloo Region home sellers should consult with their real estate agent before making any big changes to their home, though. Why? Because not all home renovation investments are worth it! In fact, in some cases, you may lose money!
For example, replacing appliances may not be a full-on renovation, but it’s still a major expense and should be considered carefully before proceeding. After all, if you purchase appliances, and they don’t add to your home’s eventual sale price, then what’s the point? Especially as most buyers will expect those appliances to be included in the price they pay for your home.
How to Decide Whether the Appliances Stay or Go
The first decision you’ll need to make is whether to leave the appliances when you move. If you know you’ll need appliances in your new home, you may be tempted to take them – which can be a viable option, but you’ll want to make sure your real estate agent knows, so they can update your listing accordingly.
The second factor to consider when determining if you’ll take the appliances is who your potential buyers are. Large homes in great school districts may attract lots of families. If that’s the case for your home, leaving the appliances is usually the best way to go. Families will likely attach value to having a home that’s fully move-in ready and won’t require a major expenditure upfront.
However, if you think your home is more appealing to young couples and professionals, appliances may not be at the top of their wish list – in which case, you might consider taking them and not replacing them at all.
Finally, you should think about the overall look of your kitchen. If the current appliances are dated, but so is the rest of the kitchen, a potential buyer may opt to remodel the entire space – in which case, removing the appliances may actually represent an expense for the buyer.
You should always check with your real estate agent before making a major decision such as whether to replace your current home’s appliances. They’ll be able to guide you toward a choice that makes the most sense for you, while also helping you get the most money for your home.
Tips for Replacing Appliances
If you do decide to replace appliances, you’ll want to follow a few guidelines to make a smart purchase that adds value to your home.
Will Replacing an Appliance Cause More Problems Than It Solves?
Any home improvement project has the potential to lead you down a rabbit hole. Replacing a dishwasher yourself may seem like a wonderful idea, but what if you end up destroying your kitchen floor?
A seemingly little project could grow into a significant nuisance, not to mention the time and money you'll waste if you wait to sell your home for these additional repairs.
Furthermore, what if updating one appliance makes the rest of the kitchen appear drab and old? Are you able to include new worktops and flooring in your budget as well?
Before making a large investment in renovating your kitchen, make sure to think about the big picture. Better still, speak with a seasoned realtor who can advise you on which pre-listing projects to pursue and which to avoid.
Match the Appliances to Your Home
If the rest of your kitchen is finished luxuriously, make sure the appliances are just as high-end! Likewise, overly luxurious appliances in an otherwise simple, or slightly dated kitchen may simply call attention to the fact that the kitchen hasn’t been renovated since the early 1990s. Matching the quality level of the appliances to the quality level of the kitchen is critical.
Purchase a Set
In general, you’ll want to ensure that any appliances that are staying (stove, refrigerator, built-in microwave, dishwasher, etc.) form a matching set. If you can’t or don’t want to purchase a matching set, consider the quality level and styling of the appliances. A white refrigerator in a kitchen otherwise outfitted with stainless steel will stand out, and possibly not in a good way.
Consider Value-Add Appliances
You want to choose appliances that add to your home’s overall value. In some cases (for example, if the existing appliances are very old or non-functional), simply replacing your appliances with clean, working, energy-efficient versions will be enough. However, if your home is in a higher-end market, chef’s quality appliances may be just what’s needed to add value.
Selling Your Waterloo Region Home – With or Without New Appliances
While the appliances in your home’s kitchen can definitely have an impact on how fast your house sells, and for how much, the real determining factor in selling a home quickly and at the right price is working with a great real estate agent!
An agent who’s a neighborhood expert will be able to tell you more about the types of buyers you might attract, the quality and condition of other kitchens in comparable homes, and so much more.
Angelica and Aron - Team Pinto - are longtime Waterloo Region residents who are actively raising a young family in the area while working hard to provide the best possible service to all their clients, whether those people are buying or selling a Waterloo Region home.
Getting ready to buy a Waterloo Region home, or sell the one you own? Let Team Pinto use their huge local real estate experience and expertise to help you. Contact the award-winning Team Pinto here, or book a free Zoom consultation to discuss your unique Waterloo Region real estate needs here.