You may or may not have read my post about selling my own home, but now that I have input from my home stager, painter, a few repairman and a fellow Realtor, my remodeling budget is fairly firm. Feeling the agony that I put my Sellers through has definitely given me a new perspective!
We decided to nix the window treatments and spend money on new interior and exterior doors. Instead of adding a tiled backsplash to the kitchen, we will spend money on new appliances and focus on landscaping.
We are adding some crown molding and will paint the entire interior. It’s so easy for me to advice Sellers, but when it comes to my personal property, it’s difficult to be objective about needed improvement and pricing.
Now the topic of pre-inspections has come up, and I’m still undecided about that!
See my budget below and let me know if you have any input!
- $700 fixtures (2 ceiling fans @$100 ea; 1 chandelier $100; 6 lights @$60)
- $200 light switch covers, shower ring; mailbox; kitchen cabinet knobs
- $300 landscaping (mulch, plants)
- $1400 ceiling repair
- $600 crown molding
- $2,500 paint
- $500 garage roof repair & replacement of side garage door
- $1,000 refinish hardwoods
- $1,300 stove (Amana 30-inch $600), dishwasher $300, sink $150; faucet ?
- $500 repair fence, shutters
- $400 tree trimming
- $700 furniture rental ($225 x 3 months minimum)
- $300 door in back bedroom
- $700 French doors
After my remodel is complete and my home is staged, I’m planning a preview party for fellow Realtors.
Really, the best way to sell your home is to market to fellow Realtors, and they will offer me valuable input about my list price and preparation of my home for sale. 
My remodeling budget is fairly firm – selling my home in Tulsa Oklahoma
The tried-and-true home selling formula remains the same, regardless:
- Get your home in top-notch, move-in condition and stage to “WOW” a Buyer
- Price your home competitively
- Choose a Realtor who will market your home aggressively, including extensive internet exposure and marketing to fellow Realtors (that would be ME!)
Lori Cain is a residential Realtor with Chinowth & Cohen Realtors serving the greater Tulsa Oklahoma area, including midtown Tulsa, Owasso, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Sand Springs and Jenks. Please visit Lori's web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.
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Lori is a residential Realtor with Chinowth & Cohen Realtors serving the greater Tulsa area and specializing in downtown Tulsa and midtown Tulsa real estate.
Wow, Lori...that's a lot of remodeling. Are you sure you're not going to fall in love with it and decide not to sell after all? LOL
Sounds like you have quite a list there. The pre inspection might be a good idea, eliminates surprises to the budget later.
WOW is right! That's alot of improvements . . . how much more do you expect to sell for as compared to not spending so much? I wouldn't feel comfortable telling a client to do that but I guess my market is different from yours.
Looks like good basic stuff. But isn't your furniture good enough? I don't think you need to spend money on renting furniture.
This is my first-time home that has been rented out since my marriage 4+ years ago. Since it will be vacant while listed, I'm staging it.
May seem like a long list of improvements, but I'm a FIRM believer in getting the house in irresistable condition BEFORE ever putting it on the market.
Linda - I'm STILL in love with this home, but it's time to sell.
Richard - I probably won't have an official inspection, but will probably have an electrician take a look first. Hot water heater is new and roof will be installed prior to closing. HVAC is older, but will limp along.
Susan - I can spend $10K to make $30K.
Jane - furniture is for staging - I'll use some of my own also.
Lori, you are on the ball. The rate of return will be over 300% for fixing up the home.
The prelisting inspection is worth it's weight in gold. Address issues before they become problems. No issues found.........great. Then leave the inspection out there for the buyers to see.
Hope you contacted a CPA because you are no longer selling a home but an investment and the tax consequences can kick you in the...
Lori--Everyone needs clients like you. Go Girl! Keep us posted. I missed the other posts, but will follow your links. Sorry I haven't stopped by for a long time. Mary
Lori, I would do the window treatments, even if you just do 2 inch faux wood blinds. Great post and love the hyperlinks to your previous post and the pre-inspection post. Hope this is on localism.com because it gives you the practice what your preach certificate.
Virginia - yes, I think I'm going to at least have an EMP inspection done. Not worried about structural or termites, but will spend $125 on the EMP inspection.
Mary - I will keep you posted!
Joe - Realtor and Stager and I argued over the window treatments. They think because I have newer, energy-efficient vinyl windows that I should show them off. I think we will compromise and I will put the cellular "top-down, bottom up" shades in a few rooms. Renters smoked in the house, so what's there now is trash. Yes, definitely posted to Localism!
I recently looked at homes in the Tulsa area. What a lovely place. Good luck for a quick sale. It seems your market has not taken the hit some others have.
Kim, if you're moving to Tulsa, maybe you would like to buy my house! :-) No, we haven't taken the hit like many other states, but we're beginning to lose jobs here. Many homes in the higher price ranges are sitting. Yes, it's a lovely town!