When it comes to selling your home, you want to make sure it looks its best to attract potential buyers. The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house, and one buyers will look at seriously when considering your property. While most buyers are happy to paint a few walls, few are interested in getting a new kitchen as soon as they move in.
Understandably, one question that often comes up is whether or not to upgrade appliances before putting your house on the market. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, there are a few factors to consider when deciding whether or not to invest in new appliances before selling your home. Read on to find out whether or not you should buy new appliances for your home.
Do people leave appliances when they sell a house?
In some cases, sellers choose to leave their appliances behind when selling their homes. This can be a selling point for buyers, as it eliminates the need for them to purchase new appliances after moving in. However, whether or not to leave appliances behind is up to the seller, and there’s no guarantee that buyers will be interested in keeping the appliances that come with the house.
Do new appliances increase a home’s value?
While new appliances can certainly make a home more attractive to potential buyers, they don’t necessarily increase its value. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, kitchen upgrades only have a 67% return on investment. This means that while upgrading your appliances may make your home more appealing, it might not translate to a higher selling price.
Is it worth upgrading appliances before selling your home?
The answer to this question depends on a few factors, including the age and condition of your current appliances, the local real estate market, and your budget.
Appliance Condition
If your appliances are outdated or in poor condition, upgrading them could help make your home more attractive to potential buyers. However, if your appliances are relatively new and in good condition, it might not be worth the expense of upgrading them.
Marketing
You should also consider the market your home most appeals to. For example, if your home is in an area and is of a size that appeals to first-time buyers, including new appliances can make your home more attractive to them, since they likely do not have any appliances to bring – or will be looking for budget options when they move in.
However, if your home is in an area that appeals to retirees, any appliances you choose to get will likely not make a difference, since they’ll either already have their own appliances to bring or will want to make the decision for themselves.
Budget
If you’re already working with a tight budget, then upgrading your appliances really won’t benefit you unless you plan to take the appliances with you to your new home. Again, unless your home appeals most to first-time buyers, buying budget appliances likely won’t improve your home’s saleability, and even budget appliances are costly.
Condition of Your Home
If your home is in a condition that needs modernization, renovation, or other improvements to have universal appeal, it’s unlikely that the condition of your appliances is going to be of much concern to your potential buyers. Most buyers looking at your home are looking for a project, whether it be as a personal project with plans to use it as their primary residence, or as an investor looking to flip or rent the property out afterward.
Which Appliances Need Replacing
Generally speaking, if you’re going to upgrade any appliances before selling, focus on those that are built into your kitchen, and only think about upgrading them if you are sure your kitchen does not also need upgrading in the near future. Consider upgrading built-in ovens and microwaves, and dishwashers, since they’ll improve the overall look of your home. The refrigerator can be included in this list, but since they’re such an investment, you’ll need to think seriously about whether the investment is worth it.
Should you include appliances in the sale of your home?
Whether or not to include appliances in the sale of your home is up to you and what you think will help sell your home. As we discussed in the point above, if you think that including appliances will give your home a marketing boost, then include them. Otherwise, they won’t be necessary.
Alternatives to Replacing Your Appliances
If you decide not to invest in new appliances before selling your home, there are a few alternatives to consider that can boost the value of your home. You can:
- Give your current appliances a deep clean and some minor repairs to help improve their appearance and functionality.
- Offer credit to buyers that would allow them to purchase their own appliances after moving in.
- Give all the rooms in your home a fresh coat of paint so the walls look fresh and clean.
- Fix any broken handles, drawers, or tiles, and make other small repairs.
- Pay for a deep clean, especially of grout and similar surfaces that can get stained.
Essentially, look at the big picture of your property – what small, inexpensive tweaks will dramatically improve the appearance of your home? Those are the things that are worth fixing.
Sell Your Home in As-Is Condition
If your home needs improvement, it may be best to sell it in as-is condition. This means that you are selling the property in its current state without making any repairs or upgrades.
Selling in as-is condition is a great option for homeowners who do not want to spend a lot of money on repairs before selling or who simply want to sell quickly. In fact, homeowners can save even more time by selling directly to a cash buyer like us. We buy homes in any condition (good or bad!) in Massachusetts for cash. All you need to do is contact us with a few details about your property and we’ll give you our best cash offer. If you accept, we can close in as little as 2 weeks, allowing you to sell your home quickly and move on to your next adventure.
To find out more about how we buy houses or to get a cash offer for your home, click here.