Advice from your Realtor: 5 things to NOT invest in for your home

While owning a home, it can be tempting to want to upgrade and re-decorate everything, but when you are prepping to sell, how do you know what goes onto the must-do list and what goes onto the not-necessary list. Tulio Peña, a realtor with MilHousing Network, shares his ideas of what you don’t need to invest in, even if it feels like you should.  

You Don’t Need Always to Look Sunny-Side-Up

Although solar can add up to energy savings, if you are only there for a few years, think twice before investing in solar as the next owner may not want to take on the payment. An alternative option is to see if you can pay off the solar with the money you make from the home or pay with a loan instead of payments. 

Picture Perfect isn’t Necessary

Although beautiful staging can set the house’s tone and story, it’s not always needed, depending on where you live. Tulio says, “If your home is in or around the median price for your area, you likely will not need complete staging. A clean home and a few decorative pieces will do.” Beautiful flowers and a batch of cookies in the oven never hurt anyone either if you want a nice touch without the hefty price tag of staging. 

Paint the Canvas, Not your Home. 

There is no rush to repaint every wall. A buyer who loves your home will often want to paint rooms with their own color choices. Why spend hours agonizing over painting walls grey when new owners might roll up with Rockstar Red for the kitchen a month later. Make sure to use paint for touch-ups, and fill in any holes. If an accent wall is a stunning color, leave it. You never know; your “Impulsive Purple” paint choice might be a selling point. 

Garden, Grass, or Zero-scape? 

If your grass is stressing you out, it can be worth changing it out. Tulio shares, “Arid states like Colorado recommend not having too much grass in your yard. Watering can be costly, and keeping the grass alive can be a struggle.” 

Alternative options can look like zero-scaping with rocks, dirt, and local fauna or a garden with easy-to-care-for bushes and some trees. Remember, not everyone has a green thumb, so plant what you’d like and make the upkeep simple for those who move in after you. 

Don’t be Stucc-On on the latest trend.

Pinterest and realtor photos can make you yearn to turn your 1988 townhome into what looks like an 1808 Spanish Villa, but Stucco siding isn’t always worth it, especially if you want professionals to do it right. Tulio encourages, “Stucco siding can be beautiful and low maintenance, but resale homes with traditional siding sell at comparable prices.”

If the house you are leaving looks well enough on the outside, fix any cracked siding and give it a good power washing. If you are replacing your vinyl siding, pick a welcoming color that makes your house say “Home Sweet Home” to its new owners. 

Investing in your home to make it a dream to live in for you and those who come after you is worthwhile. Check with your MilHousing realtor to see what wise house choices look like in your home today. 

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