Anyone want to criticize a home?

[Wenjie]

I'm planning to renovate with the intent of selling in a year. The first picture is from a home that sold four months ago for much less. The second sold exactly one year ago for much more. Similar size, location, and listed price. What renovation mistakes do you think the first home made (compared to the other) so that I can avoid making the same mistakes.

Right, so the expensive house sold a year ago. The cheaper house sold four months ago. Is it just the effect of Covid? What’s the market like where you are in the US? It might be very different from what we’ve seen here in the UK where the property market has gone a bit crazy.

@NameChangedForAChange Thank you for this feedback! I was actually wondering if I should enclose the outdoor space for privacy. These are the pictures of what my, completely not upgraded, unit looked like before my kids and I moved in. (You can't see it, but there's carpet in the part of the bathroom with sinks. That's the only thing I know I have to fix. For everything else, I'm clueless.)

The brown cupboards are super ugly so I'd be pricing in ripping those out for a start.

I like the downlighters in the more expensive house. And the lighter colours. The balcony is rubbish though - needs railings and big pots with plants and shrubs in.

I think it's a pandemic thing, as otherwise they're much of a muchness.

@namechangedforachange We're in a suburb right outside of San Francisco. Prices are way up, but maybe no one wants units so small. It's a one bedroom.

Ah, it's right next to the train line, maybe that's why it sold for less. Having had a flat right next to the train line in my younger days it does put some buyers off.

If your balcony faces the other way get some nice pot plants in to brighten it up.

Where my parents live there's similar houses that can be £100k+ difference. Sometimes it's just the location.

@HelpMeh Thank you. I talked to the agent we used when buying, and she thinks they're salvageable and we should just refinish them or paint white. I know it's more money to buy new cabinets, but I can't help but think we'd get our money back and more if we bought new cabinets that go up to the ceiling.

I knew you were close to me! These condos look so familiar.

You will easily sell, and the size is spot on for the single with money. Make the outside appealing as much as possible,and replace the vanity and mirror in the bathroom.

Good luck!

Personally I'd say it's down to the market

Be very very careful. Depending on your market - a 'done up' one might not be worth as much more than you've spent. People do like to get a bargain & facelift it to their choice.

Try to get local info

@DinosApple Ugh. I should have thought about how other people think about the train. I'm right by it, too. I was excited to be within walking distance of the train. (When I bought, I thought we would be riding the train to work and school... everything ending up within these walls was a surprise. But at least it's a surprise most everyone got to experience with me.) But other people probably get less excited by noisy trains.

In the UK people are looking for more space - eg more bedrooms to accommodate a home office and there's been a move away from suburban areas to more rural areas apparently. If these are one bedroom apartments/houses that could well be the issue here with the difference in selling price. I'd take the agent's advice and get assistance with staging.

@2018SoFarSoGreat Are you in California, too? I have this itching desire to replace everything. The condo that sold for so much more did all these extras like turn the entry closet into a wet bar, and I wondered if that appealed to the single guys in tech around here. But maybe it simply sold for more because it was 2019 when no one cared if their home had a yard or an office.

Yes we were pleased because it was so handy for commuting to work.

Hopefully as things get back to some sort of normal someone else will appreciate that potential too. For us it meant no need for a car parking ticket on top of a season ticket on the train. So it made sense at the time.

Good luck with it all! It's much nicer than my old flat!

I like the photos of yours more than either of the other 2.
Your outdoor space looks great and your indoor space is more appealing because the furniture isn't grabbing all the attention. The angles in the photos of one of the other houses is dreadful though.

Make the outside space as inviting as possible - the fact you have it is a plus point, even if you can hear the trains. Add a couple of large plants in pots, a relaxing seating area. I don't think replacing the kitchen will be worth the expense. Replacing things like the dated strip lighting in the bathroom and the kitchen ceiling light will be.

@MotherOfGodWeeFella I had a call with the agent we used to buy. I trust her, but still felt hesitant about how little she wanted me to do to the place. She wants to make sure I don't do anything where I won't get my money back, but my home has had absolutely no upgrades since it was built in 1982 so I feel like I have to do more and more.

Sorry - I got confused between the pictures. Add an outdoor eating area on your terrace as you already have a seating area.

Yours has potential. That's why I prefer it.

I prefer home 1 the kitchen is much better, but then I hate islands to me they are a waste of space and a dumping ground. Otherwise I prefer garden 2.
But if you are doing it up to sell for max profit then do whatever will bring in the biggest return. Ask the real estate people what people want. Make it very neutral. Hire small furniture to show it off to make the rooms look bigger. All those tricks.

I agree with Mother about the strip light and plant pots.

@Oversize No! Really? That makes me feel like I should find out who staged it when I bought it. It does not look like that now! But I promised the agent I'd get rid of my clutter, hide my kids, and rent nice furniture.

@Wenjie yes, now Daly City but was in San Carlos for years. These little compact condos are what singles want and young not so rich couples can afford.
That's your market!

You won't get your money back on a remodel, but paint and possibilities will sell it for you.

That train is going to be very needed soon enough and will be a selling point.

Good luck! It's so exciting buying and selling, but I'm glad I'm settled for now.

@chocolateorangeinhaler I did talk to a real estate person I trust. She recommended I do less than I'd assumed was needed. Like she recommended either refinishing or painting the cabinets, but not replacing them as I'd intended. And I thought I needed a new vanity in the bathroom, but she thought I could just paint the cabinetry and even recommended I keep the cream-colored counter.

@2018SoFarSoGreat Oh, wow! You're really close! What are you doing on here? Thanks so much for your feedback. I was feeling a little down about selling after talking to the real estate agent. Your words helped me feel better.

OK, so the real estate person has recommended a few small and cheap improvements. And you say that she doesn’t want you to do improvements that you won’t get your money back on. Isn’t that your answer then? Sell it as it is. With a bit of decluttering and some repainting first.