Focus on Functionality First When Remodeling
The first step in designing a quality remodel is determining what changes need to be made to make the space more functional. This seems like common sense information but I’ve been in numerous flips where functionality was ignored and THAT is a disastrous mistake. If a space isn’t functional it will absolutely deter buyers and you’ll have difficulty selling no matter how pretty the house is.
Here are a few common mistakes investors make regarding functionality:
Laundry rooms outside or in odd places such as a bedroom (Buyers expect and want a functional laundry space INSIDE the common area of the house.)
Bathrooms with weird layouts that make the space feel claustrophobic (Buyers want bathrooms that have modern layouts and feel as large as possible.)
Kitchen layouts that aren’t conducive to comfortably cooking/using the appliances (The kitchen is usually one of the most important rooms buyers focus on. They notice EVERYTHING!)
Not having a backdoor in the common living area to access the yard (Buyers want to be able to easily access and use their backyard. They want their guests to be able to access it as well so the backdoor should be in a common living space not in a bedroom.)
Even small, simple changes can go a long way toward making a room more functional. For example, in a recent bathroom remodel the door swung into the bathroom on the same side as the vanity. By changing the door swing to open the against the opposite wall we were able to create enough space for a 48” vanity where only a pedestal sink could fit before!
If you feel like the house has an odd feature your potential buyers WILL notice it so do not overlook it. Don’t assume that they will love all the shiny finishes so much they’ll overlook it because that will cost you money! To get top dollar for a flip you need to eliminate the outdated, quirky features and create a home that meets a modern buyers needs and expectations.
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