Is your house a 1970's throwback? A small investment in neutralizing the decor may payoff for home sellers...

Often times I list property for folks who have lived in their homes for decades, or for a family who inherited property from long-term owners. Homes that have been well loved and well lived-in are often in good shape structurally, however cosmetically they tend to be a little dated. Sometimes it makes sense for the sellers to invest a little money in neutralizing some of these things before selling a home.

It doesn't always make sense to make improvements to a home before putting it on the market though. Depending on numerous variables, such as the target market buyer for a property, the overall condition of the home, the location, and just how pervasive the cosmetic dating is will play into what, if anything, it makes sense to improve.

These are options that I review with the sellers so that they get the most bang for the buck -- flooring and paint tend to get a really good return on the investment, and generally spending a few thousand dollars yields a much higher return in property value and a higher selling price. The home will photograph better, and have a more wide appeal to the target market with neutral colors, and will ultimately be more turn-key for the new owner.

After strategizing different ideas with the sellers of this particular property shown in the photos, they decided it was worth the investment to scrape the wallpaper, paint the walls, replace the shag carpet, and replace the vinyl flooring.

Not every seller has the resources to do improvements to a home before selling it, and not all improvements will have a positive return, but generally neutralizing a property with very distinct outdated décor will payoff.

I have a full slate of contractors and suppliers who can assist as well. Often times folks who are selling homes under these circumstances live or have relocated outside of the Sacramento area, and I have lots of experience helping to get bids and facilitate this work from afar.