Orange County real estate is a hot topic! Which is no surprise—given the beautiful beaches, quick drive to scenic mountains or desert landscape, the amazing food and entertainment…oh, and the almost-perfect-year-round weather! However, compared to last year, the housing market isn’t as booming, and doesn’t seem to favor the seller at the moment.
That means that if you plan to sell your Orange County home, you have to beat the competition. One sure way to make your home stand out from your neighbor’s is to make home improvements. In fact, Forbes said this: "With a few strategic home improvement projects, you can not only increase your quality of life in the near-term future, but also add tremendous property value when you’re ready to sell."
We consulted top Orange County real estate agent Erica Hall of the Hall Group, on the subject. Here’s what she had to say.
“In today’s real estate market, with 52% fewer sales than this time last year, homes must outshine the competition in order to win buyers. That’s why the smartest homeowners are investing wisely into home improvements and design. Not only are they seeing greater success in attracting buyers, but they’re seeing greater return on investment as well. In general, data shows a 70% ROI can be expected on home improvements. This can vary significantly depending on the type and scale of the improvement, but time after time, my experience as a realtor has shown me that my clients’ home equity, and ultimate bottom line in a sale, is much greater when they invest in interior design and home improvements. Even if you’re not planning to sell in the immediate future, you and your resale value will thank you later!”
To help you a) get the most out of your Orange County home while you’re living in it; b) attract more buyers when it comes time to sell; and c) achieve the greatest ROI, we’ve put together a list of the best interior design and home renovation decisions you can make!
Modernize and remodel your kitchen
The number one home renovation recommendation we get from real estate agents, financial publications, or housing market professionals is to remodel and modernize the kitchen first! I can’t count the number of times I have heard, “kitchens sell homes.” If you choose to upgrade only one room in your Orange County home before it goes on the market, we recommend that it be your kitchen. Need some ideas on how to modernize and remodel your kitchen? Check out Transform Your Average Kitchen into Luxury with 12 Stunning Remodel Must-Haves.
2. Give your bathrooms an upgrade
Today’s Orange County homeowners are looking for a luxury bathroom that feels spacious, stylish and functional! If your bathrooms aren’t giving off that vibe, you may want to consider making some interior renovations to it before putting up that “for sale” sign. Upgrading old floors with fresh tile or stone, or swapping out old vanities for new ones, are great ways to give your bathroom a fresh look. Even minor renovations like updating fixtures and lighting, giving your cabinetry a new paint job, adding a larger mirror for a more spacious feel, or replacing your old tub with a stand-alone tub will boost your home’s value. In fact, HGTV says that you can get 102% average return at resale for a minor bathroom remodel. For more bathroom upgrade tips, check out Interior Design: Best Tips to Update Your Bathroom!
3. Make smart bedroom conversions
Have an unused room in your home? Stand out by turning wasted space into a luxury home gym, indoor spa or sauna, or functional home office. If you don’t have much space to spare, you can help potential home buyers in Orange County visualize what they can do with your home by turning the attic into an extra bedroom, or creating multi-use, multi-functional spaces in larger rooms of your home. Consider a home office that doubles as a craft room, school/study space tucked in a game room, or a reading nook or meditation/yoga space in a bedroom. These dual-use spaces are so important as want and need for multipurpose spaces in interior design continue to trend upwards!
4. Wow them at first sight with an exterior facelift
The exterior of your home should never look or feel neglected—it is the first opportunity you have to make a good first impression with your home. A well manicured lawn, clean facade, and fresh-looking paint job should be the bare minimum to attract Orange County home buyers. To really make your exterior look luxurious, pay attention to the details: replace old drains, remove non-load-bearing columns to opt for a more open modern look, repaint doors and trim (or the whole house if it's been a while), fix the cracks in your walkways and pool—you get the gist! And last, but certainly not least, update your landscaping for 100% average return at resale.
5. Add some smart features and luxury touches to your home
Given that we’ve been discussing Orange County interior design, you’ll definitely want to add some pizazz with custom touches and smart features to your home. Keeping in mind that you still need to appeal to the average home buyer, add in the custom touches that everyone is talking about. Here’s a list of our favorite:
A smart hub that can manage thermostats, appliances, lighting, music, and more!
Smart smoke detectors that will not only monitor smoke but also carbon dioxide and general air quality.
Smart shades or electronic blackout curtains in the master bedroom.
Dimmable LED tape lighting under upper kitchen cabinets or at the bathroom vanity toe-kick.
Panel-ready appliances (like your dishwasher, wine fridge, or ice maker).
Counter-depth refrigerator and freezer combo.
A beverage cooler drawer.
Waterfall-edge slab countertops on your kitchen island.
Soft-close drawer glides and hinges throughout.
Epoxy flooring in your garage.
For more home remodel tips, download our FREE comprehensive remodeling planning guide for remodeling success. This step-by-step guide will help you remodel your Orange County home like an interior design pro!
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