10 upgrades to help sell your home

Preparing your home for the market is often less about aesthetics and more about fixing fundamental flaws. Here are 10 upgrades savvy buyers may be expecting. Source: www.costhelper.com

1. Copper pipes

Plumbing is usually out of sight and out of mind, but upgrading pipes should be a major priority for sellers of older homes. Copper pipes are a big improvement over galvanized pipes, which corrode over time.

Home era: Pre-1960s

Cost: For a 1,500-square-foot, two-bedroom, 11⁄2-bath house: $2,000 to $15,000-plus

2. Electrical

Homes built before the 1970s often do not have enough electrical "oomph" to run all the electronic gadgets that are part of modern daily life. Today's homes typically have 200-amp service, so keep your home competitive by upgrading to at least 100 amp.

Home eras: Pre-1960s, 1960s

Cost: To upgrade existing panel to 100 amp: $800 to $1,200

If new panel is needed: $1,500 to $2,500

3. Furnace

Furnaces usually last from 12 to 14 years. Although this upgrade is relatively expensive, you'll need to bite the bullet if your unit is nearing or has passed its expiration date. People who bought a new home a dozen years ago or so are especially likely to need this replacement.

Home era: 1990s

Cost: $7,000 to $7,500 depending on difficulty of installation.

4. Kitchen cabinets

Refurbishing old cabinets can quickly pull your kitchen into the 21st century. Replace dated cabinet hardware with stainless steel or nickel knobs, pulls and hinges. Bring solid wood cabinets back to life by cleaning, sanding, staining, painting and replacing veneer.

Home era: 1960s

Cost: For 10-by-12-foot kitchen

Stock cabinets: $4,000 to $5,000

Semi-custom: $8,000 to $10,000

Custom: $16,000 to $20,000

5. Kitchen countertops

The saying "all real estate is local" is true right down to the kitchen countertops. In some neighborhoods, laminate is still acceptable. In others, you'll need to go with granite or Corian. Check out your neighbors' kitchens to find out what is standard on your block.

Home era: 1980s

Cost: For 30-linear-foot countertops

Laminate or ceramic: $450 to $1,800

Corian or granite: $3,600 to $11,000

6. Roof

Shrewd buyers are always concerned about the age of a home's roof. Have your roof inspected if it is more than 10 years old. If it makes the grade, include the inspection report in your buyer's packet. If you must replace, cut costs by choosing 20-year material over 30-year material.

Home era: 1990s

Cost: For 500-square-foot roof

For 25-year shingles: $11,000 to $17,000

For metal: $20,000 to $25,000

7. Siding

A dated exterior can be fatal to your home's curbside appeal. Sometimes, a fresh coat of paint is all you need to cover a multitude of sins. In other cases, you may need to replace the siding altogether.

Home era: 1970s

Cost: For 1,250 exterior square feet

Painting over exterior: $625 to $1,250

Pine: $6,500 to $7,500

Aluminum: $3,100 to $4,500

Vinyl: $2,500 to $8,750

Cement fiber: $5,600 to $13,539

8. Termite inspection

Termites are tiny insects that love to feast on wood, including timbers in homes. Homes in Southern states are particularly vulnerable to this pest. Termite inspections are relatively cheap and are especially important in older homes.

Home eras: Pre-1960s, 1960s

Cost: $60 to $100

5 remodeling projects under $10,000

9. Water heater

Water heaters typically last about a decade before running out of steam. Installing a high-efficiency water heater can cut energy use by between 10% and 50%, making your home more attractive to cost-conscious buyers.

Cost

Electric: $100 to $600

Gas: $250 to $1,000

Tankless: $200 to $1,200

Installation for all three: $200 to $400

10. Windows

Single-pane windows have gone the way of lava lamps and beanbag chairs, so be sure to upgrade those aluminum slider windows. Not only will your home look more enticing, but you'll also trim heating and cooling bills by 25%.

Home era: 1970s

Cost

Replacement windows: $300 to $1,000-plus per window

New windows: $450 to $2,000 per window