ShareYour home buyers love that home, but if only it had hardwood floors instead of carpet throughout. How much would that cost?
You may field such cost questions from potential buyers, and some new online resources may help you gather quotes for your buyers in a hurry -- or at least give you a resource to point them to. For example, HomeAdvisor’s True Cost Guide can provide visitors with an idea of what they can expect to pay for projects in their area.
At the site, users plug in the project they want to complete, along with their ZIP code. The tool then will list the average cost of the home improvement project or repair in their area based on what others have paid. You can see a breakdown of cost estimates from the low to high end as well as average. The site offers a searchable database to gather estimates for more than 300 types of home projects and repairs, whether your buyer wants to find the average cost of remodeling a bathroom, painting the home’s exterior, installing new windows or countertops, or more.
Another cost estimating site, called Fixr, also offers estimates on various home improvement and remodeling projects -- just plug in the project and find estimated costs as well as get access to a list of contractors in your area. The site also features cost guides to give you an overview of the price of tackling projects like kitchen and basement remodels as well as the costs of repairing siding, installing new windows, adding a porch or swimming pool, and more.
This allows home buyers to decide if the repair or renovation is within their budget, if they opt to buy the home. The tools may also come in handy for sellers in deciding whether they should invest in fix ups prior to listing their home for sale.