Michael Roberts' Blog -San Jose Homes, Real Estate and Houses for Sale

Buying a Home with Resale Value – Part Two

Buying a home in the San Jose real estate market can be a daunting task.  So many questions – How do I get a mortgage? How much can I afford? Will I find a home that fits my needs?  What exactly is PMI?  It can be easy to lose sight of the home’s salability in the future.  The good news is we can help answer all these questions and guide you toward a San Jose home with solid potential resale value.  The following bullets describe some key features to look for when shopping for San Jose homes for sale that will bring the most bang for your buck when it comes time to sell.

• Landscaping: Landscaping can have a drastic effect on resale value.  It’s 50% of Curb Appeal.  Too little or too much, and you’ll find yourself wondering what you could have done differently.  You want the landscaping to look maintained and inviting, but not cumbersome.  Too much landscaping could come off as being too much work for potential San Jose buyers, thus limiting your buyer pool and lowering the value of the house.

• House Size: Home sizes vary throughout the San Jose area.  Once again, buyers looking for strong resale value should play the conservative hand and search for a home that is of average size for the neighborhood.  The selling price of the largest house in the neighborhood will often be dragged down by the smaller, surrounding homes.  And likewise, the smaller home values will often be helped by the larger homes.  We provide our neighborhood insight and San Jose market data to all our buyers to help them find the best deal on square footage while they shop.

• Bedrooms and Bathrooms: Most home buyers are looking for three to four bedroom houses plus a space for office activities.  Staying in this range, automatically gives you an advantage in the market.  Too few rooms will limit your buyer pool, and too many may turn off potential buyers due to higher heating and cooling bills.  And a home should always have at least two bathrooms, preferably two and a half.  Master bathrooms attached to the master bedroom are also a big plus and will bring a greater potential for higher resale value.

• Kitchens: If there is one area where buyers should not compromise, it lies in the kitchen.  After all, it’s where everyone in the house congregates.  An amazing, eye-popping kitchen will sell a house almost by itself.   Buyers looking for a San Jose house that will sell easily in the future should look for a kitchen that is open, has a great layout for socializing, and also has easy access to a back patio or deck for barbequing.  Double ovens, granite countertops and updated cabinetry are also plusses that will bring in worthy offers.

• Storage: As we all know, there is never enough storage.  You can be sure that buyers searching for Los Gatos homes for sale will have their eyes out for homes with multiple walk-in closets and linen closets.  Kitchens, secondary bedrooms and bathrooms should also have ample storage space.  Basements, garages, and attics are great places to find hidden opportunities for storage space.  And while our buyers are experiencing potential homes, we keep an eye out for creative storage opportunities that will not only make your life easier, but will also mean a lot to future resale value of your San Jose home.

• Finishes: Once you’ve taken care of the top four resale points, it’s time to look at finishes.  While finishes do not necessarily raise the value of a home by themselves, they will certainly seal the deal for anyone who is riding the fence between your house and the one next door.  Tastefully painted walls, upgraded countertops and cabinets, and updated hardware can have a big impact on the resale value when it comes time to sell.  The important tip to remember is that conservative is always better.  You may have fallen in love with your cobalt blue granite countertop, but chances are the next buyer won’t feel the same way.

And most importantly, you’re not alone in finding a great San Jose home with resale value.  If you want to make sure you make a financially responsible decision in your San Jose home purchase, Contact Us and we will ensure that you not only love your home today, but also love its resale value tomorrow!