Planning to sell my home

Hello - Please do not choose anything too colorful or too far in one specific design direction. A major problem we real estate agents often face in selling is renovations/gut renovations that discourage buyers from imagining themselves living there because the seller has made very strong aesthetic decisions (i.e. super ugly tiles or backsplashes). My advice to you is to stick to as neutral a palate as possible. Good luck!

Agree with ejvolpe. Try whenever possible to stick with the original style of the building. Light, neutral shades are always best, and avoid any overly 'design-y' or trendy elements. Keep in mind that current trends will look dated in no time (remember those horrible travertine-swathed bathrooms that were all the rage a few years ago? They look super-outdated now).

I would definitely avoid a gut renovation before selling. The buyers really focus on your previous recorded sale price, the fact that you spent $200k on renovations are not reflected in public records...so go easy!

Did you see this recent WSJ article on real estate commissions in the city? http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-u-s-has-some-of-the-worlds-highest-real-estate-commissions-1475765504 Something to watch out for as well, save your $$ to pay for the commission

Feel free to contact me i can help you from start to finish. here is my email: aherrera@elliman.com

My team often works with sellers to evaluate the renovations needed to sell for the highest possible price, while keeping your renovation costs as low as possible. We also offer several programs to sell your home that have either low commissions or low monthly fees - so you can achieve the highest net proceeds possible. Google me and my company - www.realdirect.com - and feel free to reach out if I can be of assistance. -Doug

Keep your renovation costs low and keep your closing costs (http://www.hauseit.com/closing-costs-nyc/) low. These are the two simplest and best ideas we can share with you.

If you must renovate (sure it may attract a few more buyers who absolutely need a renovated unit) then keep it as simple and low cost as possible. Remember, it's not in public records how much you spent to customize your kitchen. What is in public records is your last recorded sale price.

Lastly, save on the broker commission. 6% of the sale price in commission is equivalent to 1/3 of your home equity. Why do that? That's grand larceny. Get a flat fee RLS listing through a institutional local FSBO company like Hauseit. Get professional photographs. Get a floorplan. List for a realistic price. Be available to show. Have an attorney. That's really it!

Is your unit livable? If so, I wouldn't waste tens of thousands of dollars renovating your apartment when it's unclear whether you'd actually be able to monetize the improvements dollar for dollar through a higher sale price. Some buyers might not like the style of your renovations and others won't be willing to pay you significantly more for the apartment just because you fixed it.

There are tons of buyers in NYC who specifically look for apartments that require renovations. Look at this one for example: http://streeteasy.com/sale/1232239 ... sold at full asking price and it was a wreck inside.

Unless you are going to do a moderately high end renovation it doesn't usually pay because there is little difference between a brand new kitchen/bathroom that that you have to rip out because it's not up to par and an old kitchen/bathroom that you have to rip out because it's old.

Jane, In your case, an experienced but hungry for business selling agent can add tremendous value by suggesting suitable staging or Reno from the resale point of view. Sometimes, a fresh coat of paint, regrouting the bathroom, minor changes like a new toilet for $400, and refinishing floors can do wonders.

333 E14th 10E was listed at a low price due to condition, that is why it sold for "full asking price."