Buyers-Upgrade or allowance?

I am worried people may not even come and look.

Try lowering the price ... is that hard to do? 

WTF do you think stores do if they want to attract customers...

   paint the shelves in a 'peach color'  and upgrade the tiles on the floor?

Do what WalMart does!  Roll Back Prices!!!!! 

Lowering the price was my first thought too.  However, there may be buyers out there that would like those upgrades that may not have the cash in hand after closing to put them in on their own.  If they can pay a little more for the house updated, then those costs would be rolled into the mortgage.  I would say that a lot depends on what upgrades tend to be in the houses that are selling in Jaimi's local area.  If there are houses with white appliances selling, then I wouldn't bother to do any major upgrades, but lower the price instead.

"just that everybody has stainlesssteel and granite nowadays"

This will be the mark of the bubble,

in future years people gazing upon granite and stainless will wince like its avocado green.

"in future years people gazing upon granite and stainless will wince like its avocado green."

I have wondered about that Spleng.  It seems that granite and stainless have had tremendous staying power - going on 10 years now almost.  Much longer than the forest green and rose-colored bathrooms of the 90s.  I wonder what will take their place?

Thanks, for the suggestions .I will talk to my realtor to see if people have white appliancse.Its just that somebody commented that I may put in basic applaiances and somebody may want to go for high end

or the lower price may make the house more affordable to more people.

Its confusing

Don't worry about the upgrades, although I'd give a good price and be willing to do a carpet allowance. Actually... I would have LOVED a carpet allowance with these pink carpets.

On the other hand, I hear 99% of buyers have NO IMAGINATION, so if your carpet is trashed, I'd replace it. Upgrades, smuckgrades. Lower the price to compete with those stupid partial-improperly done repairs and replace the carpet. Anyone looking for a house with a fridge must be living in an apt and can't afford to buy. A stove though comes in rental houses here, so I'd do that if I was selling. Check and see what your standard house rental is equipped with, that's all you need.

Ditto what Debts said.  Sadly, most of the buyers we've run across want what everyone else has: hardwood floors, stainless appliances, granite countertops, etc., etc.  No one seems to care that we put in a new flue liner, furnance, re-did the plaster walls, and so on.  I think what buyers ultimately want is both: what the Jones's have and a low price.

Hate to ask it, but is that possible for you?

"I wonder what will take their place?"

I think it will be a wide range of things based on individual tastes/preferences.  Unique will be in, cookie cutter based on what's expected will be out.

Tile here, formica there, all sorts of colors and styles. Types of stone still sure, but not with those clumsy cloddish rounded corners.  I think white appliances will be popular. :)

Price is more important.

To be honest we have all missed the point when it comes to selling or buying a home. I try to explain to a buyer that it is the heater,A/C,Roof,Windows and condition of the home that is most important. What I call eye candy to a buyer is a plus in a home. If your roof begins to leak what is a granite counter top going to do for you or stainless steel applances? I see sellers trying to keep up with the home down the street that has it all in eye candy ,but the things that are going to cost you have not been adressed in 10 years.I hate to see a seller put in the things they think a buyer wants to see in a home and have the buyer do a home inspection and have to be hit with a major issue of a leaking roof,old A/C and heater that may need to be replaced.

If you do replace them , the buyer will say oh stainless steel shows finger prints !!!

You just can't win

After looking at a ton of houses, I'll admit that I bought the house with granite countertops, although to be fair I would have bought the house even if it had sported laminate. What really caught my eye? Cleanliness!

Scrub your kitchen thoroughly...and I mean thoroughly. If your stove hasn't been cleaned since you moved in (although I'm sure this isn't the case), get yourself some oven cleaner and go to town. Replace the burner plates if they're gunky. Pull out the storage drawer and clean underneath. Wash the cabinets inside and out. Scrub the floor. Wash the windows and blinds. Remove all the photos and whatnot from the fridge. Touch up the paint. Fix anything that's not in perfect working order.

Now, if your kitchen still needs a little something, start with the small stuff. Stainless steel is popular, but you don't have to replace appliances to get the look. Stores like Target carry lots of brushed nickel accessories, like drawer pulls and hooks that will provide a hint of that high end look without breaking the bank. If the sink is in good condition, replace the faucet with something snazzy like a gooseneck version. Are the light fixtures a little dated? They can be replaced on the cheap for a big impact. Lowes and Home Depot have a nice selection of chandeliers and pendants in brushed nickel (I have one hanging over my table right now).

There is really no need to do a major kitchen remodel. If your buyer wants granite countertops, he'll spring for them himself, but chances are he'll be content with laminate. Now the carpet may be another story. If it looks bad, have it replaced with a nice neutral that complements the other flooring materials (vinyl, etc.) in the house. Floors in excellent condition make everything look better.

I am one of those buyers (well was) that pays more attention to the condition of the house, windows, ac, etc than whether it has granite countertops or stainless steel appliances.  That being said, I also look at how updated it is.  If it is still in the 70s, I would probably not be interested.  But, I would happily accept something that has been updated into the 80s and 90s.

Thank you all!

My house is in good condition.I replaced the dishwasher 2 yrs back as I was tired of the builders basic model and didnot want to redo the whole kitchen.Carpet I will definately change,its good but needs stretching but again its a good feel and Buyers need that new feel.I will keep the corrian and update the kitchen with new Knobs and pulls .And ,Yes clean ,clean ,clean. 

I know I am freaking out with the thought of putting the house on the market.I am already late according to my realtor and if I update I will not be able to put it on till "summer" which she says is bad timming.

As a current buyer, I can say that I'd much rather remodel myself, rather than pay top price for a seller to remodel.  As several pointed out, not everyone likes stainless and granite, and it also depends on the neighborhood and the condition of the rest of the house.  I'm looking at a neighborhood of 1940s traditional colonials- and I can't believe some of the interior remodeling jobs people have done- not all looks go with all houses.  I agree that ratty carpets are a huge turn-off, but so are over-remodeled bathrooms and kitchens.  Honestly, I know those "bowl" sinks are trendy right now, but how practical are they?  I have taken several houses that might otherwise have been considered off my list because I think a glass bowl sink spells "visit to the emergency room" for a family with pre-schoolers, and I don't want to have to pay to redo a "redo." 

as a buyer myself, and excuse my overly cynical view, but I tend to view brand-new upgrades done just as the house is coming onto the market as an indication that the buyer is trying to either 1) justify a higher price or 2) trying to distract me from some other problem.  And unfortunately, the way the market is right now, it just isn't going to come down to appliances and countertops that make me decide between homes.  I'd suggest holding onto the money you would have spent to allow you wiggle room in negotiations. 

I have never in my entire life looked at a house for sale ad, or a hotsheet the realtor has given me and said "oh, this one has upgraded countertops, lets see it first"  - price, location, and size are how I prioritize.

I'm another of the school of "its the bones of the house".   Every article and analysis one reads say that upgrades don't pay for themselves, and don't sell the house.

I look at the roof, the plumbing, the electricity, the insulation, the drainage, the general wear and tear.  I agree with clean clean clean.   Have the furnace ducts been cleaned and the filter replaced,  have the refrigerator coils been cleaned?   When things like that have been missed, it makes me wonder what else was ignored that I'm missing.  

A pet peeve is seller who has just redone all the carpets with very cheap carpet.  It may look spiffier than an old dirty carpet, but I don't want cheap carpet (or expensive white carpet, or expensive pink carpet!)  I will accept a carpet allowance. 

I can look beyond clutter, but many buyers can't.

good luck.  There is no perfect house that appeals to everyone!