St. George Utah Living

Where to spend for the best resale value
Swatches and samples surround you; your floor plan is gripped tightly in hand. You’re nervous but excited; this is your new home, after all, and these will be the finishing touches that make it unique to you. Except, how much “you” do you actually want to make it? Aren’t you thinking of selling in a few years anyway?

“Initially, people find choosing upgrades very daunting. They’re a little bit nervous,” says Liberty Developments’ in-house interior designer Brent Zavitski, who helps buyers choose upgrades at Liberty projects like Centre Park Condos. “Everyone typically has a budget, especially first-time buyers, so there are definitely some items that become priorities.”

But will those upgrades that are important now continue to be, once you live in your new home or condo? Where’s the best place to invest your money? And what’s going to most affect your resale value? These are all questions experts like Mr. Zavitski say new-home and condo buyers need to consider when personalizing their house or unit; especially younger first-time buyers who want to get the most bang for their buck.

“First-time buyers don’t have a huge budget, they have a defined amount of money to work with,” says interior designer Enza Checchia of Decorenza, who has worked on sites such as San Francisco by the Bay and Triumph North. “What we usually advise them is to focus on things that enhance, but also make things more accessible and organized.”

In condo suites, specifically, the standard finishes offer a great base for buyers, she says, at least from an aesthetic perspective. Which is why she suggests spending money on functionality instead. Space is often an issue in a condo, and creating more storage is one upgrade that will not only benefit buyers themselves once they move in, but will be appealing to a prospective resale purchaser down the road. Taller upper kitchen cabinetry, if it’s available, is one way to increase a home’s functionality, she says. Opting for pot-and-pan drawers is another.

In a low-rise home, finding space for a kitchen pantry — or expanding one that’s already there — can also be a good idea. “The most important area, both from a buyer and from a resale point of view, is the kitchen.”

The designer also suggests upgrading things that are going to be difficult or impossible to upgrade later, but that will truly add to the form and function of your space. In a low-rise home, for example, choosing to upgrade to nine-foot ceilings is a wise option, while, in a condominium, going for an upgraded floor from the outset can be a better choice than replacing it later on, when it will only be loud and annoying for neighbors, and a hassle for you.

Another option that adds appeal to a condo: smooth ceilings. It can be pricey, he says, but compare two otherwise identical suites and the one with the smooth ceiling will invariably stand out for the eventual buyer who’s shopping the resale market.