Simply Sold CEO Ashley Wainscott shares her early home-renovation experience and what she’s learned along the way.

Photo courtesy of Carley E Photography 

In my early 20s, I had to help my mom sell my childhood home in Southwest Austin. Emotions aside, I had to focus on some much-needed renovation projects before we could sell her home.

With an endless list of to-dos, we were faced with a difficult task: interviewing and selecting contractors, which turned into juggling their schedules to hit our deadlines. It was a huge challenge for us to try to find contractors who prioritized communication, valued timeliness and provided high-quality work. We struggled through this process and communicated our experience to our Realtor, who informed us that these were common pain points for homeowners. That’s when the light bulb went off!

I wanted to create a company that managed all aspects of residential projects. My vision was to offer a remodeling solution that kept it simple for the homeowner and a place where women, specifically, could feel comfortable when remodeling their homes. I knew that if I could solve the problems I experienced when selling our home, I could set a new standard in the industry.

I took this idea and ran with it. It was a bold move, but I did not think about what could go wrong. I focused on what could go right. After much thought, I landed on the name Simply Sold and got to work.

With zero experience in home remodeling, I jumped in eager to learn the ins and outs of the industry. The more I learned about Austin’s home market, the more passionate I became about changing the face of the industry. Early on, it was difficult, given that home remodeling was a male-dominated field, but I knew if I offered outstanding customer service and project management, I could separate myself from other companies in the market.

From the beginning, we built a hand-tailored remodeling experience while providing a simpler and more effective construction process. A component of construction involves the hurdles that present themselves. I have always found it’s how you handle those hurdles that sets you apart. I wanted our clients to feel the difference, so when hiring, I looked for employees that showed high emotional intelligence.

As we celebrate our five-year anniversary, Simply Sold is now more than just a remodeling firm. We are a client’s sounding board. We are their eyes and ears, their crutch and their safety net to lean on. And with more than 1,400 completed home renovations in Austin, we’ve grown not just with the services we are able to provide, but also with our team members and our experience. I’m now incredibly proud to have an all-female team of project managers.

I knew that if I could solve the problems I experienced when selling our home, I could set a new standard in the industry.

In my experience, here are a few of the best return-on-investment projects to complete before selling your Austin home:

Bang-for-your-buck projects with great impact. This includes updating cabinet hardware for bathroom vanities and kitchen cabinets, light fixtures, door hardware, rusted vents, caulking in bathrooms, pressure washing the exterior and basic landscape work.

Kitchen and master-bath updates. If the investment makes sense for the price point of your home and neighborhood, review these, as they are the two most important rooms in a home.

Paint. It goes a long way. Always look at the paint, whether you are selling, moving in or looking to update. Paint ties your space together. With the right color, you can achieve the look and, more importantly, the desired feel for your space.

Floors. Don’t forget about those floors! Aim for having consistent floors throughout the house that fit with the price point of the home. Porcelain planks are the most popular option right now.

Talk to your real-estate agent and tap into his or her knowledge of the market to help decide on the max amount of money to invest. At Simply Sold, we are constantly learning about the Austin real-estate market and are always eager to share.

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