Fixing
for a sale...
A
smart interior home improvement now can clinch a sale in the future.
Invest some time and money in the areas which sell a home, the kitchen,
bathrooms and closets. Does it pay to remodel? In many cases yes!
Consult with Becci for further advice on the specific amenities buyers
want in your neighborhood.
Painting
Pays Off
Paint
gives a home a fresh start and it's a quick cure for outdated wallpaper
and colors. Keep the color palette light (pastels, ecru, white) and
limited to two or three tones. Do-it-yourself painting is economical
but make sure that you don't scrimp on the quality of the paint you use
or the time you spend on surface preparation. Surfaces ready for paint
are clean, dry and smooth.
Floor
Covering Count
Put
your best foot forward with clean carpets and tiles. Steam clean, or
replace badly worn or stained carpets. Install neutral-colored, medium
quality carpet in each room. Repair or replace missing or damaged
pieces of tile; polish if needed. If there is hardwood under your old
shag carpeting, tear up the shag and show off the stylish wood grain.
Installing new hardwood floors, however is costly; you won't get the
return on your investment.
Bright
Ideas
The
right lighting displays a home at its best. Every light socket in and
around the house should have a good bulb of adequate wattage. Repair or
replace wall switches, outlets, and light fixtures that don't work.
What's
Cooking in Kitchens?
The
kitchen can often make or break a top dollar sale. A good kitchen
renovation can bring back 75% to 125% of its cost when you sell your
house. Before you begin be sure to check out your contractor's
qualifications and references. If you plan to do the remodelling
yourself, make sure you are able to do professional work or your
improvements will ultimately detract from the value of your home.
A
kitchen renovation takes careful planning. Arrange the traffic flow so
that the three most-used items, the sink, refrigerator, and stove form
an equilateral triangle. Choose a monochromatic color scheme such as
white or almond. Purchase appliance of reliable quality and keep all
your records and warranties.
Minor
kitchen remodelling requires less money up front and can be a real gem
of an investment. If you have a 20-year old home of modest proportions,
for example, consider re-facing your kitchen cupboards instead of
installing new ones. Dark wood cabinets that overwhelm a small kitchen
take on a new dimension when sanded and painted with an off-white
finish. Shop around for a new oven and cook-top, new laminated
countertops, new flooring and fresh paint.
Uncluttered
Charm
Efficient
use of space is one of the least expensive ways to improve the
"show ability" and thus the resale value of your home. Work
to eliminate clutter from countertops, walls and floors. Make your home
look like it has room to spare.
Install
closet organisers in bedrooms and utility rooms. Use swing-out
cupboards. Some experts recommend renting a mini-warehouse to store
your excess belongings while the house is on the market. There's no
doubt about it ... overcrowding gives the impression of inadequacy.
Keep
Your Bathrooms Bright
Bathroom
improvements such as new lighting and fittings can really make a
difference to buyers. Always fix any leaky toilets or dripping faucets.
Badly chipped or stained sinks and tubs should be re-enameled or
replaced. If possible, replace the harvest gold and avocado green tubs
with more contemporary white ones.
As
in kitchens; stick to neutral colors and work to create lots of storage
space. Bathroom features that buyers look for include large medicine
cabinets and mirrors, modern vanity units and new tiles around showers
or tubs.
Homes
with one bathroom are often difficult to sell. Complete bathroom
renovations and additions pay back best in houses that are more than 25
years old. Talk to Becci for advice on the cost recovery possibility of
major projects such as these.
Window
Dressing
Make
sure your drapery rods are fixed firmly to walls and work smoothly. If
your present drapes and curtains are faded and worn, then look into
updating your outlook with vertical or horizontal blinds. Many of these
custom-made blinds come with lifetime guarantees that enhance resale
value.
Flood
your home with natural light wherever possible. This can be as simple
as replacing heavy window coverings or as involved as installing a
skylight.
Before
You Jump Into the Pool
Don't
spend so much money on home improvements that your house is more
expensive than all the others in the neighborhood. You won't for
example, recover all the money on pool installation in an average
subdivision.
The
bottom line is that if your improvement is appropriate to your house
and your community, and if it's a quality job, it will probably turn
out to be a good investment, too.
In
the meantime you can enjoy a home that is brighter, more efficient and
more enjoyable thanks to your improvement projects.
Good
luck with your home improvement plans and happy hammering.
If
you would like a free report on hints for showing your home just email
me now.
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