Woodland Hills California Real Estate - Sellers Add Value To
Your Home
5 Easy, Inexpensive Ways to Add Value and Comfort to Your Home
When the housing market is hot, it seems like just about
any project is a good investment for boosting your home's value and
appeal. But when the market's tight, you want to be more selective
about which projects you undertake and what you expect to gain in
return. There's nothing worse than wasting time and money on a major
project that barely raises the value of your house.
If you've been thinking about increasing your home's
value in Woodland Hills
California,
or just making your living space more comfortable, these ideas can help
you start off simple and prioritize your list. Before you start
knocking out walls and renovating your roofline, consider these ways to
make a difference...cost-effectively!
1. Spruce Up Your Curb Appeal
Buyers often decide whether to look at your house before
they even get out of the car. So, before you spend a lot of time and
money remodeling the inside, take a good look at the outside. Washing
windows, repainting trim, planting flowers and small shrubs, trimming
tree branches and overgrown bushes, fixing screens, resealing your
driveway, and mowing the lawn can make a big difference. Start out by
making a list of 4 to 7 simple projects and then set aside an hour or
two each day. In just one week, you - and potential buyers - will be
surprised how appealing and welcoming your house looks when driving up.
You may also want to consider larger projects, such as
replacing the siding, adding a patio or deck, or even replacing a
dilapidated driveway. But remember, although these bigger projects may
help your house stand out, they probably won't yield as high of a
qualitative return on investment in terms of your home's actual value.
So, weigh your options and ask your Realtor® for advice before
investing in any of these bigger projects.
2. Does Your Entryway Invite People In?
A cozy first impression is crucial. Now that you've
boosted your curb appeal, it's time to turn your attention inside -
starting just inside the front door. To make sure your entryway invites
people to come in - rather than turnaround and run - try adding a
wicker chair and table outside the door along with a fresh coat of
paint to your foyer.
For even more impact, replace old light fixtures and
update the floor in your entryway with a throw rug or easy-to-apply
self-adhesive linoleum squares. These projects are inexpensive and easy
enough to do yourself in just a few hours.
3. Spiff Up that Old Bathroom
Remodeling an old bathroom can make a big impact. You
should start by simply de-cluttering the countertop. It's amazing how
spacious even a small bathroom appears after the styling products,
pictures and miscellaneous bathroom decorations are removed.
From there, you can freshen up the paint, replace that
old shower curtain, add a new medicine cabinet on the wall, and even a
upgrade your faucet and shower head for very little money. For a little
more, you can also install a double sink or re-tile the floor.
4. Hot in the Kitchen
Renovating an outdated kitchen is practically a sure
thing - as long as you don't splurge on extravagant items like
hand-painted Italian tile or built-in espresso machines. Instead, focus
on the basics: replacing the handles on your cabinets and drawers,
freshening up the paint, installing new flooring, adding a backsplash,
and painting or re-facing your existing cabinets. You can also make a
dramatic impact by installing new countertops and even replacing your
appliances. All of these projects will go a long way to making a new
buyer feel at home.
5. Add a Second Bathroom
Perhaps no improvement makes a bigger impact on your
family's comfort and your house's appeal than adding a second bathroom.
The number of bathrooms is always a big sticking point for potential
buyers, especially families with two or three children.
Although adding a bathroom costs more than simply fixing
up your old one, it also increases the value of your house more. Plus,
having that second bathroom may help you sell your house faster than if
it only has one, which is an important point to consider in today's
market. So, if you have a house with roughed-in plumbing just waiting
for you to take the initiative, you may want to consider adding that
second bathroom you've always wanted.
However, if your house doesn't have roughed-in plumbing
or floor plans that called for a future bathroom, you'll definitely
want to consult a professional Realtor® to discuss how much a
second bathroom will add to your home's value. After all, if you have
to start moving walls and re-plumbing your house just to add a
bathroom, you may find that your time and money are better spent on a
handful of smaller projects that will ultimately add more impact.
Plan Ahead and Avoid Headaches
Overall, the best advice about adding value to your home
is to start small, work your way up, and always plan ahead. You don't
want to get halfway into a renovation only to find that you have to
update your entire electrical system or that your time and effort was
wasted on a renovation that doesn't add as much value as you thought.
With a little planning and prioritizing, you can make your house more
comfortable and valuable with very little time and money. Happy
renovating!
Copyright ©
2008 By
Rachel Zeppinick, All Rights Reserve Woodland Hills California Real
Estate -Sellers Add Value To Your Home
.*
Contact Rachel
Zeppinick for Customized Listing package, showing
of available homes at short sales and foreclosures, the best your money
can buy.
Visit my profile to find
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services. Call us today at 818.288.7255. Contact us by email if you
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profile.
P.S. If you are listing your home as a
short
sale in Woodland Hills California make
sure you hire an agent who knows how to do short sales and has the
experience to get the job done. We are doing successful short sale
packages. Call us at 818-288-7255 to find out more.
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