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Is it Greener on the Other Side of the Fence - Or is it Greener Where You Water?

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Real Estate Agent

 

 

My neighbor, Rhubarb the cat, often sits on the fence between his yard and mine.  He reminds me of an African big cat overlooking his beloved Serengeti.  Rhubarb often seems to be wondering if the grass is greener here - Yet, he never ventures on into our landscape to really see. 

Many homeowners are like that. They ponder if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, or perhaps it would be better living somewhere else.  They wonder if it could be greener where they water, with a home improvement or two.

The answer will depend on a few things.  (1) Is your present home in a neighborhood or community you are content living in, or would you rather be somewhere different?  (2) Will the cost of any home improvement projects be significantly more costly than added value to the home?


Each year, www.realtor.org puts out a valuable resource that helps homeowners to determine approximate cost of 35 home improvement projects, which may assist in making decisions about whether the grass will be greener elsewhere, or whether you just need to water the lawn where you are.

The report can be accessed via:  "Cost vs. Value 2011 Report"

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William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Hi Myrl, 

He certainly does look he is keeping an eye on you and yes, for him, the grass is definitely greener on your side and a great tie-in to REALTOR® report. :-)

Apr 17, 2011 03:35 PM
Pam Dent
Gayle Harvey Real Estate, Inc. - Charlottesville, VA
REALTOR® - Charlottesville Virginia Homes / Horse

Myrl - The cost vs value is an excellent resource for consumers.  It is often hard for them to realize that they are not going to recoup dollar for dollar what is spent on renovations,

Apr 17, 2011 03:37 PM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Sometimes Myrl it is the sheer energy and will to move with all that change that is involved. Grass may be always greener somewhere else but sometimes it is really just a roll of the dice.

Apr 17, 2011 03:38 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

William - Today, my dog and my cat were sharing a spot on the lawn.  They both seemed to be luxuriating in the glow of the warm sun.  Rhubarb seemed envious. . .Yet, he didn't venture completely over that fence.  I think he needs that Cost vs. Value report, don't you:-)

Pam - I think the report is a valuable resource to helping make important decisions about whether to sell or bloom where you're planted:-)

Gary - It often is a roll of the dice.  I know one particular home improvement project a neighbor performed.  It went almost double over projected cost. 

Apr 17, 2011 03:43 PM
Rose King
David Tracy Real Estate - Friendswood, TX
Friendswood / Pearland / Houston Bay Area

Love, love, love the picture of Rhubarb! And I love the way you tied Rhubarb's story into the homeowner's dilemma of whether or not to move. Great post!

Apr 17, 2011 03:44 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Rose - Rhubarb is a sweetie.  He will let me talk to him, but becomes a little skittish if I try to approach him too closely.  I think he likes my yard better, but will stay where he is because he loves his owner more.

Apr 17, 2011 04:05 PM
Janna Scharf
Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene - Coeur d'Alene, ID
Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert

Cute kitty, and I love the name!  Reminds me that it will soon be rhubarb time!  I was encouraged by the great rate of return on some of those projects....

Apr 17, 2011 04:09 PM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Adorable photo and wonderful links ..:0)

HelpfulHannah

Apr 17, 2011 04:20 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Myrl I like your lead into the Realtor.com article. I find it rather useful and share it with clients.

Apr 17, 2011 04:28 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Janna - In one of the recent Realtor magazines, they broke those cost vs. value into geographical areas around the country.  It can vary.

Hannah - I'm glad you liked them.

Jennifer - I find the Realtor.org Cost vs. Value reports to be a very useful resource.

Apr 17, 2011 04:44 PM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Rhubarb almost looks like he's saying "Go ahead! Make my day! Just TRY to cross the fence!" LOL

Apr 17, 2011 04:54 PM
Gary Coles (International Referrals)
Venture Realty International - Las Vegas, NV
Latin America Real Estate

Myrl, Cats love to be up somewhere relatively high where they can survey everything.  It looks like Rhubarb has found a perfect spot

Apr 17, 2011 05:11 PM
Juli Vosmik
Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Rhubarb looks so curious, but I bet he's wondering if his next leap of faith is what he reall wants - just like homebuyers. 

Apr 17, 2011 05:14 PM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

That's a cute picture, Myrl, and I love his name.Shayna Weidman - New Port Richey-FL www.tweidman.com

Shayna says he's really cute!

Apr 18, 2011 12:48 AM
The Scott Loper Team Bux-Mont Premier Properties
Keller Williams Real Estate - Montgomeryville - Lansdale, PA

Hi Myrl,

Love the cat picture!  What a cute way to introduce the Cost vs. Value report.  Too many people think the grass is greener elsewhere (unitl they get there).

Lisa

Apr 18, 2011 12:51 AM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Myrl - great post and a great introduction to Cost vs Value! I did just that once, moved and later regretted leaving that home. We got a fantastic price but that was also the perfect home!

Apr 18, 2011 01:46 AM
Elizabeth Byrne
Keller Williams Realty - Arlington, VA
Arlington Virginia Real Estate

Myrl, I absolutely love your photo. You are right, your cat looks like a lion overlooking the Serengeti. What a great post - full of valuable advice and links for clients. Have a wonderful day!

Apr 18, 2011 02:29 AM
Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

Myrl - It's so beautiful, it looks like the backdrop was professionally staged and taken by a professional photographer- such a great shot - love it! And I think you make a great point about weather the grass is greener... - something we all have think at times, but not necessarily true!

Apr 18, 2011 06:20 AM
Steve Hoffacker
Steve Hoffacker LLC - West Palm Beach, FL
Certified Aging In Place Specialist-Instructor

Myrl,

Great question and perfectly illustrated with Rhubard. Very good post. :)

Steve

Apr 18, 2011 06:11 PM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Myrl, Good points to consider.  Your neighbors will love that photo of their beautiful cat, too :-)

Apr 19, 2011 02:51 PM
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