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Top 20 Home Improvements to Increase the Value of Your Home - Part 1 of 4

By Shar Sitter

Home Stager with Rooms With Style

June 02, 2013 10:17 PM

Top 20 Home Improvements to Increase the Value of Your Home - Home Staging and Redesign MN

As my last two blog posts mentioned, there are many Home Improvement that can actually be bad and decrease the value of your home. So now lets take a look at those that DO increase the value.

Here are 20 Top Home Improvements to consider. These are not necessarily improvements to make JUST to sell your home. You need to look at many factors such as how long you will be in your house, your neighborhood, etc. "Be Careful With Those Home Improvements" gives you a few to consider.

Drum roll please....in reverse order.....

#20 Home Office Remodel – A large percentage of the population works at home full time or at least spends off hours doing work at home to catch up. Home Office Space is valuable square footage.

If at all possible it shouldn’t be part of another room and it definitely shouldn’t feel like a dungeon to be in it.

#19 Add a Sun Room – Everyone loves a sun room. A place to read, have quiet time, enjoy a cup of coffee, and unwind with family and friends. It is the most important room in my home and one that everyone gravitates to when they come to visit.

Porch SunRoom

#18 Create or Renovate a Master Suite – Next to the kitchen, the master bedroom with adjoining bath is the most important area of the house. Adults want a place to escape at the end of the day.

Master Bedroom

Think the best five star boutique hotel you have every been in. Aaaahhh. Tranquil, calming and peaceful. This area of the house is always a draw for buyers.

#17 Renovate or Add a Family Room – It is where all families spend the majority of their time. Make it warm, inviting and cozy. If your family room still has dark paneling from the 1950s it is time for a renovation. Paint can make a huge change!

16 New Roof – Maintenance on a home is key and the roof is the best place to start. It is going to be looked at, inspected and can cause many problems if it is in disrepair.

Home Improvements can increase the value of your home no doubt. But always be careful!! Check out my last two post:

BE CAREFUL WITH THOSE HOME IMPROVEMENTS!

HOME IMPROVEMENT MYTHS

Stayed Tuned for Part 2 to see #15 - #11 of The Top Home Improvements to Increase the Value of Your Home!

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Wendy Tomm

Beyond the Walls - East St Paul, MB

CCSP, RESA-PRO, BBB - Wpg Realtors

Look forward Shar to reading more. Thanks for a great post.

Jun 03, 2013 11:05 AM

Cindy Bryant

Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX

"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Excellent idea for a series. I've seen some pretty sad and tired Master bedrooms lately, such an important room that gets left out.

Jun 03, 2013 12:20 PM

agentcampus.com

agentcampus.com, powered by 360training.com Inc. - Industry, TX

A leader in real estate education online

There are parts of your home that does not necessarily need an improvement or totla revamp - but just continuous check and maintenance so that the house remain strong and safe to live at.

When it comes to old homes, there are several areas, that can be revamped, which also helps in improving the value of the property. Some of it are the following:

1. Drafty Windows

2. Holes in the walls

3. Creaky Old Floors

4. Rickety Handrails and Banisters

You can check out more about these revamps here.

Jun 03, 2013 11:57 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I love this format! Well done Shar...I'm sure sellers will find this information very helpful!

Jun 04, 2013 06:06 AM

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Thanks Julie. 15 more improvement coming!

Thanks Lisa. I am trying to make home owners aware of good and bad improvements before it is too late!

You are welcome Wendy!

I know Cindy. It is like owners don't do it because no one sees it but it is such an important room when selling.

Maintenance is key for sure Mark. Thanks for your comments.

Thanks Sharon. I hope it educates them.

Jun 04, 2013 10:02 AM

Kristine Ginsberg

Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ

NJ Home Stager

Great advice on when to renovate and when to not (your last blog)! I've had clients where I've told them instead of renovating a room, paint a neutral color inside for the best investment. In most cases unless they are doing a mini reno, sellers won't see that money back.

Jun 05, 2013 04:43 AM

Gene Riemenschneider

Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA

Turning Houses into Homes

Great post. I understand that new homes are getting larger again. People want these things in their homes.

Jun 05, 2013 05:43 AM

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

So right Kristine. People have to be so careful with improvements if they are selling in a short period of time. That's why I started out my 'series' with what not to do. Ha.

They do want these things Gene. Even in a smaller home they want to know where they can put their office, the love porches, and they want their Master bedroom to be a retreat.

Jun 05, 2013 01:32 PM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

Staging Professional

This is a great series Shar! Using your dollars wisely makes all the difference.

Jun 06, 2013 12:20 AM

John McCormack, CRS

Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM

Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Good morning Shar -

I had hoped to re-post your very informatiove post, "Top Home Improvements to Increase the Value of Your Home." But it's not available. Maybe next time. I hope you have a productive week and find some time to rest as well. Sounds like you're really busy these days.

Jun 10, 2013 03:10 AM

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Absolutely Janice!

Why isn't it available John?? Weird. But thank you!

Jun 10, 2013 03:37 AM

Peg Barcelo

Fluff My House! Home Staging Inc. 250.486.6369 - Summerland, BC

The FlufftasticStager from Summerland, BC

Great post Shar! I had to laugh because I'm working on 3 of the 5 on my own place right now, but of course it's for me to live in, not for resale... (at least not yet!) :)

Jun 16, 2013 11:31 AM

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

But it will be ready Peg...that is the main thing. Do it now, enjoy it and you will reap rewards upon sale!

I love my porch Valerie. It is my favorite room in the house and one that I am always in.

Jun 19, 2013 12:36 PM

Anna Dovger

Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX

Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Shar, when I think about white furniture your sun room always comes to my mind. Love it

Jun 28, 2013 12:54 PM

Donna Foerster

HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

OK, my master bedroom doesn't look anything like that tranquil space. I think I have some work to do!

Jun 30, 2013 11:56 PM

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Ha....thank you Anna. I love my porch!

Donna....work on that Master Bedroom! It is your space to enjoy so get going. LOL

Jul 01, 2013 10:35 AM

Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®

Lewisburg, WV

Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Shar, I am hoping to have my master bedroom painted a dark gray with the ceiling tray light or vice versa...any suggestions here?

Jul 12, 2013 11:10 AM

Travis "the SOLD man" Parker; Broker/Owner

Travis Realty - Enterprise, AL

email: Travis@theSOLDman.me / cell: 334-494-7846

GREAT list and explanations! I'm going thru your other posts to get all of the items!

Jul 13, 2013 02:59 AM

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Rebecca, paint your ceiling about 1/3 your wall color (or up to 50% if your wall is lighter). It will make the room cozy and warm.

I think you made it Travis! Thank you.

Jul 13, 2013 03:10 AM

Evelyn Kennedy

Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA

Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Shar:

I think that the best investment an owner can make is to create a master suite by adding a bathroom. Buyers want a master suite.

Jul 13, 2013 12:40 PM

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Top 20 Home Improvements to Increase the Value of Your Home - Part 1 of 4

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