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

By Shar Sitter

Home Stager with Rooms With Style

July 11, 2013 11:13 PM

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

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis, MN

We made it! After looking at #20 - #6, we are now at the

Top 5 Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home.

# 5 Add a Second Story Addition – Obviously this is an improvement only when you are sticking around for a while and you love your house, your lot, your neighbors but need more space. This addition usually costs 50% of the cost of the first floor so it is not a cheap improvement.

My neighbors just did this and had to move out of their home for almost a year. Be careful that you don't over build for your neighborhood....remember my "Be Careful With Those Home Improvements" post?

# 4 Don’t over Customize Rooms – Especially if you are selling soon or if the customization means knocking down walls and creating a room so specific for your hobby that only one in a million other people can use it.

Taste Specific

# 3 Minor Kitchen Remodel – These are the easier things that don’t entail knocking down or pushing back walls. New appliances, change the handles on the cabinets, paint the cabinets, add a back splash. These smaller changes and updates in a kitchen can bring so much value!

Painted Cabinets

# 2 Minor Bathroom Remodel – Here you are keeping the basic footprint of the room but you may need to replace the sink, stool or flooring. Perhaps new lighting instead of the 'hollywood bar' light....a nice framed mirror instead of the builders basic mirror. And get rid of the wallpaper!

Now....drum roll please......

The #1 Best Way to Improve the Value of Your Home is....

#1 Replace Old Siding – This sets the tone for the house. Yes, you can judge a book by its cover in this case. And as they say, First Impressions, First Impressions, First Impressions.

If you missed any of the first 15 ways to increase the value of your home or lists of things NOT to do with your home improvements, check out my previous posts.

Part 3 - Top Home Improvements to Increase the Value of Your Home (#6 - #10)

Part 2 - Top 20 Home Improvements to Increase the Value of Your Home (#11 - #15)

PART 1 - TOP 20 HOME IMPROVEMENTS TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME (#16 - #20)

BE CAREFUL WITH THOSE HOME IMPROVEMENTS!

HOME IMPROVEMENT MYTHS

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Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573

MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME

Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

The list of what to or not do varies by area. Like every real estate market, different preferences, price ranges, feature top ten lists. Climate, population, crime, all the list changes due to many factors.

Jul 12, 2013 11:20 PM

Wayne Zuhl

Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ

The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

Great information. I love your tip about niche hobbies - we are amateur telescope makers, and many of our friends have custom shops built in their basements to accommodate this hobby.

Jul 12, 2013 11:46 PM

Suzanne Otto

Six Twenty Designs - Lansdale, PA

Your Montgomery County PA home stager

Thanks for this info! I missed parts 1-3 somehow :( I'll be checking those out soon!

Jul 13, 2013 02:36 AM

Travis "the SOLD man" Parker; Broker/Owner

Travis Realty - Enterprise, AL

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

EXCELLENT list (peeked at the other lists). Thank you VERY much - I learned a lot from the list. Never thought that #1 would be#1.

Jul 13, 2013 02:40 AM

Bob Miller

Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL

The Ocala Dream Team

Great list and before and after photos. Will go back and see the other posts!

Jul 13, 2013 03:04 AM

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Thank you Sharon. Painting those cabinets both up and down to cover the dated wood was a huge upgrade for not alot of money.

Kitchens sell home for sure Gita and you usually don't have to break the bank.

Thanks so much Sylvia!

I appreciate that Brad, thanks for stopping by.

Very true Andrew but many do stay the same. Kitchens, baths, no over building, etc.

Wow Jean and Wayne, do they know they need to change it back when they sell?

I appreciate that Suzanne.

Goes to show that first impression is very important Travis!

Jul 13, 2013 03:04 AM

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Thank you Bob, I appreciate that.

Jul 13, 2013 03:04 AM

Kimo Jarrett

Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA

Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Great list yet many homeowners begin small DIY improvements before making a big renovation move without a comprehensive evaluation of their neighborhood or surrounding area. Unfortunately, I've seen some beautiful remodels or home improvements in some undesirable neighborhoods, so sometimes it's better to move up rather than remodel, so my advice is to always consult with a Realtor to access your remodel or major home improvement before you begin.

Jul 13, 2013 03:10 AM

Ric Mills

Keller Williams Southern Az - Tucson, AZ

Integrity, Honesty, and Vast Real Estate Knowledge

Great Post and spot on.

Jul 13, 2013 04:22 AM

Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities

Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Shar - I'm a big fan of minor remodeling of kitchens and bathrooms--who doesn't like new appliances and a freshened up bathroom? These are the rooms that can make or break a deal--they deserve some extra attention.

Jul 13, 2013 04:45 AM

Evelyn Kennedy

Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA

Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Shar:

I am so happy I caught the last in your series. I am going to check the previous post out now. My clients are always asking me what they should do to improve their homes. Now I have some suggestion to offer them. Thanks.

Jul 13, 2013 12:29 PM

Nina Hollander, Broker

Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC

Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Great suggestions. I follow the annual report Remodeling Cost vs Value report quite closely each year. It's a great tool for clients to not over-invest in their homes.

Jul 13, 2013 09:07 PM

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Exactly Kimo. Best they get some professional advice before starting.

Thanks much Ric.

Couldn't agree more Norma. Kitchens and baths, kitchens and baths....

So glad I could help Evelyn and I am glad you found the post too! Ha.

That is perfect Nina, I am sure your clients are grateful for your knowledge.

Jul 14, 2013 02:19 AM

Ron Aguilar

Gateway Mortgage Group - Saint George, UT

Mortgage & Real Estate Advisor since 1995

I dont know if you mentioned it but the front door and the entire are must be in excellent condition

Jul 14, 2013 09:55 AM

Cara Marcelle Mancuso

Golden Girls with SW Desert Homes - Tucson, AZ

Call a Marana neighbor, I'm THERE!

I love that kitchen floor... great ideas and advice. Another terrific post!

Jul 14, 2013 01:12 PM

Gene Riemenschneider

Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA

Turning Houses into Homes

Shar the photos on ActiveRain seem to not be displaying. I hope to catch the post once the pics are up.

Jul 15, 2013 07:55 AM

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Absolutely Ron. Home repairs at the front door with a fresh coat of paint are a must.

Thank you Cara.

Hmmm....they are showing for me Gene and everyone so far could see them. Can you check again?

Jul 15, 2013 09:18 AM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

Staging Professional

Great tips Shar! Updating an area in small ways can make a big difference. I just told a client to replace a chipped sink in a bathroom.

Jul 16, 2013 09:18 AM

Ellen Caruso

Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Shar, Remenber me? Just stopping by to wish all my friends hello, I miss you all so much.

Joe bought a house that was so damaged with cat urine and possibly drug users it was a mess. He totally had a vision and put it to use transforming the house. Just put it back on the market and for those who saw the before, they were shocked with the after. I know you have that same gift and seeing the transformations you do are always inspiring to me.

Hope we can talk soon, and hope all is well with your mom.

Aug 11, 2013 11:10 AM

Juli Vosmik

Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Excellent ideas, Shar. I like that's you've included higher cost projects along with some of less cost.

Sep 03, 2013 12:48 AM