Are you looking for an effective way to add value to your home? We live in our homes on a daily basis so often we stop noticing the little things around the house. You might ask a friend to walk through your home and make some suggestions as to what would perk up your existing home. Today I will do that walk through with you on a virtual tour. Here are a few suggestions that may breathe life into a tired home.
Add a deck or redo/expand your existing deck. Adding a deck adds a virtual new room to your home at a fraction of the cost of an actual room addition. An outdoor living area and/or kitchen is a desirable feature in the modern home. The rule of thumb for adding a deck is: the total square footage of the deck should be less than one third the size of the home's interior square footage.
A splash of color may work wonders for your home. Paint is the least expensive update that can make the biggest impact. It won't add square footage, but it will improve your chances of selling your home. Often people buy a house and move in thinking that they will paint someday and simply never get around to it. Tired paint is a rampant problem in resale homes. Perhaps your home office is still baby blue from the previous occupant's nursery. Get yourself down to the local paint store and bring a swatch of your favorite color for them to match. This is also a great opportunity to remove the popcorn from the ceiling. You will be glad you did. Fresh paint shows instantly that you are maintaining your home.
As people are going "green" many are opting for new windows. This is another way to spruce up your home and add value and save money. While the upfront costs are more, the long term savings is real. The new double pane windows can seriously save you some green of another kind.
Updating your bathroom may be less costly than redoing your kitchen and it adds perceived value. For example if the faucet is new there is less chance of it leaking. Replacing dated fixtures or unsightly bath tile adds value and shows that you are maintaining the home responsibly.
If you have the time and money updating your kitchen will make a big statement. Replace the Formica or tile counters with a solid surface material like granite, or soapstone, recycled glass and concrete or Corian. A new sink and fresh coat of paint on scratched up cabinets can really liven up a kitchen. Updating dusty old light fixtures can help liven up a kitchen. Remove the 1970's-1980's box dropped lights with a lighter more modern halogen lights. New appliances will help create the impact your looking for. Some retailers even offer coupons online. So check online before you make a big purchase at the hardware store. If you seriously update your kitchen you may be able to increase the value of your home by 5-15%.
Home improvement is not just something to fill your weekends. It can add value to your home and increase your enjoyment while you live there. If your selling your home it can be the things that makes a buyer choose your home over another home. So make a plan, decide your budget and get busy improving your piece of the American dream!
If you are in the market for a new home and are not presently working with a Realtor, call me. I would be happy to help you through the process of buying a home. I specialize in Relocation and I have a network of experts to make the process easy to navigate. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.
Betina Foreman, Realtor
Keller Williams Real Estate 1801 S. Mopac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78746
512-771-6318 Realtor_Austin@yahoo.com www.BetinaForeman.com
Member: Austin Board of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, ActiveRain, Trulia-Top Voices, and Zillow-Neighborhood Pros.
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