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Property Improvements

Real Estate Agent with Legacy Real Estate & Associates

August 16, 2007 05:19 AM

Is an improvement in a personal residence is worth the investment. Will I get my money back from the improvements?

My answer is as follows: If your not planning on selling anytime soon and you desire to have the improvement, it is for your own benefit, you have the money to complete the job, do it! This may be a very good time to invest in your own home. However, if the improvement would involve overbuilding in your neighborhood, you may need to consider the risk of overbuilding in a neighborhood vs the benefits.

One common question I get asked is: Should I remove the popcorn ceilings when I paint my house? I would say that would be a very good improvement. If your looking at the improvement for future sale, yes do it! Those types of ceilings date a home and is one of the first things Buyers comment on when they are viewing homes.

Reminder: Don't forget to have regular inspections and maintain your property to retain the value. Do regular inspections of key areas on your property and make the necessary repairs and maintetance before small problems become big ones. Having regular inspections and preventive work done now, you can avoid serious damage later.

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Scott, Barbara & Kim Bullard

Keller Williams Realty - Marysville, WA

As an agent, I am familiar with the need to have regular inspections and maintenance done on my home to keep those expensive problems at bay. About every 3 years we have the furnace cleaned (and A/C if you have it), and have the septic tank pumped.

We also recommend that you have a look in your attic space and crawl space to check for leaks, rodents and other potential problems. If you do not have the ability, or in my case the desire, you can hire a home inspector to check these 2 areas. The last time I had my inspector out, he charged me only $75 to go thru the attic and crawl space. He did find a small water leak comming from the master bath tub drain, and some insulation down caused by field mice (we live in the country). With a couple containers of decon and a tube of caulk, our problems were corrected. This cheap repair saved us hundreds of dollars in potential damage.

Aug 16, 2007 05:33 AM

Nathan Blair

Salt Lake City, UT

I completely agree with you on the popcorn ceiling issue. There are just some things that have to go if you are trying to sell. Some of my sellers believe that someone will come along who doesn't mind those things, but the majority of buyers will be turned off.

Aug 16, 2007 06:08 AM

Cindy Lin

Staged4more School of Home Staging - South San Francisco, CA

Host, The Home Staging Show podcast

Scott had an excellent point! It's good to take preventive measures. I also think that most improvements, at the bottom line, even if doesn't yield financial gain, it will make life much more pleasurable. :)

Cheers,

Cindy

Aug 25, 2007 03:00 PM

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Elaine Endsley

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