My wife subscribes to "Real Simple" magazine. Yes, my name is the one on the cover on the mailing address label, but I swear, it's her subscription. Seriously. I swear.
Okay, now that I got that out of the way...
The September 2008 issue of "Real Simple" has a great feature on 10 around-the-house improvements that are well worth the investment. My wife was reading this issue and said, "There's a story in here on 10 things you can do to your house to increase it's value. You should do a blog on this."
Okay. I should. I will.
I'll just list the 10 upgrades they mentioned, and then I'll give my two cents.
1) Painting
My two cents: Painting is one of the best things you can do for your house and it's appeal. As long as it's neutral. It is inexpensive compared to the impact that it can have on the "look" of the house. And remember, color outside is just as important as inside. The "Real Simple" feature mentions that statistically, pale yellow houses sell faster than other colored houses.
2) Adding Siding
My two cents: Again, just like paint, you want to go with a neutral color on the exterior of your home. Pink or purple or cobalt blue houses are the sore thumbs of the neighborhood. Siding looks good, and it holds up well. But if you don't put siding on your house, I don't see it as a big deal. You really just need to make sure the exterior of your home is in great condition, whether it's siding, wood, brick, stone, stucco, or whatever. Keep it in good condition by power washing it each year and inspecting it for problems, cracks, or chips.
3) Building a deck
My two cents: Some people like decks. And others love them. But surprisingly to me, I've met some people who don't like them at all. These people like just a nice-looking patio. I think the whole point is to provide an option for some outdoor living space.
4) Updating the kitchen
My two cents: Duh.
5) Replacing the windows
My two cents: Newer windows are a great investment for a couple reasons. First, they help save one your heating and cooling bills. And second, they look good and make a potential home buyer feel more comfortable knowing that they won't have to install new windows soon after they purchase the property.
6) Modifying a bathroom
My two cents: You can possibly do this inexpensively. People love: his and her sinks, nice counters, impressive fixtures, a good shower head, tile floors, and a good-looking shower curtain. Voila!
7) Landscaping
My two cents: This is one of the most overlooked items by home owners and sellers. You only get one chance to make a first impression. And the first impression comes from the exterior of the home and the landscaping. Make it look good and people will enter your home with a greater sense of optimism. Water your yard. Mulch. Plant flowers. Get rid of weeds.
8) Installing Air Ccondition
My two cents: Duh. This is a "must" nowadays. But use a programmable thermostat in combination.
9) Fixing up the basement
My two cents: If you have an old home with a creepy old basement that was never meant to be anything other than a small storage area, don't worry about finishing it. Just try to keep it clean. But if you have a big, wide open basement that can be finished, you will want to at least consider this as an option. Finishing a basement adds another story to your home! It can add another bedroom, it can add another family room, it can be anything you want it to be. And today, finished basements are often termed "man caves". Make sure you leave enough storage space though. People will never run out of a need for storage.
10) Putting in a swimming pool
My two cents: As a kid, growing up, I dreamed of having a house with a swimming pool. I thought how I would be the most popular kid in the neighborhood and everyone would be at my house playing all day long. Now, I know the truth. If you live in a place like Ohio where you have 6+ months of colder weather, a pool is probably not a good idea. It just costs too much to maintain, and you only get to use it for a few months at most. But if you live somewhere where it's warm all the time, get a pool. Be popular!
Dan Hamilton
Keller Williams Greater Columbus Realty
www.HamiltonHomesGroup.com
1 comment:
A number of potential buyers usually create a ‘bidding war’ situation and therefore your home will sell for top dollar – putting more profit in your pocket and making your investment to update your home exterior pay off. You can get still more information about home buyers which I browsed on internet can fetch you help.
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