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INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR HOME WITH THESE 10 STEPS
By homejack | March 17, 2008
Want to increase the value of your home? Want to make improvements without blowing your budget big time? Total remodels, even for one room, can run into the many thousands. The cost may be justifiable if you’re staying put at least 3 or more years, 5 or more preferably.
Just remember, most remodeling costs give you a maximum return of 80% to 90% of the money invested. Many returns are much less. So, if you want to sell your home quickly, or if you want to flip a house (buy, remodel, and sell for profit) you want the biggest return for the dollar spent.
To do this, you must make the correct improvements with the least amount of expense.
How do you do this? Consider the following 10 steps:
1. Create the “WOW”! The first objective is to get the lookers in the house. To do this, you must create a view from the road that will suggest, “WOW! Let’s stop and take a look at this one.” Not, “Yikes! Keep driving, don’t stop here.”
First, remove all yard junk and waste. This would include furniture and equipment not in good repair. Keep the lawn mowed and trimmed, including sidewalk edges and along the house. Seed or sod bare areas.
Hedges should be trimmed. Mulch and remove weeds from flower beds. If needed, install some landscaping and flowers considering your neighborhood and climate.
2. DE-CLUTTER! If you are selling your home, the objective is to create an interior space where the lookers can imagine their furniture and their living style. You must show an organized, clean, uncramped and tidy space for this to happen.
Remove, throw away or store all extra large and unneeded furniture, furniture or items not in good repair, personal items including family pictures and trophies. And don’t forget the kids’ toys.
3. WASHY, WASHY, WASHY! Pressure wash the exterior of the house and the driveway. Clean the deck. Use a combination of water, clorox and detergent to remove mold and mildew. Yes, you clean windows too - inside and out. Replace any cracked windowpanes. Wash interior walls and woodwork.
4. PAINT! Sometimes, after washing, an area may need painting. Or, a color may need changing. If you are selling, neutral colors are more inviting and less intimidating.
Be sure to patch any holes, however small, before painting. Don’t forget to sand the patch smooth. If you are covering a dark color, a primer will be needed. Latex paint usually will be the choice.
If the wall has ridges, imperfections or marks, flat paint will be best. If the area is smooth, satin or semi-gloss is okay. You might want semi-gloss or gloss on woodwork and trim. If you are painting over gloss or oil paint, remember you must sand or use a chemical de-glosser. This is a good do-it-yourself project for most people.
5. MAKE IT LOOK PRETTY! With time, the sun and dust plays havoc with curtains and blinds. They are not very expensive, so replace them. There are many styles and inexpensive ways to create cheerful and inviting impressions.
6. CARPET AND FLOOR TIME! Start with the baseboards. You can use a spray cleaner or make a cleaning solution with detergent and water. Clean with a soft brush and rag, or just a rag if not very dirty. Wipe with dry rag after cleaning as you go along.
Clean the floors and carpets. You can rent carpet cleaners for do-it-yourself jobs. A dry cleaning system is available which does not use water or steam. This method dries instantly and kills most mold and bacteria. Of course, professional cleaning is available.
If the carpet does not look good after cleaning or still presents odors from pets or mold, replace it.
7. LIGHT UP! Increase the wattage of bulbs in lamps and light fixtures to present more light. Be careful, however, not to go beyond the recommended wattage for each fixture.
Consider using the new bulbs that use less wattage but give off more light. Also consider replacing the switches and outlets. Use dimmers in dining and certain other locations.
8. KITCHEN! This is one of the main areas that will make or break a sale. Dirty, worn, scratched cabinets with outdated hardware will be a definite turn-off. Refinishing or painting the cabinets, replacing the handles, knobs and hinges will revamp a shabby looking area.
If needed, replace the countertop, sink and faucet. This will update the kitchen enough many times so the appliances won’t have to be replaced unless they are in very bad shape. Check the kitchen flooring. Of course, you have already cleaned or painted the walls.
9. BATH! The next biggest area of concern is the bath. Good lighting with neutral or light pastel colors are good. This is where latex semi-gloss paint works well. You can accent with towels, flowers and accessories.
Make sure faucets are in good shape and do not drip. The handles can be changed along with towel rods to improve the look. Cabinets can be treated the same as for the kitchen.
The commode should be steady with a good flush and no drip. The commode seat should be in good repair. Don’t forget the curtains - both shower and window.
10. CHECK-UP TIME! Imagine you are a prospect looking at your property. Begin as any other prospect would. From the street. Get a general look and then begin a close inspection of the house and yard from the outside.
Walk around the perimeter of the property and then over all the yard and around the house. Critique everything you see. What effect would this have on me if I were interested in purchasing this property.
Make notes of those things that turn you off as well as the pleasing sights. Take the same tour inside the house. Remove, repair, and replace the turnoffs. Remember the good things as selling points when discussing the property with a prospect or an agent.
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