Make Cosmetic Improvements

First Impressions count!  A small investment in time and money will give your home an edge over other listings in the area when the time comes to show it to a prospective buyer.

Some Cosmetic Improvement Tips

Make the Most of that First Impression.  A well manicured  lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs, and a clutter-free porch will welcome prospects.  So does a freshly painted or at least freshly scrubbed front door.  If it is autumn time, rake the leaves.  In winter, shovel the walkways.  The fewer the obstacles between your prospects and your home the better.

Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends.  Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate.  Clean up the living room, the bathroom, and the kitchen.  If the woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration.  Some fresh paint or wallpaper ads charm and value to your property.  If you’re worried about time, hire professional cleaners, painters, or contractors to get your house ready.  Remember, prospects would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look with a little work.

Check Faucets and Bulbs.  Dripping water rattles the nerves,            discolors sinks, and suggests faulty or worn out plumbing.  Burned out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark.  Don’t let little problems detract from the good things in your home. 

Don’t Shut Out a Sale.  If cabinet or closet doors in your home stick, you can be sure they will also stick in the prospective buyer’s mind.  Don’t try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily plane them away.  A little effort on your part can smooth the way toward a more timely closing. 

               Most Profitable Home Improvements

Home Improvement - ROI When you want to sell, remodeling can make your home more valuable while meeting your current lifestyle needs. Although the investment you make on improvements seldom yields a dollar-for-dollar return when selling your home, some remodeling projects have a greater return on investment than others. Strategies To Bank On As you consider home remodeling options, consider these guidelines to improve your chances of a good return on your investment: Maintain the value of your property within 15% to 20% of others in your neighborhood. Buyers who can afford pricier homes will shop in more expensive neighborhoods. If you have the “worst house” in a great neighborhood, you may be able to recoup an even larger percentage on your investment. But if you own the “best house” in the neighborhood, you may not come close to recouping your costs. Style your remodeling for the masses. Buyers generally prefer neutral, mainstream design. Give buyers quality construction. Use materials that look good and wear well. If you plan to do the work yourself, honestly evaluate your ability to do it right. Keep your remodeling compatible with the existing house. Additions and improvements that look “tacked on” may detract from a home’s appeal. The following table (with data from the November 1999 issue of Realtor Magazine) provides annual figures detailing the cost and value of common home renovation work. Although these numbers provide good guidelines for what certain jobs cost and how much value they have to potential home buyers, it’s important to keep in mind that your preferences and needs may differ greatly. Current market conditions will also influence the actual resale value of your remodeling project(s).   These averages apply to the Seattle, WA area: Cost and Value of Common Home Improvement Projects   Job    Cost    Resale  Value   Cost    Recouped Major kitchen remodel $30,401 $37,432 123% Minor kitchen remodel 8,568 8,355 98% Bathroom addition 13,779 16,820 122% Bathroom remodel 9,044 10,082 111% Family room addition 30,650 32,134 105% Master suite 42,398 41,788 99% Attic bedroom 28,367 29,745 105% Two-story addition 72,817 52,667 72% Window replacement 7,456 7,139 96% Deck addition 7,942 6,595 83% Home office 8,272 5,597 68%

 

 

 

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