Archive for the ‘Home Improvements’ Category

Pre-Sale Renovation: Home Sellers Do’s and Don’ts

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

In today’s market, expensive, pre-sale renovations, for the most part, aren’t worth it. In general, a home remodel will cost quite a bit more than you’ll get back when you sell.

Two of the areas that potential buyers are often more pressured to remodel before selling are the kitchen and the bathroom. Here are some tips for the kitchen:

Kitchen

  • Don’t put in expensive profession-grade cook’s appliances
  • Do, however, service the appliances you have so that they work perfectly. And if you have seriously outdated appliances that can be replaced for $1,000 or less, that’s a good idea. 
  • Don’t replace your cabinetry entirely even if it’s a little outdated. It’s too subjective.
  • Do invest in cabinet refacing if your cabinets are extremely outdated. Many refacing companies will give your cabinets a fresh facade for well under $2000.
  • Don’t go granite crazy Or marble. Spending thousands of dollars on a new countertp and backsplash is dangerous, as there are so many different options these days.
  • Do hire a professional cleaning company to come in and make what you have sparkle.

Here are other tips for redoing your kitchen frugally:

  • Declutter your counters. A disorganized kitchen is a buyer-deterrent. Clean up the counters and pare down countertop items to the essentials — toaster, microwave, coffee pot, and not much more than that.
  • Keep your pantry and cabinetry clutter-free too.

Hopefully these tips will help your home show better to potential buyers.

Sellers: Paint Your House for a Big Change

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

If you are a seller in Cardiff, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, or San Marcos, and you want to improve your house in a big way, think about painting it. The Valspar Corporation, a leader in the paint and coatings industry, just released the results of a study saying that buyers are looking for “big changes” from a painting project.

The VP of Valspar said, “Sellers can boost curb appeal and increase the value of a home by changing the color of a family room, staining a deck, and applying epoxy floor paint to the garage.

How should you, the seller, choose a color that wilil make the biggest impact? Valspar says that 60% of sellers gravitate towards a neutral palette rather than a bold color (27%) which makes it difficult to achieve a major transformation. However, you can choose a neutral color and accomplish a big change. For instance, choosing a color that’s a shade daraker or lighter from the original netural offers a more distinct look.

When sellers do go bold, green is the most popular (42%) followed by yellow (33%). Green is a consistent favorite because of the color in nature, and with yellows making a splash in fashion and home decor, a softer yellow is a nice option. Also, sellers don’t need to repainit the whole house to make a big impact. If you change just one room in the house, the rest of the house looks more interesting.  For maximum effect, try working on a central room in your house like the family room, entry way, or hall.

If you’re thinking about improving your home to sell it, painting gives you a big bank for your buck. With all of the inventory out there right now, you need to make your home stand out!