Renovation Tips: Get that house ready to be sold!

Adding Value to your Home: The Do's and Don'ts

There is no doubt that making improvements to your home can increase the value for resale. Before you start you should be aware that not all types of renovations will add value to your home. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts for your resale renovations.

Home Improvement Dos:

• Beautify the outside of your home. Landscape the front yard by adding some plants, flowers, and shrubs. Because first impressions are so important, cleaning up the exterior will make a huge difference and it doesn’t cost a lot either.
• Add a fresh coat of paint to both the interior and exterior of your home.
• Buyers pay most attention the kitchen and the bathrooms. This is where most of your home improvement budget should go. You could add a new FULL bathroom, but do not knock out any existing restrooms. It helps to add new appliances to the kitchen too. Try not to spend too much on them though.
• Garages can add to a home’s value.
• If your home does not have a fireplace, consider putting at least one in.

Home Improvement Don’ts:

• Do not install new windows in your home unless they are literally falling apart. They don’t add much value to the home, so spending the money on them would be a bust. Try to spruce them up a bit by oiling them and just cleaning them.
• Swimming pools and tennis courts are a luxury. They are nice to have but they don’t increase the value of your home.
• Applying new floors like marble or wooden floors  is another improvement  that will not get you more money on the sale.
• Spending money on cosmetic changes inside the home is ok to a certain extent. Do not expect to recover all your money back. When applying changes, try to keep them simple. Do not get extravagant with antiques and fancy décor. It will not do anything for your sale.

When making improvements to your home, the most important thing you should remember is that your asking price should remain within value of the other homes in your neighborhood. The most you should increase is about 15%-20%.

When You Decide To Remodel, Do It Right

Be sure to hire the right contractor for your home improvement projects. For more info on finding the right contractor check out one of our blogs devoted to specifically that. "10 Things You Should Know Before Hiring A Contractor"