Friday, 22 April 2011

Increase Your House's Value By Renovating

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Before you list your home, try these renovation tips so you can up the asking price!

increase-house-value

Check out this piece from our partners at Fox News Home & Garden!

increase-house-valueWant to increase your home's value? Try landscaping. Photo: Corbis.

When it comes to boosting your resale value, not all home renovations are created equal.

Big-ticket items like hardwood floors, flagstones around the pool, or a water feature might be great for the homeowner, says Kris Anderson, a Re/Max agent in the Phoenix area, but these improvements do little to increase the asking price.

Instead, homeowners should focus on more humble renovations and steer clear of the flashier upgrades.

"The key when remodeling is to think in terms of 'resale' always," Anderson said. "I find most homeowners overlook their front door and garage door and the windows. They get sucked in by the showroom at Lowe's or Home Depot."

So which upgrades pay off the most?

Curb Appeal

Not all renovations need to be big, expensive undertakings. Tackling a few modest DIY projects can be a great way to add value on the cheap. Basic landscaping can cost less than a weekend's worth of sweat and effort, but may dramatically boost your house's curb appeal, that all-important first impression your home makes on a potential buyer.

"Curb appeal is a very important thing to remember. When a potential buyer comes to see your home, the first impression is the front yard," said Candice Cerro of Realtor.com. "Planting flowers and painting the front door can go a long way."

Similarly, a new coat of paint indoors and outside can give a house a fresh look. But before you run out to purchase a few gallons, heed a realtor's advice: Keep it neutral. You may love lime green or pink, but that doesn't mean your buyer will.

"This is not about what you like, but what the buyer likes," said Cheryl Bare, a realtor with Century 21 in the Washington, D.C., area. Sticking to neutral tones will allow a potential buyer to envision the space as their own, while minimizing the risk that they'll be turned off by your color choices.

Sweat the Small Stuff

Many homeowners often overlook the nickel-and-dime stuff, like light fixtures, faucets and door knobs. While it won't pay off to splurge on high-end fixtures and faucets, at the very least you want to ensure that the house has a uniform look and feel. So pick a style and stick with it throughout the home.

Check out the other four ways to increase your house's value over at Fox News or read up about...
Finding the Right Flowers for Mom

Cities Where $80,000 Buys a Real Home

Or check out AOL Real Estate's guide to increasing your house's value through bathroom and minor kitchen renovations.

 

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Source: http://www.diylife.com/2011/04/20/increase-house-value/

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