10 Tips to Increase your Home's Value - Tip 9 - Hire a certified home inspector

Over the last week we have been posting about 10 Tips to help increase your home’s value. We are already at tip #9, if you have missed the first few tips you should be able to find them in the blog archive area just to the right of this post. The thought of increasing the value of your home may be easier than you think By following these tips found via the Home and Garden Network, your home may be worth more than you think.

Tip 9: Hire a certified home inspector.
“ Think of it this way, you go to the doctor for physical exams and take your car in for checkups. Why not do the same for your house? A home inspection can be a valuable thing, whether you are selling your home or not.

If you are deciding to sell your home, get your own inspector before you put your home on the market. This is sometimes known as a pre-inspection. The last thing you want is to have a contract on the table, only to hear the inspector has found issues with the home, this can cause a contract to fall through or can end up meaning more money out of your pocket. If you know in advance, you can take care of it. If a home inspection turns out well, it is likely the buyers will feel good about their purchase and not ask for costly fixes or concessions.

Why bother having an inspection if you're not worried about selling? Right….Wrong. Having your home inspected, even if you are not planning to sell today or tomorrow can help you in the future. Keep those records to show future buyers that you have maintained your home all along. Also, time is on your side. You can fix problems on your terms for far less than you will likely spend if you wait. Think of it like a physical that will only keep your home healthy and more valuable.

If you get a clean bill of health, it helps you make decisions. You can pick your home projects and spend your money with confidence.”

10 Tips to Increase Your Home's Value - Tip 10 - Benefits of upgrading vs selling

Over the last week we have been posting about 10 Tips to help increase your home’s value. We are already at tip #8,  if you have missed the first few tips you should be able to find them in the blog archive area just to the right of this post. The thought of increasing the value of your home may be easier than you think By following these tips found via the Home and Garden Network, your home may be worth more than you think.

Tip 8: Weigh the benefits of upgrading versus selling.
“Should I stay or should I go? It's a question many homeowners are trying to figure out. Here is how to tell if there is more value for you in fixing up, or moving on.

First, estimate your costs to buy a new home. Add up the realtor and home selling costs (packing, moving and the new loan financing). Don't forget hidden items, the buyer may ask you to replace the carpet before you sell or any other fixes to the home that you were not aware of or just didn’t have the time or budget to fix earlier. Make your best effort to include everything it will cost in time and money to sell your home and buy a new place. Then, you will want to estimate what you may get for your house and how much money you can potentially walk away with, with the closing of your current home.  When deciding on a new home, make sure you write down a “must-have” list, these are items your new home must have in order for you to make the move, does your current home already have these?

If you like your neighbors and your school district, consider remodeling. You can get exactly the home you want and you won't risk any buyer's remorse. Estimate the cost of making the most essential renovations needed for you to stay in your current home. Decide what you would like to do and go price shopping at your home improvement store. Contact contractors and get estimates on the projects that are not sure you will be able to tackle yourself. This is especially important if you need to add on extra square footage.

Look at what it would cost to move, then what it would cost to remodel. Add in the X-factors such as friends, schools and neighbors, are you close to shopping, restaurants, or even a bus line. When all is said and done, you may find you get more equity by staying in your home and remodeling.”

10 Tips to Increase Your Home's Value - Tip 7 - Beautify your bathroom

Beautify your bathroom.
Of all the rooms in your house, the bathroom is the workhorse. There is lots of wear and tear, so you want to keep it functioning well and make good looking upgrades along the way.

• Focus on your faucet. Bathrooms are not utilitarian anymore. People like to feel relaxed, like they are in a spa. Drop-sinks are old news, people want the under-mount sinks.
• Go granite or marble with your countertops. If you are toying with the granite idea, your bathroom counter is most likely smaller than your kitchen counter and less expensive. This is a great place to start your first granite project.
• Nix the overhead lighting in favor of wall mounts to add warmth and value to your bathroom. Make sure that around your mirror you have even lighting with no side shadows.
• Heated floors attract buyers like bees to honey.
• Upgrade your bath area. With an 85 percent return, install a shower with body sprays and stone surround tile. If you are not selling right away, you will feel like you are in a Zen garden every time you step into your bathroom.
• Keep it clean. Dirt and grime can become embedded in bathroom surfaces very quickly. Freshen it up with new grout.

10 Tips to Increasing Your Home's Value - Tip 6 - Upgrade the kitchen.

Over the next 10 days I would like to share with you 10 Tips to help increase your home’s value. Here is tip #6, if you have missed the first few tips you should be able to find them in the blog archive area just to the right of this post. The thought of increasing the value of your home may be easier than you think By following these tips found via the Home and Garden Network, your home may be worth more than you think.

Tip 6: Upgrade the kitchen.
“Ask any real estate expert what the No. 1 upgrade with the greatest return is, and the answer will be the kitchen. Even if you are unable to do a full kitchen remodel there are some great ideas out there can fit any budget or time frame to help you increase the value of your home.

·         Do a mini-remodel. Simply change the paint, it’s easy, budget-friendly and works. You can also paint a faux-wood finish onto your cabinets.

·         Add a splash of color with a new backsplash. New tile is attractive. Home improvement stores teach classes on this and sometimes you can find ones that are more of “peel and stick” style, the subway title idea is a classic backsplash and really can go with any style of kitchen  you are looking for.

· Go stainless steel. The cold feel of steel is a hot ticket item for buyers. Transition your appliances as they wear out and go with a similar metallic look in your light switches. You could probably also go to your local warehouse store and buy these items in bulk and may end up with getting a discount on the larger purchase.

· Make your kitchen rock with a rolling island. Have you seen these, there are great Do-it-yourself websites that show you how to take older pieces of furniture and turn them into one of a kind islands. This not only can help if you are looking to stay within budget, but also creates a one of a kind piece unique to your home.

·  You can also just hang a pot rack with fresh new pots, pans and a hanging wine bottle holder. With the rolling island, your kitchen will catch every buyer's eye. You can take some of these things with you to your new home.”

10 Tips to Increase Your Home's Value - Tip 2 - Take on one room at a time

Over the next 10 days I would like to share with you 10 Tips to help increase your home’s value. The thought of increasing the value of your home may be easier than you think By following these tips found via the Home and Garden Network, your home may be worth more than you think.

Tip 2:  Tackle one room at a time.
 “How can you harness the energy that comes from new ideas and still be smart when you make those improvements? Make the commitment to tackle only one room at a time. Whether it's a straightforward coat of paint or it’s taking down a wall, by taking on one room at a time you keep projects reachable.

It would be best to make a list of all the things you in vision doing, break your list down into categories based around cost and write down how much time each project may take. This will help you get your results. For example, if you only have a day or a weekend, choose a project that fits within your schedule, comfort level and financial pledge.

If you set out to paint a living room wall on Sunday and you are aware of what it will cost in time and money, it is much easier to get done. By the end of the day, you have a stylish upgrade that will have added value to your home. Simply by strategizing, you will see your dreams take form as you renovate each room before moving on to the next.”