All Financial Matters

Five Things Increasing Home Value

When you purchase a home, it is an investment. You may continue to live in it for many years, but if you leave the area you will more than likely sell the property. Here are five ways that you can increase your home’s value to get a better price when selling.

1. Renovate. You probably haven’t thought about your countertops or cabinetry in several years. Cabinet re-facing offers a way for home owners to redecorate their kitchen for less money. The new look changes the entire dynamic of the kitchen. Hardwood floors are more appealing to buyers than linoleum. A more efficient heating and cooling system saves on energy bills all year round. Gas logs are more popular than a traditional fireplace and eliminate the messy clean-up of firewood. See what you can do to upgrade without spending more money than you can afford.

2. Replace the windows. If you have an old house, the windows are probably single pane. Triple-pained windows are more energy efficient and look better. Windows that offer the convenience of panes that fold in are easy to clean even on the second floor.

3. Add on to your home. Any addition that increases the square footage of living space will add to the value. This could be as simple as converting a garage into a bedroom or an office. People who work from home would like the idea of a complete home office. A sunroom where the back patio used to be will allow buyers to enjoy the outdoors even on a cold day.

4. Put up a fence. Fenced-in yards provide privacy for the owners. If they have pets, the animals can run around in the back yard without you worrying about them getting loose and bothering the neighbors. A fenced yard is a must if you have a pool or are thinking about installing one. No one wants a neighborhood child to accidentally gain access to their pool.

5. Landscape the yard. The one thing that makes one yard different from another is the landscaping. I ride through my neighborhood during the spring to see the newest things everyone has done with their yard. Some add water features. Still others create a water break at the base of a hill with a line of evergreen pines. The look of a yard is a big selling point. It can add to the value of a home for the buyer. They will see that haven of peace you have created in the back yard, complete with gazebo and walkway, and want the house immediately. The thing is that most people want these things themselves but lack the money or the skills to get it done.

A real estate agent can suggest more ideas for improving the value of your home. Be careful not to change everything. Some things are okay as they are or will just be changed again by the buyer.

Five Staging Tips for Sellers

Have you ever been to a home show? The houses smell clean and everything has an extra sparkle. Each room exudes its own personality. Anyone who sees it wants to buy that house — furniture included. Welcome to the art of the staging process.

Staging helps sellers get their home ready for open houses and showings. It is more than a super-clean house. It is where the house gets an extreme makeover to interest buyers. People who stage houses are artists, or rather magicians. You won’t even recognize your home once it has been transformed into a palatial showplace.

1. Consider using their furniture. One of the tools a stager uses in their work is furniture. You may love your ten-year-old couch but it probably won’t impress any potential buyers. Stagers can use your furniture if it’s in good condition or their own to set the atmosphere in a room.

2. Don’t forget the outdoor areas. Stagers dress the yard as well. It is up to you to keep the grass mowed and the hedges trimmed before the stager comes in to work some magic. The use of various potted plants, yard art, and benches turn a beautiful yard into an inviting one.

3. Let each room in the house speak for itself. Stagers create atmosphere and no two rooms are the same. The bedroom may remind you of a villa in Tuscany with opaque silk fabric draping the top of a canopy bed and large mirrors on the walls. The living room by contrast has an Arabian feel with dozens of colorful throw pillows lining the sectional sofa. The windows are covered with dark red and gold curtains. I’d like to visit that house!

4. Use baskets. People like to see uncluttered areas. Instead of lining the bathroom counter with toiletries, put them in a basket that sits on the counter. Utilize scented soaps and lotions that are as nice to look at as they are to smell. In each bedroom have a basket of rolled towels. Wrap them in ribbon for a special touch.

5. Finish with the back yard. A bare patio doesn’t allow buyers to see the potential of the yard. Let a stager offer their assistance. Start with a patio table or a picnic table. Set the table with colorful plates and glasses as if you were just about to sit down to a meal. Add a barbeque grill if it is close to the summer and some potted plants to complete the look.

After all that work, who could resist? The purpose of staging is to dress the house to its best so that potential buyers will make an offer. Follow the above tips to give your home that extra it may need to get it off the market as quickly as possible. On your web browser, type in the keywords “home staging” to get more information.