| In talking about recouping home improvement costs | | | | off-whites or grays. |
| there is one room that should be held above all | | | | 3. Replace the Appliances: |
| others: Kitchen. The kitchen is the single best place to | | | | Nothing can turn a new buyer off like old, dingy |
| remodel in order to raise the value of your home. | | | | appliances. Many buyers will slash thousands off of |
| Want proof? A study done by remodel magazine | | | | their offer just to replace the appliances. Check out |
| states that for small kitchen renovations, the return | | | | the various scratch and dent resources in your area. |
| is close to 92.9 percent of what you put in. Another | | | | Sears always has a nearby scratch and dent facility |
| remodeling must is bathrooms. Bathroom remodels on | | | | with many appliances at 50%-70% off. The new |
| average return 90.1 percent of their cost. | | | | buyers do not need to know how much you paid for |
| Projects that take place in these two areas of the | | | | the appliances, just that they are new. |
| home can be some of the most difficult and hardest | | | | 4. Install a glass door on the shower: |
| to handle for DIYers. That being said, let's focus in on | | | | In the past years, bathrooms have become 30% |
| 5 doable projects that will give you that return that | | | | larger than they used to be. Previously, they were |
| you are looking for come closing time.. | | | | used strictly as utilitarian spaces. They have now |
| 1. Tile the Floors: | | | | become lavish lounges in which homeowners will |
| When it comes to kitchens and baths, tile is one of | | | | often relax. If you have an older house you may not |
| the most durable materials to use for the floors. | | | | have the space that the new buyers are looking for. |
| There are many styles of tile to choose from ranging | | | | One solution is to put in a frameless glass door as |
| from $10.00/sf stone to $1.50/sf ceramic. The trend | | | | opposed to a shower curtain. Shower curtains stop |
| lately is to stick with natural looking materials in | | | | the eye while glass doors allow the eye to pass |
| neutral tones. This is a classic look however that will | | | | through, making the bathroom appear larger than it is. |
| never go out of style. | | | | 5. Paint: |
| Most people should have no problem tiling themselves. | | | | Perhaps the easiest and most effective way to |
| It is as easy as removing the old flooring, screwing | | | | make your house look more inviting is to put a fresh |
| down a plywood sub-floor, spreading mastic, laying | | | | coat of paint up. Color is a very personal preference |
| the tiles, and then grouting after they set up. You | | | | and paint fades quickly. Think about repainting the |
| also want to be sure to seal them when in kitchens | | | | entire house with fresh, new, neutral colors. This will |
| and baths. There are many do it yourself workshops | | | | make for a more move-in-ready feel. |
| and tutorials available for this. | | | | Conclusion: |
| 2. Paint the Cabinets: | | | | The key to improving your homes value is by |
| Are your cabinets old or ugly? If you are staying in | | | | anticipating what new buyers will want and giving it |
| your house for more than 5 years look at replacing | | | | to them. Take the work out of it. Any time new |
| them. However, if your stay will be shorter than that | | | | buyers anticipate having to work on something, they |
| the best way to add value is to paint the cabinets. | | | | will drop the price of their offer. You want to provide |
| Re-facing is expensive and does not always yield | | | | them with a warm, clean, neutral, move-in-ready |
| good results. Again, stick with a neutral color such as | | | | environment. |