Top 10 Ways to Add Value before Selling Your Home

March 12, 2007

By Guest Author Steadman Issenburg

There are lots of ways to increase the value of your home before putting it on the market, by sprucing it up both inside and out. These little home improvement projects don’t have to cost a lot of money, but they can often maximize the value of a home. So here are some of the top 10 ways that you can increase the value of your home before its sale.

1. Anything that improves the appearance of the home would usually add value, and decorative moldings for both the interior and exterior can add a lot to a home’s appearance. They can often be installed by the homeowner themselves and are readily available at most home improvement stores.

2. One of the most important areas of the home that contribute toward the overall resale value is the kitchen. Quite often, it’s a good idea to update older kitchens by replacing cabinets and countertops with more modern materials. If a complete overhaul will be too expensive, you may also want to consider simply refacing the cabinets and changing out items like the cabinet hardware and hinges, as well as the kitchen faucet for the most cost-effective cosmetic effect.

3. The bathroom is another one of the most important areas of the house for home improvement. Resurfacing the tub, changing out some of the tile and updating it, and installing a more modern vanity and faucet can go a long way toward improving the bathroom’s appearance and bringing it more up to date.

4. A new roof can help out as it is one of the first things that prospective buyers will see, and your investment here will often come back to you because many buyers appreciate the value of a new roof.

5. If you have a wood or clapboard exterior to your home, give serious consideration to installing vinyl siding over it, as this can add up to $10,000 to the value of your home. And if you already have vinyl siding, give it a good pressure washing to freshen up the appearance of the exterior.

6. Putting on a fresh coat of paint both on the inside and outside of a home can make a dramatic difference in its appearance, and is fairly inexpensive and easily accomplished by most homeowners themselves.

7. If your carpeting or vinyl flooring is starting to show serious wear this can affect the appearance of an entire room. So replace any areas that are showing lots of wear to help build the home’s value. Sometimes just a good carpet cleaning can do wonders too.

8. Newer and more modern appliances such as the refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, and so on can contribute substantially toward the value of your home as well.

9. The outside of your home is the first thing that most home buyers will see, and here is where a well maintained yard with properly placed flowers and shrubs can create a pleasing exterior that invites visitors in for a closer look inside the home.

10. Sometimes adding a new deck to your home can be a good selling point too. A nice wooden deck with a comfortable patio set would provide a recreational area that appeals to many home buyers.

Of course, you can only make the home improvements that your budget will allow. But many of these suggestions listed above are not expensive at all. All of them however will enhance the appearance and the value of almost any home.

Steadman Issenburg writes on many consumer related topics including real estate. You can find california houses for sale and houses for sale in texas and more by visiting our Real Estate website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steadman_Issenburg

Bob Roscoe, Mortgage Marketing Associates, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Money Saving Home Buying Ideas

7 Reasons to Check Out Your Realtor

August 20, 2006

By Guest Author Tom Beaty

Choosing a real estate agent can be a daunting task for the home buyer. With so many agents and agencies to choose from, it’s easy for a buyer to feel overwhelmed and unsure of what qualities they should be searching for. Is it best to work with a large agency or a small one? Will their chosen realtor follow through on all of their promises? How do they find a realtor with a good reputation and a commitment to serving their clients needs?

All of these questions are valid and should be fully explored. That is why it is so important to choose carefully and do your homework when searching for a realtor. When selecting the person who will help you to purchase the perfect home, it definitely pays to shop around.

A good realtor should be trustworthy

Finding a realtor you can trust should be of the highest priority when searching for a new home. You need to feel that your realtor is looking out for your best interests, and is dedicated to making your home purchase a pleasant experience. A good realtor takes the time to provide their buyers with the highest level of service, and is out for more than just a commission check.

A good realtor answers all of your questions

When searching for your realtor, you should be prepared to interview several potential candidates. You don’t want to simply call the first realtor you see on a billboard or in the Yellow Pages; this should not be a hasty decision. When interviewing potential realtors, look for an individual who patiently answers all of your questions, and never makes you feel like you are wasting their time. Weigh carefully whether you trust what this person is saying, or if it sounds like they are just telling you what you want to hear.

A good realtor can provide references

Realtors are like any other business person: they are happy to offer references from satisfied customers. If a realtor hedges on giving references, or disregards your request, it is best to move on to the next candidate. Word of mouth is powerful advertisement because only previous customers can tell you if a particular realtor can deliver on all they promise.

A good realtor has the full support of a good broker

Of course all brokers are going to want your business just as much as the realtor working under them. However, it is possible to determine a lot about an agency and the realtors working there by having a conversation with the broker. Do they take the time to answer your questions? Are you comfortable with their philosophy and sales record? Does the broker leave you with a sense of confidence?

A good realtor has excellent communication skills

Finding a realtor with excellent communication skills can save you a lot of time and hassle when you are searching for your new home. A good realtor is able to explain the home buying process in a way that is clear and understandable. They should listen carefully to your needs, and look to meet them appropriately. A good realtor doesn’t show their clients homes that are too large, too small, or out of the buyer’s price range.

A good realtor anticipates their client’s needs

As a home buyer, you share a certain amount of responsibility in making sure that your realtor knows what kind of home you are looking for. But to a certain extent, a good realtor should be able to anticipate their client’s needs through their knowledge of what their client is looking for, as well as what is available on the market. For example, a realtor should provide information on school districts and local activities for children if their clients are searching for a larger family home.

A good realtor goes the extra mile

Some realtors only do the bare minimum for their clients. They rush through the showings, and then pressure their client to quickly make an offer on a home without giving them time to think things through. This type of realtor is only concerned with collecting their commission check.

A good realtor focuses on all of the little things that help to improve their client’s home buying experience. They offer advice on loan officers, title companies, and reputable home inspectors. They make sure to appear on closing day to answer any of their client’s last minute questions and to address all concerns. A good realtor is concerned about building an excellent reputation as a trustworthy ally in the home buying process. This is the type of realtor you are searching for, and this is why it pays to thoroughly check out any realtor before hiring them.

Copyright 2006 All Right reserved by Tom Beaty

About the Author

Concrete Homes survive hurricanes - Tom Beaty a real estate broker and home builders in Palm Coast, Flagler and Volusia County. Visit: Florida real estate or Florida home builder

Bob Roscoe, Mortgage Marketing Associates, Minneapolis, Minneosta

Real Estate News

Six Eye Catchers That Add Curb Appeal to Your Home

May 21, 2006

By Guest Author Brandon Cornett

Freddie Mac can help you obtain a home mortgage loan.

But while Freddie Mac might sound like a generous uncle, it’s more closely related to Uncle Sam. So what is Freddie Mac, and how does it help you when buying a home?

Freddie Mac is the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, a private corporation founded by Congress in 1970. Freddie Mac supports the secondary mortgage market by purchasing residential mortgage loans, securitizing them, and selling them to investors (usually through Wall Street).

By purchasing mortgage loans, Freddie Mac increases the availability and affordability of home loans for low- and middle-income Americans.

So while you won’t normally deal with them directly, Freddie Mac has a major impact on the price of mortgage loans — something that does affect you directly.

Here’s how Freddie Mac explains their primary benefit to home buyers. The following passage comes from their website, www.FreddieMac.com:

“Currently, we buy one mortgage every seven seconds to help finance one in six American homes … Because Freddie Mac exists, millions of Americans benefit from lower interest rates, readily available home mortgage credit, a wide choice of mortgage products and reduced loan origination costs.”

Educating Home Buyers
Freddie Mac also plays a major role in educating home buyers. Their website offers a lot of informative (and credible) articles on home ownership, home buying, mortgages and more. To use these resources, visit www.FreddieMac.com.

* Copyright 2006, Brandon Cornett. You may republish this article in its entirety, provided you keep the byline, author’s note and website hyperlink intact.

About the Author

Brandon Cornett is the editor of HomeBuyingInstitute.com, one of the Internet’s largest libraries of home buying information — over 100 expert articles on home buying and home mortgage loans! Learn more at: http://www.homebuyinginstitute.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Cornett

Bob Roscoe, Mortgage Marketing Associates, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mortgage Tricks


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