Tags: remodeling
How does Regular Maintenance Affect House Value?
Here is an interesting article from HouseLogic.com on the value of maintaining your home:
If you think home maintenance is an unavoidable series of weekend-eating chores, remember the age-old advice of Benjamin Franklin: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." The fact is, proactive maintenance is essential to preserving the value of your home-without it, your home could lose 10% of its value. Regular, routine maintenance enhances curb appeal, ensures safety, and prevents neglected upkeep from turning into costly major repairs.
Countdown to Putting Your Home on the Market
Getting your home ready for sale can take anywhere from one to six months, depending on the condition, age of the house and how long you've lived there.
So before you list your house, go over the property to determine what needs to be repaired or possibly replaced. Make a list of both major and minor jobs. Tackle big projects first.
It's tempting to wait until the home inspection and offer to adjust the price in lieu of repairs, but doing so may put the entire sale in jeopardy and may ultimately cost more. Buyers generally tack on extra dollars to any estimate. Most importantly, a major repair left undone creates the impression that the house has not been maintained.
So here is a timeline to help you prepare your home for sale:
Home Repair Cost Estimator from Pillar to Post
When you decide to renovate or upgrade we always suggest that you get at least three estimates from trusted professionals before you hire someone to complete work on your behalf. However, if you would like a "ball park" estimate of the cost to complete a project, this may be the tool you are looking for...
This tool, provided by Pillar to Post Home Inspection, provides a list of the estimated costs to upgrade or replace the major systems and components in a typical home. It also provides a general guideline for the life-expectancies of those systems.
How to Buy and Use a Fire Extinguisher
Some Effective Upgrades for Your Home (that won't break the bank)
Here's an article from shine.yahoo.com with 16 Budget-Friendly Home Upgrades for your home.
For the kitchen: the kitchen sink, a new countertop, new light fixtures or a "Splash of Color"
For the bathroom, their suggestions include: refinishing the cabinets, hooks, or a new tile floor
10 Affordable Ideas for Decorating Your Kid's Room

Cozy and comfortable, nautical style, subtle, serene, sporty, vibrant or just plain fun! Update your children's bedrooms with style but not a whole lot of expense. Here are some great suggestions provided by HGTV.com
Get lots of good ideas here!
Should You Buy That Fixer Upper?
5 Easy Upgrades That Raise House Value
Learn five easy upgrades that should help raise the value of your home in this video from This Old House
Ideas and advice for OLD HOUSE enthusiasts
![Old House Knob and Tube Wiring image[10]](http://www.in-kw.com/media/blogs/real-estate/windowslivewriter/9c3b85ee2d9d_d719/image-10-_3.png)
![Old House Hiring a contractor image[12]](http://www.in-kw.com/media/blogs/real-estate/windowslivewriter/9c3b85ee2d9d_d719/image-12-_3.png)
Here is an interesting website that I came across recently. Old House Web has information many aspects of renovating and owning an old home (or a not sold old home as well.).
Tips for Preparing Your Home for an Open House

Every seller wants her home to sell quickly and bring top dollar. While there are some factors you can't control, like neighbourhood popularity and market fluctuations, you can help your house put on its best face for showings and open houses. If you want to sell your home, here are some tips to prepare your house and turn it into an irresistible home.
Before any physical preparations, you first need to prepare yourself emotionally. Begin to dissociate yourself, and decide to let go of your attachments to the home. From now on, this is a house you really want to sell, not your own beloved home.
It's important that potential buyers can imagine calling your house "home," too. Make it easier for them by de-personalizing the space. Remove personal photos and family heirlooms. Buyers should be allowed to connect with the space, and to imagine displaying their own photos and artifacts. You want buyers to think, "I could see myself living here."





07/25/10 08:13:41 pm


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