You can increase home value with these home improvement tips. The key to maintaining the maximum home value possible is to keep up with all the maintenance in your home and not letting anything slip.
Psychologically, we are more willing to do little home improvement jobs at reasonable costs through out the year. This keeps our home value high. On the other hand, we are more reluctant to dump thousands into repairs and maintenance that we have been avoiding for years.
What is the Condition of your Deck?
The condition of your deck can influence home value. Your deck needs yearly work done to it. Make sure that your deck is properly waterproofed and stained.
There are home improvement books devoted to building and maintaining decks. If you have a deck you should own one of these books and follow the suggestions therein for deck upkeep. To get the top sale price of your home the deck must be in good condition.
How Does the Kitchen Look?
Kitchens can be home improvement nightmares. This is because the kitchen is a huge factor that effects home value. A nice kitchen can get you top dollar while a dilapidated one will give the buyer some negotiation power.
Be sure to maintain the quality of your kitchen floor, counters and cabinets. There is no need to replace cabinets. A good furniture refinisher can have them looking new. However, be sure to check local cabinet sellers. There are some good deals out there.
Do You Know What Kind of Wiring Your House Has?
This can be a home improvement nightmare as well. Depending on the last time your house was rewired, you may be required to redo it before you can sell it. You can live in a house that is not up to code, but you can’t sell it.
It should not cost a lot to have someone come and do an inspection of the wiring and your fuse box. If this as not been done in a while then do it as soon as you can. Wiring can’t really effect the value of your home, but you will not be able to sell a home that is not up to code.
These home improvement tips can help you get maximum home value when you are ready to sell. A bad deck or kitchen can give the buyer a lot of leverage to buy at below market value, and bad wiring can delay the sale of your home altogether.
Try and do 2 or 3 home improvement projects each year. These are tax deductible and can therefore lower your taxes.
By: Jonathan G Higgins
Posts Tagged ‘Last Time’
3 Home Improvement Tips To Increase Home Value
November 15th, 2009Savvy Home Improvement Expert Gets an A With Her Patio Fireplace Idea
November 5th, 2009
I’m going to walk you through one of the most interesting summer time ideas I’ve ever seen. A patio fireplace idea, but in the most savvy way.
My former secretary who has moved on to own her own home improvement business often calls me for specific projects. We work together from time to time and we have a blast. But this one, she had to tell me about because she did it all her own.
Items You Will Need
A Patio Bricks One Ventless Fireplace Insert
Of course, with the bricks you’ll need mortar. But, that’s really all there is to this list. Now, put on your business suit and get ready to do some negotiation.
First, The Patio
It’s quite obvious that the first thing you need is a patio. It’s a patio project. But, you can actually start a patio with this idea. If you have flat yard extending from the back door or if you can make it flat with no great amount of effort, all you need are a few extra bricks when you are ready to get them.
Placing the bricks in any arrangement is actually fine. But, I prefer an angled approach because it’s easier to square. You simple cut corners out of your bricks and place them in the jagged edges of your patio perimeter. If you can’t cut the bricks, don’t worry. The jagged edges will look natural.
Second, The Bricks
This is the part I love best because anyone can simply go to a lumber yard or a home improvement store and buy bricks. But, it takes a savvy business person to get paid to haul bricks away.
I have been in construction for years. And I have always offered my services to clients that I will haul their excess bricks away. I’ve only had to deal with a few clients who wanted them sent back and a discount on the service. Most homeowners are happy with my work, have already written the check and are more than happy to let me haul their bricks out of sight out of mind.
But, my former secretary tried a new thing this last time. She drove through a home development community where there are houses in all different stages of completion. She found homes where the brick was finished and stacks of bricks sat in the driveway. Instead of offering to haul the bricks away for free, she contacted the homeowners and told them she would give them a great deal on their hauling expenses. When the homeowners agreed, she told me she couldn’t believe it. Not only was she getting what she needed for free, but she was getting paid to take it. Now, I couldn’t do that. But, hats off to her for having the gumption to attempt such a thing.
Finally, The Ventless Gel Fireplace Insert
Just off the patio, you want to build yourself a brick casing. Build a solid foundation that is about three feet high. Then build four columns that rise about another four feet. Then, build a nice roof on your patio fireplace. If you pay attention to what you are doing, you can do this by yourself.
Use string to keep your bricks in line. Use your trowels to scrape excessive mortar off the bricks after you stack them. If you take your time, you can look like a professional.
In the opening that you’ve created with your four columns is where you will put your ventless gel fireplace insert. Of course, you can stack real wood in the fireplace and light it. But, you’ll have fire control to deal with and it’s a heck of a mess when you are finished. Light some Sunjel gel fuel and place it in the insert for just as much fire and heat.
A patio fireplace for less then $300? No, wait a minute. For free. Because with the money she was paid to haul the bricks away, my former secretary was able to purchase a ventless gel fireplace insert no problem at all. Now, that’s a home improvement project with the maximum business savvy.
By: Jessica Brylan