They say that money talks and…well you know the rest. I know that in today’s economy, most of you are holding on to your home longer than you might if the housing market was booming. While you are making improvements to your current property you can increase its value and desirability to your next home buyer. You basically need to keep in mind just two things: Where to make those improvements, and what to improve. Let’s see if we can figure this out together.
I happen to know from sources deep within the housing industry (okay, maybe it is just several friends who happen to be realtors) that the two most common areas people look at when shopping for a new home are the kitchen and bathroom. That is not to say that the other areas aren’t important. Still, there is something about these two areas that attract the eyes of the potential homebuyer. So, when spending is tight, hit these two key areas first.
What types of improvements should you make to your kitchen or bath? Things that have great visual effect will usually be best. You also want to make it attractive, but not too customized to your own tastes. With the advent of HGTV and the bevy of home improvement shows, everyone wants to be a Bob Vila, Ty Pennington, or Paige Hemming. A nice new tile floor in the bathroom in a neutral color will make you much more money than you will spend doing it. Travertine tile or anything that has a stone look is all the rage right now, and the look of marble is timeless. You might also upgrade that shower with a new massaging head, or replace the whole thing with a ready-to-tile model that you can spruce up in no time. Add shelves and people will be wowed at your cutting edge thinking.
Moving on to the kitchen, take a look at those counter tops and imagine them with a new granite or stone look. You could even tile the backsplash and really give the kitchen some pop. If you have a little more to spend, add a new floor in styles similar to those I talked about previously.
Even something as simple as adding trim to an already tiled floor can do wonders for the appearance. This will add extra value to your home, and catch the eye of the potential buyer, without taking much moolah out of your pocket.
So now you are ready to increase the value of your home, make it more attractive, and sell it…when you are ready. Just make a few minor adjustments to a couple of key areas and listen to the money talk!
Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com
