Which Home Improvements Are Worth Making?

Home Improvements, Some Sell, Some Don’t

If you’re planning to sell your home, you’ve probably already looked around and decided to make some changes. Before going about drastic large improvements, consult your Realtor. Investing time and money making upgrades thinking it will help your home sell for more, could actually harm you. Some of these harmful upgrades may include, adding a green house, swimming pool, unique landscaping including waterfalls, drastic color changes in or out of the home, even flooring options. There are many upgrades of course that will help your bottom dollar significantly. The following improvements offer some of the best estimated rates of return.

• Kitchen remodeling – 150 percent – today’s kitchens are elegant, simple, functional and stand to be the most important room in the home.
• Landscaping and lawn - 100 percent - Even a few hundred dollars invested in lush grass, flowers, and shrubs may increase your curb appeal and sale price significantly.
• Fireplace – 100 percent – Fireplaces add warmth and appeal to the home. Upgrading an existing fireplace or installing a new one can bring value. There are so many options today with energy efficient gas models, you almost can’t go wrong.
• Second bathroom – 90 percent – Even a small second half bath can add value and be the final “sold” factor. In today’s market, additional bathrooms are desired. Decorate bathrooms with warmth and care. Leaving out all signs of personal use is a must. A remodeled bath can add 60-80 percent. Master baths are desirable as well as double sinks and unique tile and vanity upgrades.
  
• Deck – 70 percent – Outdoor living is in demand and can bring an added smile after walking through the home. Seeing a nice surprise when walking outside is always a good thing. Freshly painted or low maintenance decks are a plus. If adding a deck isn't in the budget, try a do-it-yourself stone or brick patio project.
  
• Painting The Exterior – 50 percent - Probably the best idea for added curb appeal, while making the home look fresh and well maintained. Even painting front doors, shutters or porches can make a huge difference.
  
• Finished basement – 40 percent – An already existing space can be made into a living area that will be of value to a buyer. Walk out basements will create even a higher return. Many finished basements are outdated. Upgrade a little and see a significant difference!
  
• Heating system/Mechanicals – 40 percent – Although buyer’s opinions may vary with this upgrade, replacing old furnaces, A/C, H20 tanks, etc. can certainly increase value. Your return however, may not bring as much as you would like. It’s probably best to only replace if needed.
• Windows/Doors – 35 percent – They certainly make the home look better and more modern, but they are almost considered a normal feature in today’s market. Energy is a huge factor to many home buyers. Knowing how to effectively market these upgrades can help bring even more awareness and attention to the offer amount!

If you're considering selling a home in the Cleveland area or need to buy a new home, contact our RE/MAX team of agents and let us put our expertise to work for you.

Spring Home Selling In Ohio

Many sellers wait until the spring season to put their home up for sale. Why? There's this belief that home buyers want to purchase when the weather is warm and children are about to get out of school. That belief holds true for a section of the buyer population in Ohio, but the truth is: It's time to put your home on the market only if it's right for you and your home.

And then there's this... "It's a bad time to sell. I'll never get my home sold. Nobody is buying right now. The market is horrible for sellers!" That may be somewhat true. A lot depends on your home, your personal situation, your expectations and your bottom line. 37,000 homes sold last year in Northeast Ohio alone (15 counties.) Someone is buying and homes are selling every day. Check your city's current market statistics here to get an idea of overall values at the moment.

Home buyers right now are faced with incentives to purchase like never before. New home buyers will now receive an $8,000 tax credit if they close before December 1st, 2009. Many will want to cash in on that. Interest rates are incredibly low. That won't last forever. There are FHA loans that allow down payments to be gifted by others. Home buyers need to be aware of what's out there and they can always contact us for mortgage loan or new program information. We're always in the loop with new ways to assist home buyers.

There are still and always will be people looking for a home. It's one of those things in life we sort of need. You know, food, water, oxygen, shelter? It's still a need regardless of what the six o'clock news tells you. Putting your home on the market in the spring/summer season means a bit more competition, due to the belief and many sellers waiting until the tulips are in bloom. You'll be successful if you have get your home in order... and your facts.

• There are a lot of homes for sale in Ohio and around the country: Fact.
• We're showing homes all over Northeast Ohio every single day to a large amount of serious buyers: Fact.
• Homes sit on the market due to either being over priced, lack of marketing or they aren't in good condition or updated: Fact.
  
• Your home will sell if it's priced correctly and in good condition: Fact.
• You have to be able to bend a little with terms and repairs like moving dates and the home inspection: Fact.
• You need to listen to your Realtor and/or a home stager when they give you advice and make recommendations: Fact.
• De-cluttering your home and making necessary upgrades and repairs before it goes on the market is necessary: Fact.
• Neutralizing your colors, decor, landscaping and living spaces is a must: Fact.
• Removing personal items, religious items, photos, odors, signs of pets and your outdated wallpaper or carpeting: Fact.
• It takes a little elbow grease, work, determination and cooperation to sell a home: Fact.
• Pricing the property correctly the first day it's on the market and not waiting until the activity is dead is the right way to list: Fact.
• Each home and situation is unique and needs to be addressed and handled accordingly: Fact.
• Having an experienced Realtor and company behind you actually marketing your home outside of the MLS with extensive local and Internet presence is a priority: Fact.
• Getting your home and photos in front of every potential home buyer not just in the Cleveland area but around the globe for those relocating is a must: Fact.

Bottom Line: The fact is...Anytime is a good time to sell your home. There will always be people looking to move in any season including spring. As long as your home is clean, updated, priced correctly, aesthetically pleasing, and marketed properly, it will appeal to the masses and stand out in the crowd. It will sell... and that's a fact.

Our team of agents at Howard Hanna have the best tools to market your property. Contact us to get the process started or to discuss our marketing plan. Let us show you how we dominate the internet by being the Cleveland, Ohio area's largest Realtor website. We have thousands of home buyers visiting our site monthly in our database. We match their needs daily. If you're selling a home, it needs to be in our list. Email or call anytime, 216.323.4620






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