Selling Your House? Find Out What Projects Will Pay Off The Most

By Author: Jason Delmar
Total Articles: 335
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With the number of home improvement shows on cable, it is almost impossible to find a category of home improvement that they are not demonstrating. They make it look real easy to renovate a kitchen or update the landscaping when they condense a 3 day project into a 30 minute show. The real question is, can you do it yourself? How do you even begin? What improvement projects will generate the biggest increase in the value of my home?

Even if you are a homeowner with some DIY experience, there will still be some projects that you simply should not tackle yourself. With that in mind, there are a couple of questions that you should ask before starting any renovation project.

What Do You Want and What Can You Afford?
There are several good reasons for wanting to redecorate or remodel your home. While it is easy to just starting looking for a bigger and better house, sometimes the neighborhood or feel of the house is more important. In most cases, a simple coat of paint and some minor improvements can transform your house. Altering a color scheme, converting a bedroom into a home office, or upgrading ...
... the kitchen and bathroom are practical home improvement projects that add esthetic appeal and really pay off. If you decide that relocating is the right move for you, you may still want to consider some remodeling projects to update your house and add resale value..

Whatever your motivation for improving your home, make a wish list with three categories:

What you need
What you would like to have
What would make it your dream home

When your list is complete, consider the amount of money you have available or are prepared to borrow. Unless you have unlimited funds, make a realistic estimate of what you can afford. Are you planning major renovations that will require the services of an architect or a contractor? Will you need an electrician, a plumber, a carpenter, a painter, or all four? How much work can you do yourself? All these factors must be taken into account as you pare down your list into affordable home improvement projects.

Where to start?
Every project starts with a plan. Itemize everything you want and think you can afford, and include a design of rooms to be remodeled. If you are going to require professional help, now is the time to talk to contractors, plumbers, and other tradesmen, and to ask for estimates. Comparison-shopping is a must. Even if you decide to hire someone else to do the job, it is important to research material costs and tools that will be needed so that you know if you are paying fair market value when you are charged for it by your contractor or builder. If you can't afford to do everything on your list, reassess your prime needs and make a new plan.

What Projects Are Key?
The more sweat equity you can add to a prject, the more you will gain in equity. Ask any real estate agent for tips on how to prepare a home for resale and you will be told that the house and yard should be cleaned and all clutter removed. Creating suitable home storage facilities and cleaning and painting the interior and exterior of your house, therefore, are the jobs that top the list of desirable improvements. The premium projects that usually require professional help are kitchen remodeling first and bathroom remodeling second. These particular upgrades will provide the best return for your money, and the real estate industry has statistics to prove it. With the new ready-to-assemble cabinets that are on the market, a kitchen or bathroom remodel is no longer a professional job. A somewhat handy homeowner can renovate his kitchen for under $5,000 and add as much as $20,000 in equity to his home.

Declutter and Clean
Decluttering is aworthwhile project that any homeowner can accomplish. Adequate home storage with a combination of cabinets, shelves and bins will make the organization much easier. You can buy easy-to-assemble shelving and cabinets in a great variety of sizes and materials at affordable prices. Small, decorative containers can be used to organize and conceal the ongoing accumulations of such items as incoming mail. In the yard, removing clutter means getting rid of dead trees, dead branches, broken slabs and stones in patios and walkways, and tidying up the garden and lawn. When faced with clutter, ruthlessly throw it out, recycle it, hold a garage sale, donate it to the charity of your choice -- get rid of it.

Cleaning your home and yard is a great improvement project, and if you are remodeling, it will be the final step after the dust has settled. You will need something heavy-duty like tri-sodium phosphate or its equivalent to wash most surfaces inside and outside the house. There are also special cleaners for glass, tile, porcelain, stainless steel, and wood, and for getting rid of unpleasant molds and mildew. Visit your friendly hardware store and read labels. There are cleaners for almost every material and for solving almost every cleaning problem. Make sure rooms are well ventilated whenever you are cleaning, carefully follow directions, and wear gloves and a mask.

Interior painting and exterior painting should be next on your list of preferred home improvement projects. Fresh paint helps make your home look clean, bright, and spacious. When selecting colors for the exterior, don't forget to do something about that bland front door. Have fun! Fresh, harmonious colors add beauty and personality to your home both inside and out.

Put Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling High on the List
Although remodeling a kitchen seems like a daunting task, a complete overhaul pays great dividends if and when you sell your home. Purchasing new kitchen cabinets and appliances are worthy goals, but you can also make minor changes that will create impact. If you can't replace the kitchen cabinets, replace the cabinet doors at least. If that is also beyond your means, add molding to the cabinet doors, paint them, and replace the hardware. It's not that difficult or expensive to replace an outdated sink, and if you can't afford a new stove, fridge and dishwasher, don't hang on to those gold or avocado monstrosities -- buy attractive reconditioned replacements.

Bathroom remodeling is the next most important improvement and the biggest dividends come from installing a new sink, bathtub, toilet, and shower stall, as well as attractive tiles and custom cabinets. Again, if you can't manage a complete makeover, replace the tired old taps, faucets and shower head; add shelves; and paint and redecorate the cabinets.

Finally, set aside some of your budget to improve the appearance of your yard. Maybe all you have to do to improve the landscape is trim, mow, weed, and then plant a few flowers. Adding or upgrading an existing patio, deck, or walkway can also be very worthwhile.

Choosing the best modeling and redecorating projects will not only increase the long-term value of your home, they will also provide satisfaction and pleasure for you, the smart homeowner.