Top Remodeling Projects for Boosting Your Home’s Value

Whether you are thinking about putting your home on the market or you are concerned about increasing your home’s equity in a time of depreciating house values, knowing which remodeling projects yields the best return on investment, is critical.

Not all home remodeling projects are equal in terms of ROI, however. Here are the National Association of Home Builder’s suggestions for the best ways to add value to your home:

• A Home Office Remodel
With more and more people telecommuting in today’s difficult business climate, home offices are becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity. Creating a state-of-the-art space for potential teleworkers is a surefire way to increase your home’s value.

• Renovate or Add a Family Room
A family room is an excellent way to make existing homes more like new construction. Take into account what homes in your area are like. People like to purchase homes that blend with other homes around them.

• Replace the Roof
The roof is one of the first impressions people have of a home. Replace an old roof or change the character of your home by looking into architecturally styled roofing tiles.

• Landscape Your Yard
Landscaping is also an integral part of your home’s first impression. A professionally landscaped yard adds value to your home and increases your living space.

• Replace Old Windows
Thirty percent of a home’s energy is lost through its windows. Replacing old windows with energy-efficient ones ups the overall quality of the house and saves you money on monthly utility bills.

• Remodel Your Basement
Do you have space that serves as a black hole of unused items…like your basement? Remodeled basements make excellent game rooms or guest suites, adding value to your home without adding space.

• Paint, Paint, Paint
It’s been said over and over but can’t be emphasized enough. Hire a professional if you need help and keep the colors neutral if you’re looking to sell.

• Remodel Your Kitchen
Kitchens sell a home, and in this case, size does matter. But a kitchen remodel is a long-term investment; you’ll see payback 10 years down the road. Sometimes doing it yourself can save money, but always bring in a professional for the big jobs.

• Remodel or Add a Bathroom
A bathroom remodel can mean making the most of your current space by upgrading fixtures, flooring and lighting. Or add a bathroom and automatically increase the value of your home.

For more information on adding value to your home, visit www.nahb.org/remodel, or in Canada, www.chba.ca.
As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I am happy to provide specific remodeling suggestions based on your individual needs and home values in your neighborhood. Please e-mail me for more information or to receive a complimentary copy of Top 5’s Home Improvement Q & A Guide. Also, if you feel this article can be of benefit to your family and friends, please feel free to forward this email to them.

Sincerely,

MaryAnne

MaryAnne Simmons
Premier Real Estate & Home Services
Top 5 in Real Estate Member
MaryAnne@MaryAnneSimmons.com
www.maryannesimmons.com

I just attended the NAR Convention in Orlando, FL.

I really enjoyed the convention and trade show, as always.  Hands on perusal of all the new cutting edge technologies pertaining to Real Estate is always exciting to me.  Here on my blog is a new widget of new developments around the world that you can view, from a mapping of them, to great pictures and details.  You can also email me from the contact form about any of these new developments for more info and to even make an offer on one of these dynamic new homes, as a second or third home, or a permanent residence.  From Costa Rica to Dominican Republic to FL, there are about 28 developments with more being added. Check it out on the right side, plus  “view all my listings” are some of the homes for sale in the SE region of the U.S. in 13 languages !!!!   I love widgets !!!   And my webmaster is awesome  !!!

I also got a new little camcorder with usb cord to easily upload, but I have to learn to use the new software with it.

One great highlight of the convention was to hear Lance Armstrong speak to the general session.  He was the keynote speaker.  Lance wrote the book, as they say, on grit and fortitude.  He won the Tour de France cycling race seven times- seven record-breaking consecutive times after his battle with testicular cancer.  He challenged all of us Realtors and Brokers to “choose passion over fear, despite how tough things may seem”.  I totally agree.  He said that “cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me.  It taught me how to live, how to fight, and how to not be afraid.”  He now spends most of his time raising awareness about cancer survival.  Lance said he wants to come out of retirement next summer to compete again in the Tour de France race.  His  challenge of choosing Passion over Fear was presented in a very good uplifting address for cancer victims and survivors as well as all in attendance.