Luxury Valley Homes Monthly Real Estate Newsletter

Page: 1 2  3 4 February 2010 - Page 2 RESALE UPGRADES High-Return Home Renovations For Under $1,000 Adding value to your home is easy even when the economy is uncertain. Here are different projects for three of the most popular rooms in your home that won't break your budget. All add value to your home should you want or need to sell this year. Perk Up Your Kitchen Flooring is something that takes a continual beating in your kitchen. Consider your options for hardwood, bamboo, ceramic, vinyl and linoleum to spruce up your kitchen floor for less than you might expect. Other under-$1,000 upgrades include replacing your dishwasher. If yours is manufactured before 1994, it uses up to 8 gallons of water per cycle whereas new ones use 3 gallons or less. Give a tired sink a new faucet. The day-to-day activities in your kitchen could prove a little more enjoyable when you have something nice and new to use and admire. Refresh Your Bathroom Chances are you have a bathroom with a dated tub or tile color. A cheaper alternative to replacement is to refinish (resurface) the area. Neutral colors for the refinish give you the best price and payback upon sale. A good refinishing job can last 20 years. Update a vanity cabinet. Consider a coat of paint or look to big-box retailers for an in-stock replacement. If your cabinet is still in good condition, consider only replacing the top with granite and under-mounted sink(s). Don't forget that you can get great deals on floor samples and at online sites like craigslist.org. Install a new bathroom faucet or showerhead to improve the look and decrease water usage (and your utility bill too!). WaterSense products exceed federal standards and can cut water usage up to 30%. Bedroom Retreats Get your closet under control with a rework using a new organizing system. Built-in components give a custom look, but drawers and cabinets can be costly. Consider using shelves with bins and organizers instead. Consider improving the lighting in your closet with LED lights to save energy. Cool down your bedroom with a new ceiling fan/light fixture. The energy savings from circulating warm air in the winter and cooler air in the summer can make this update pay for itself over time. Convert lighting to LEDs. Bedside lamps that don't disturb your mate are attractive and easy to install. Wall-mounted lamps with swing arms let you to read in bed with focused light. TRENDS Buying, Living And Remodeling The Green Way The trend to go green, stay green and build green continues. Home buyers realize energy-efficiency is good for utility bills as well as the environment. Sellers underscore the improvements they've made, the savings they've realized, and added home value when it comes time to sell. Owners of green homes use less energy and/or less water and have a smaller impact on the environment. How can you take advantage of the green movement with your home? Owners To make green remodeling even sweeter, you can enjoy generous tax breaks and other incentives for incorporating green features into your home. For example, Uncle Sam will credit you 30% of the cost to retrofit your home for solar electricity. Plus you may be able to "sell" any surplus electricity back to the grid to reduce your power bills even more. Buyers If you're in the market for a new home this year, you may find that buying a green-certified home is not as costly as you might expect. In a recent three-year pilot program, homes that qualified for green-home minimum standards cost only 2% to 5% more than conventional homes, according to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system of U.S. Green Building Council. Sellers Before you put your green home on the market, consider getting it certified for energy efficiency or environmental impact by an independent third party. Local and regional certification programs exist in addition to the national LEED for Homes program. Check www.GreenHomeGuide.org to find one near you. Even if you don't go for energy efficiency certification, be sure to list the water-saving features of your home, including any newer high-efficiency toilets and plumbing fixtures. Provide information on any solar energy systems in place, including installation, maintenance and warranty information. List every energy-efficient appliance you've installed. Consider having a hazards inspection done before listing your home for sale to ensure no mold, radon, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pollutants in paint, etc. are lurking in your home. A specially qualified inspector will be needed for a hazards inspection.   DISTRESSED HOMES: Worried About Foreclosure? No matter what your financial situation, selling a distressed home is a stressful time for all involved. We are here to answer your questions, be a liaison to your lender, list and sell your home if possible to avoid foreclosure and support you through the entire sale process. Please call us for a confidential consultation. We want to help you make the best move possible for your long-term financial health. Page: 1 2  3 4