Home Design and Improvement

Posts Tagged ‘Improvements’

A survey that was carried out by Dynamic Markets for GE Money Home Lending revealed top ten home improvements in terms of adding monetary value to your home. The UK is a nation obsessed with Do-It-Yourself home improvements. However, the survey revealed that homeowners were failing to consider the monetary returns that home improvements carried out by them would bring.

The survey revealed an interesting fact on home improvement perceptions held by the homeowners. The combined value addition of the top three modifications that homeowners believe will add the most value fell short of the value added by the estate agent’s top-most choice. It shows that homeowners are not aware of the trends in the home market and they just carry out modifications as per their wishes, paying scant regards to the monetary value that would be added to their homes.

According to the survey, the top three home improvements as recommended by 100 estate agents across the UK are loft conversion, extension and conservatory. On an average, these home improvements will respectively add £22,300, £19,271 and £11,904 after costs. The homeowners believed that new kitchens, bathrooms and redecoration were the most valuable home improvements. The total average value that these home improvements add to your home is almost £18,000 – much less than the top-most home improvement suggested by the estate agents. Homeowners have a big advantage in borrowing money because they can provide their home as a security and, in turn, ask for low interest rates as well as a large loan amount. Home improvement loans that are secured against home can allow you to borrow a maximum of £250,000.

Home improvement loans can also be taken without providing any security to the lender. These types of unsecured loans may not allow you more than £25,000. If your financial requirement is small, you can consider taking such loans. The benefit in this case is that you do not have to wait for long periods. Generally, the lenders sanction unsecured home improvement loans within 2-3 days. These days you can apply online for any type of loan, whether it is secured or unsecured.

Home improvement loans prove useful in spreading the entire cost of home modification over a convenient period of time. For example, if you plan to spend £20,000 on home improvement, this cost can be distributed over 60 months and you will have to pay only around £333 per month, excluding interest. Funding large expenses with the help of loans is a wonderful help for salaried class people who may not be able to spend in lump sum.

Many “for sale by owner” sellers find themselves asking, “is it imperative for me to have a home warranty and make home improvements?” There are some significant advantages to having a home warranty and making improvements.

If the “for sale by owner” home is in inadequate condition, it may need a few home improvements. If you want to enhance the price of your home, improvements are your best option. This may be disadvantageous if your home is in good condition. In this case you might spend a thousand dollars on improvements, but the sales price will not enhance by a thousand dollars. In most cases, adding improvements to the kitchen and bathrooms will enhance the price of the sale.

With an investment of one thousand dollars in home improvements, you will generally enhance the sales price by about nine hundred dollars. Any work that can be done independently will cause the improvement to be vastly more profitable. In other words, a thousand dollar project where you do all the work may cost you less than five hundred dollars. You will maintain a nine hundred dollar sales price increase, therefore, you will have a net gain of four hundred dollars.

One who invests money into a home that will be sold must be very heedful. Investments to improve the home do not always yield a large enough return. When the seller is unable to generate a profit from home improvements, they will have to leave that obligation to the buyer. There is one exception to this. You may be forced to invest in improvements to the house if the house is in such inadequate condition that you are unable to sell it without making home improvements.

If at any point you feel that your “for sale by owner” home has been repaired enough to go on the market, you may want to consider a home warranty. A home warranty is short term insurance that covers the major appliances, electrical system, plumbing system, heating and air conditioning for the time span that the home is on the market. In most cases, the seller will pay for this three or four hundred dollar warranty. However, there is a %different% approach that many sellers take. They include this cost in the sales price of the home.

People who build new homes will invariably purchase home warranties. It is intelligent to purchase a home warranty for an older home as well if you consider all of the older appliances, plumbing, and electrical systems.

When you get a seller’s warranty, advertising that you have a warranty on the home is very imperative. You have to make prospective buyers feel as satisfied as possible with making their purchase, and this is an inexpensive method for doing so.

A buyer’s warranty is not as common. The buyer will pay for this warranty. This warranty will cover the home for a year after the closing date. This warranty is comparable to the seller’s warranty in that it covers all of the same systems and appliances. The buyer chooses who pays for this insurance. Every year, this warranty can be renewed if the buyer sees fit.

It can be very profitable to have a home warranty and make home improvements.

Article by Gloria Williams

Are you ready to upgrade your home but are worried about sinking money into investments that may never see a return? Well here are a few home improvements that experts say will pay off now and in the future:1. Kitchen & Bath RemodelingKitchen and bathroom remodeling is a sure-fire investment that often returns more than 100 percent of the cost. People spend a significant amount of time in kitchens and baths, so you want to make them inviting and tranquil for yourself and future buyers. Buyers are beginning to expect upgraded kitchens and baths now more than ever before. Upgrades to consider include: tile or hardwood flooring, granite countertops, new or resurfaced cabinets, and stainless steel appliances. For the master bath, floor-to-ceiling, walk-in showers are a hot commodity (literally). Sleek, walk-in showers have actually replaced whirlpool tubs on buyers’ wish lists, so if you have to pick one or the other, go with the shower. Keep in mind, if your home only has one bath, the upgrade you’ll want to make is adding an extra bathroom. While buyers are still charmed by older homes that may only have one bath, functionality and practically may be a concern. If you have a three or four bedroom home with one bath, it will certainly pay to add a second bathroom. For more budget-friendly upgrades, try adding a tile backsplash, updating light fixtures, or replacing cabinet hardware and faucets.

2. Home Maintenance While not the most glamorous of home improvements, this is one of the most important. Buyers won’t be enamored by your beautiful new kitchen if there is a musty smell coming from the basement or the siding is rotting. A top priority should be making sure your home is structurally sound on the inside and out. Essential home maintenance projects include repairing the roof, replacing the siding, and correcting water leaking from the foundation, just to name a few.

3. Curb AppealBefore you can get buyers inside to see your interior improvements, your home has to be appealing on the outside. Upgrades can range from simple, such as pulling weeds, to more complex, like building a front porch to add interest and charm. You may also consider planting shrubs and flowers, pressure washing your driveway, painting the exterior, or adding walkways and extra parking space. If you have outdoor living space (deck, patio, or porch), stage the area with comfortable seating and dining furniture. In a nutshell, your exterior should convey a sense of welcome.

4. PaintPainting is an affordable home improvement that can give any home a facelift. Paint makes a home look and feel younger and better taken care of. When selecting paint colors, go towards the warmer, more neutral tones in order to appeal to a wider range of buyers. Try textured or faux paint in a focal space like the dining room for a distinctive, unique touch.

5. Adding Extra Living Space According to a study by the National Association of Realtors, every 1,000 square feet added to a home can increase the sale price by 30 percent. This can include adding a sunroom, bathroom, attic bedroom, or even a deck for outdoor living and entertaining space. Or if your home has a basement, you may be able to take advantage of a whole extra level of living. Basements are great for game rooms, guest suites, bars, or play areas. For some of the more trendy, high-end housing markets, there is a demand for the luxury of home theaters, wine cellars, and yoga rooms, but be sure to consider your housing market and neighborhood before embarking on one of these upgrades.

6. FlooringFlooring is one of the first things that will be seen (and felt underfoot) by a potential homebuyer. The most in-demand flooring choice is hardwood floors, which is a proven resale value booster. A classic like red oak is always a good choice, while trends are also moving towards exotic woods like bamboo and wider-planked boards. If you already have hardwood, refinishing your floors is a great way to bring back their luster and brilliance. Tile is also a popular flooring solution for bathrooms, kitchens, foyers, and laundry rooms, and should replace any existing vinyl flooring. Lastly, the softness and comfort of carpet or areas rugs is perfect for bedrooms and play areas. If new flooring is not in the budget, be sure to have your carpets cleaned before putting your house on the market.

When considering all home improvements, be sure to keep in mind a few key factors. What you’ll get back on your investment is dependent on how soon you sell after making improvements, the value of your house, the value of houses in your neighborhood, the housing market in which you live, and the quality of the project itself.

For more information or other home design tips, visit http://www.pizazzfloors.com.

About the Author

Pizazz Floors & Interior Design is a family owned and operated flooring and home design company, specializing in all types of flooring; including hardwood installation & refinishing, custom hardwood designs, carpet, tile, laminate, and vinyl. Pizazz also provides kitchen & bathroom remodeling with granite countertops and custom backsplashes, stone work, trim, cabinetry, and faux paint. Pizazz has been creating beautiful home designs for Metro Atlanta since 1995. Pizazz Floors offers a FREE in-home consultation, during which a design expert will meet with you in the comfort of your home, educate you on the products and process, and help you choose a home design that you’ll enjoy for years to come. Pizazz Floors works with a reputable installation crew of service professionals that deliver quality workmanship and fast scheduling to get your job done according to your timeline. Visit http://www.pizazzfloors.com.

by PB-PSBear

Saving money on home improvement projects is easy when you consider home improvement savings are primarily seen in the choice and type of contractors you hire.

Typically it is the labor fee’s you pay to have the work done that vary from reasonable to outrageous. It pays to shop around particularly for home improvement savings.

In fact you are probably investing money into home improvement in order to make money at the back end of a future home sale. In most cases home improvement really pays off so if home improvement savings translate into more sales and a penny saved is a penny earned then there you have more home improvement savings after all.

So what is the best way to cut corners and see tons of home improvement savings?

Take a look at how we have trimmed our budget and seen our own home improvement savings:

1) Determine what’s most important. Design a real plan and do what is priority first. For example, if you want a high grade pocket door, you can budget a lower cost vinyl flooring vs. hardwood, or vice versa. Always budget for what you really want the most, first.

2) Cosmetic changes are very affordable and make for huge home improvement savings. For example, changing your room color is simple and cheap with paint vs. using a cherry wood paneling with recessed lighting.

3) Lighting, lighting, lighting, it makes a world of difference. I ordered a 0.00 pendant light for a room, and it looks totally modern and cool. That one 0.00 light made the living area look like a million bucks. Don’t skimp on certain products and you will see more home improvement savings at the end of the day.

4) Use the budget home improvement stores with bulk items and big lots of home improvement savings. I’m unsure if you have them in your area, but a store like “Hoods”, (look them up) is a great way to save money on all sorts of home improvement savings items.

There are a lot of options available if you are serious about home improvement savings. Purchase stock cabinets and refinish them yourself, instead of custom ones. Oh, and don’t forget to watch the home improvement shows for more great ideas and home improvement savings ideas.

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