By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
When it comes to taking care of a home or remodeling, home owners can make some unwise decisions. ServiceMagic, a Web site that features a network of nationwide service professionals–including in home improvement–has an article “8 Things You Should Never Do to Your Home.” Here are a few common home owner mistakes that made its list:
1. Going overboard with remodeling. It’s easy to quickly let a budget go out the window when remodeling. For example, the ServiceMagic article calls “bump-outs” a waste of money; these are when you extend a wall by a few feet, such as to accommodate a bay window. However, the cost per square foot is so high that you might as well opt for a more sizable addition that can be done at a lower cost per square foot. Bottom-line: If you want to make a return on your investment, you want to keep your remodeling updates within the costs of your neighborhood and compared to similarly sized homes. (Also, see Cost vs. Value report to gauge average returns on investment on remodeling projects.)
2. Being in denial about your pet’s odor. Big or small, your pets smell and they probably shed too. Pets attach their smell to everything and guests who enter your home will immediately pick up on it. Experts recommend to have your carpets and furniture professionally cleaned every six months, and open the windows and vacuum frequently to help rid your home of any lingering pet odors.
Submitted by Case Design/Remodeling
Do-it-yourself projects are all the rage right now, between home owners looking to save money and eco-friendly trends in repurposing used household items and materials. But what are the top DIY projects that home owners are currently doing?
While Case Design/Remodeling’s blog typically focuses on larger remodeling topics like the pros and cons of open floor plans, they also offer creative home improvement ideas using repurposed materials and home updates to consider before you sell. Fred, a subsidiary of Case Design, focuses on home maintenance projects that home owners can undertake themselves or contract out through a handyman service.
Here are the top DIY and home improvement projects homeowners are doing right now, according to Joaquin Erazo, Jr. of Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.
By Myra Nourmand
Photo credit: Myra Nourmand
From cabinets and closets to attics and garages—when a home’s storage spaces seem like they’re ready to burst at the hinges, listings look cluttered and messy, and they risk losing the interest of prospective buyers.
So what are some quick, easy tips that will expand a home’s appearance and result in a faster, more successful sale? Here are a few common “problem” areas you’ll want to tackle.
A recent article at The Street lists 10 common home projects that drain home owners’ budgets and offer little return on investment, in citing findings from Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value survey. Do you agree with some of the projects that showed up on its list? Are these home projects a waste of money for home owners to tackle when it comes to boosting their resale value?
1. Pools: A $25,000-$50,000 investment and that doesn’t include the yearly maintenance costs and repairs that will undoubtedly be needed down the road.
2. Outdoor kitchens: Steel grills and gourmet pizza ovens outside can be nice in year-round warm climates but in cooler weather climates, many people would prefer the warmth of an indoor kitchen.
3. Garage addition: The cost of adding a garage spot could be about $58,000, but it only adds about $33,000 extra to your home’s value. You’d be better off replacing the garage door–which offers up to a 70 percent return on your investment at resale.
4. Backup power generator: A $15,000 expense can be extreme for the main reason to “prevent $30 in groceries from spoiling the next time a transformer blows,” The Street notes.
Kitchens are blending more into the rest of home interiors. A recent blog post from Home Design Find highlights some of the recent trends popping up in more kitchens this year:
1. Unmatched cabinets: Cabinet colors and materials are being mixed, such as darker colors for the base cabinets and lighter colors being used for upper cabinets to “provide a sense of openness,” according to the blog.
2. Downsized kitchen islands: While bigger used to be better with kitchen islands, more home owners are finding they can make do with a smaller kitchen island that doesn’t take up as much space.
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