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Like most Americans, your home is probably your single largest investment. While the value of your home is largely determined by such things as location, size, condition and amenities, there are still steps you can take to maximize its worth.
First, you need to evaluate your plans carefully if you're improving your home to put it on the market. Cutting corners could hurt rather than help your prospects, but you don't want to go overboard either. Your home's value should be no more than 20% above the average. That means a $10,000 kitchen improvement project might be a better idea than a $10,000 hot tub, especially if no other homes in your area have hot tubs.
In other words, it's best to keep changes simple.
more»
First, you need to evaluate your plans carefully if you're improving your home to put it on the market. Cutting corners could hurt rather than help your prospects, but you don't want to go overboard either. Your home's value should be no more than 20% above the average. That means a $10,000 kitchen improvement project might be a better idea than a $10,000 hot tub, especially if no other homes in your area have hot tubs.
In other words, it's best to keep changes simple.
more»
HouseMaster, a home inspection organization, urges homeowners to be proactive in making energy-efficient home renovations in order to receive rebates outlined in President Obama's new "Home Star Retrofit Rebate" program, recently introduced in Congress. HouseMaster provides the following easy check-ups every homeowner can do to optimize the energy efficiency of their home:
Windows and Doors: Holes in windows and doors allow conditioned air to leak and outdoor air to infiltrate. Caulk around windows and doors. Also caulk areas where plumbing lines or electrical wiring extend to the exterior of home.
Floor and Wall Insulation: Insulation acts as a barrier to heat and helps keep homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter-all ... more»
Windows and Doors: Holes in windows and doors allow conditioned air to leak and outdoor air to infiltrate. Caulk around windows and doors. Also caulk areas where plumbing lines or electrical wiring extend to the exterior of home.
Floor and Wall Insulation: Insulation acts as a barrier to heat and helps keep homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter-all ... more»
Do you remodel and stay....... or sell? How do you know if your remodeling dollars are well spent? How much can you expect to recoup from your investment?
According to the 2009 / 2010 survey published by Remodeling magazine, here's how it breaks down:
For a mid-range priced home, you can expect the average cost and recoup for the following projects:
Average Cost vs Expected Return on your investment
Bathroom Remodel $19,000
Recoup 60% of your costs
Bathroom Addition $48,000
Recoup 56% of your costs
Garage Addition $72,000
Recoup 63% of your costs
Convert a Bedroom to a Home Office $32,000
Recoup 47% of your costs
Major Kitchen Remodel $65,000
more»
According to the 2009 / 2010 survey published by Remodeling magazine, here's how it breaks down:
For a mid-range priced home, you can expect the average cost and recoup for the following projects:
Average Cost vs Expected Return on your investment
Bathroom Remodel $19,000
Recoup 60% of your costs
Bathroom Addition $48,000
Recoup 56% of your costs
Garage Addition $72,000
Recoup 63% of your costs
Convert a Bedroom to a Home Office $32,000
Recoup 47% of your costs
Major Kitchen Remodel $65,000
more»
The Denver-area housing market ranked No. 3 of the 20 cities tracked in the closely watched S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices report released today.
The Denver metropolitan statistical area was one of four cities that in November showed a year-over-year improvement, ?something we really haven?t seen in at least two years in most markets,? said David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor?s.
The Denver housing market showed a 0.5 percent gain in the year ending in November, bested only by Dallas and San Francisco, which showed a 1.4 percent and a 1.0 percent gain, respectively. San Diego also was in positive territory, with a 0.4% improvement.
Overall, the 20 markets in the index ... more»
The Denver metropolitan statistical area was one of four cities that in November showed a year-over-year improvement, ?something we really haven?t seen in at least two years in most markets,? said David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor?s.
The Denver housing market showed a 0.5 percent gain in the year ending in November, bested only by Dallas and San Francisco, which showed a 1.4 percent and a 1.0 percent gain, respectively. San Diego also was in positive territory, with a 0.4% improvement.
Overall, the 20 markets in the index ... more»
Denver performed the best of the 20 major metropolitan housing market tracked in the closely watched S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices report released today.
Denver's housing market showed only a only a 0.1 percent dip in housing prices in the year ending in October, compared with an overall drop of 7.3 percent for the 20 areas in the report. The 10-city index in the report fell overall by -6.4 percent.
"Once again, this shows the strength of the Denver market," said Gary Bauer, an independent Denver real estate broker. "We continue to lead the nation as far as recovering from the recession ? the recession is not over yet ? but we will be one of the first to emerge."
Bauer said that "two-thirds" of the ... more»
Denver's housing market showed only a only a 0.1 percent dip in housing prices in the year ending in October, compared with an overall drop of 7.3 percent for the 20 areas in the report. The 10-city index in the report fell overall by -6.4 percent.
"Once again, this shows the strength of the Denver market," said Gary Bauer, an independent Denver real estate broker. "We continue to lead the nation as far as recovering from the recession ? the recession is not over yet ? but we will be one of the first to emerge."
Bauer said that "two-thirds" of the ... more»