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Home Improvements Pay Off

Granite counters and steam showers pay off; kitchen and bathroom remodels continue to be two of the best investments you can make in your house. They are the big, sexy rooms new home builders splurge on, so when buyers are shopping around that’s what they want in an existing home, too.

If you’re thinking about sinking some money into home improvement projects this year, keep a few things in mind. What you’ll get back on your investment depends on the value of your house, the value of houses in your immediate neighborhood, the housing market where you live, how soon you sell after making improvements, and the quality of the project itself.

Kitchens and Baths

In the hottest housing markets, springing for a kitchen or bath remodel is a sure-fire investment, often returning more than 100 percent of the cost. The Chicago market offered triple-digit returns on a bathroom remodel. Minor kitchen remodels also provided returns of more than 100 percent in many cities where an $18K investment netted an average of $27,000 on resale.

Kitchens and baths are the areas in a home “where you can tell if money has been well spent or not,” says architect Steve Straughan, a partner in Los Angeles-based KAA Design Group. “They’re the most expensive areas of the home in terms of construction. And they’re where people spend time in their homes.”

Beautify your bathroom.

Of all the rooms in your house, the bathroom is the center of activity. With lots of wear and tear, you want to keep it functioning well and do upgrades to make it look good along the way.

• Focus on your faucet. Bathrooms are not utilitarian anymore. People like to feel relaxed, like they are in a spa. Drop-sinks are out, people want the under-mount sinks.
• Go granite or marble with your countertops. If you are undecided about granite, your bathroom counter is most likely smaller than your kitchen counter and less expensive. This is a great place to start your first granite project.
• Forget about overhead lighting in favor of wall mounts to add warmth and value to your bathroom. Make sure that around your mirror you have even lighting with no side shadows.
• Heated floors attract buyers like bears to honey.
• Upgrade your bath area. With an 85 percent return, install a shower with body sprays and stone surround tile. If you are not selling right away, you will feel like you are in a Zen garden every time you step into your bathroom.
• Keep it clean. Dirt and grime can become embedded in bathroom surfaces very quickly. Freshen it up with new grout.

Upgrade the kitchen.

• Do a mini-remodel. Change the paint. Simple but effective. You can also paint a faux-wood finish onto your cabinets. This looks just like cherry.
• Add a splash of color with a new backsplash. New tile is attractive. Home improvement stores teach classes on this.
• Go stainless steel. The cold feel of steel is a hot ticket item for buyers. Transition your appliances as they wear out and go with a similar metallic look in your light switches.
• Make your kitchen pop with a rolling island.
• Hang a pot rack with fresh new pots, pans and a hanging wine bottle holder. With the rolling island, your kitchen will catch every buyer’s eye. You can take some of these things with you to your new home.

If you have specific questions on how to improve your home’s value to sell, give me a call. Together, we can get your home sold quickly at your price.

Thank You and Have a Great Day

Marina Jacobson
Broker, SFRDirect: 847-510-5009
Cell: 847-361-5605
Fax: 847-510-5109
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