The common renovations mistakes sellers make and how to avoid them, by Ruby Frazier.

By Ruby Frazier

The Common Renovation Mistakes Sellers Make and How to Avoid Them

So, you want to sell your home, and you have heard that doing some renovation here and there will significantly improve the value of your home. But are you also aware of renovation mistakes that have the potential of sinking you into irreparable problems, massive costs, and worse, a low return on investment?

Remodeling your home, if done properly, can be both financially and mentally rewarding, and as a homeowner, you hope to spend less while increasing the value of your home. It, however, is easy to fall in head fast and make common renovation mistakes. But to avoid these common mistakes, you must be aware of them.

1. ADDING CUSTOM FEATURES

You might want to add custom features that might make the home more attractive in your creative mind. The problem with doing this is that the very pretty feature might only be attractive to yours only. In fact, the buyer might find them appalling and might be put off making an offer on the house. If you are thinking of selling your home, remove any custom feature and leave a blank slate which the next owner may customize to their own taste.

2. MAKING COSMETIC REPAIRS

You might get carried away with giving your home a facelift. Primarily focusing on making it more visually appealing but unfortunately neglect to address real structural features. The cosmetic repairs may make the home appealing, but they are a money suck. On top of that, you will more than likely end up spending more money addressing real structural damage in the long run. Therefore, save yourself money

3. REMODELING WITHOUT A PLAN

Remodeling is a project and, like any other project, requires a well-laid plan. Without a plan, you plan to fail- A failure that will cost you more money and long delays. So, before thrusting yourself into a renovation project, carefully outline what has to be done, when it will be done, and how much it will cost. If things get a little shaky during the renovation, the plan will ground you and save you the unnecessary cost.

4. SKETCHY DIY

If you are big on cutting costs, the prospect of “do it yourself” may be very appealing. But it is prudent, to be honest with your skillset, and should they be adequate, you should consider whether you can achieve quality and safety in your projects. Poor DIYs result in a waste of time, and even worse, you might create more problems than you initially had. It is perfectly okay to want to do it yourself, but realistic, can you achieve what you have in mind?

5. EXPECTING A DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR RETURN

ON REMODELING REPAIRS

A common mistake that renovators face is expecting a dollar-for-dollar return on their upgrades, which is rarely the case. Many think that if they spent 15,000 dollars on a bathroom upgrade, that automatically raises their home by $15,000. In reality, the improvement increases the value of your home but not the exact value you put in. Remember, you want to save as much as you can; therefore, focus instead on minor repairs that will give you a higher return on investment (ROI).

It is easy to get carried away with renovating your home, overlooking pitfalls that will be a money drain. Homebuyers might not share your taste, and that’s fine; make renovations that will give them a chance to make it their own. It is also crucial to note that less is more, don’t break the bank buying big-ticket items and repairs that will result in you getting a low ROI. A plan is very important if you are to finish your project on time and save money. When you are done with your renovations, get yourself a real estate agent that will get you value for your home. The Power Is Now Media Inc. has a wide range of real estate agents and experts spread across the nation who will be happy to work with you. Head on to www.thepowerisnow.com and meet your real estate agent.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ruby Frazier is the President and CEO of Frazier Group Realty Inc., a full-service real estate company with a dynamic team. Frazier Group Realty is located in the heart of Downtown Riverside, California, servicing the Inland Empire, Orange, and Los Angeles counties. Focusing on residential and commercial real estate as well as property management. Ruby has been in the real estate industry for over 13 years. As a highly versatile, results-oriented real estate sales professional with extensive experience in residential and corporate real estate, including industrial, multi-family, and property management, Ruby believes in delivering high-quality customer service. You can reach Ruby directly on her Phone Number:(951) 202-9075, Email: rubyfrazier@fraziergrouprealty.com.

As you look for your next home, get yourself a preapproval from our very own Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA, at 800-261-1634 ext. 703.

ABOUT THE POWER IS NOW MEDIA

The Power Is Now Media is an online multimedia company founded in 2009 by Eric L. Frazier, MBA, and is headquartered in Riverside, California. We are advocates for homeownership, wealth building, and financial literacy for low to moderate-income and minority communities. The Power Is Now Media corporate office is located at 3739 6th Street Riverside, CA 92501. Ph: 800-401-8994 Website: www.thepowerisnow.com

Eric Lawrence Frazier, MBA. President and Founder, The Power Is Now Media

Works cited

https://themurogroupre.com/8-common-home-renovation-mistakes-to-avoid-forsellers/ https://therealestatesolutionsguy.com/5-mistakes-sellers-make/ https://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/remodeling-mistakes-thatcan-cost-you-money-when-you-sell-pictures

A PROFILE OF DERRICK JOHNSON

WHO IS DERRICK JOHNSON?

Derrick Johnson by profession is a lawyer and humanitarian. Currently, he serves as the 19th President and CEO of the NAACP taking over the position from Cornell William Brooks. Before becoming the national leader of the NAACP, Derrick served as the president of The Mississippi state NAACP Chapter and the vicechairman of the Board of Directors.

Apart from taking an active role in leading the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, Johnson also founded the Mississippi nonprofit group One Voice Inc., which aims to improve the quality of life for African Americans through public engagement.

EARLY LIFE

Mr. Derrick Johnson was born in Detroit in 1968 and, attended Tougaloo College in Jackson, MS. He then continued onto Houston, TX to receive his JD from the South Texas College of Law. In later years, Mr. Johnson furthered his training through fellowships with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the George Washington University School of Political Management, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has served as an annual

PICTURE SOURCE

guest lecturer at Harvard Law School, lending his expertise to Professor Lani Guinier’s course on social movements, and currently works as an adjunct professor at Tougaloo College.

His Time As The President of Mississippi NAACP Chapter The spirit of activism was always in Johnson, but it would become apparent when he joined the NAACP Chapter of Mississippi. Mr. Johnson dedicated all of his life and career goals to defending the rights and improving the quality of life of Mississippians.

During his time serving as the president of the state chapter, Derrick led several critical campaigns for voting rights and equitable education. One of the most remarkable achievements during his years as the president of the Mississippi NAACP Chapter was the successful management of two bond referendum campaigns in Jackson, MS that brought $150 million in school building improvements and $65 million towards the construction of a new convention center, respectively.

As the regional organizer at the Jackson-based nonprofit organization, Southern Echo, Inc., Mr. Johnson provided legal, technical, and training support for communities across the South.

Because of his bold activism in the state, the Chief Justice of Mississippi Supreme Court appointed Johnson to the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission and the Governor of Mississippi appointed him to Chair the Governor’s Commission for Recovery, Rebuilding, and Renewal after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

THE FOUNDING ONE VOICE, INC.

After Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Johnson founded One Voice, Inc. whose mission is to ensure an equal voice to traditionally silenced communities across the South and to also improve the quality of life for the African American community through civic engagement training and initiatives. Through collaborative efforts with traditional and nontraditional allies, One Voice has played a pivotal role in building alliances that transcend organizational and racial boundaries.

The organization over the years has been able to uncover significant needs within the nonprofit sector including access to current and relevant data required to do effective policy analysis. In addition, One Voice has been able to improve the connectivity at the community level between the trained and networked community leadership and non-partisan, communitybased structures through which broad public involvement could be organized and sustained.

One Voice has spawned an annual Black Leadership Summit and the Mississippi Black Leadership Institute, a nine-month training program for community leaders. One Voice works toward achieving a progressive civic infrastructure in the American South by supporting

“In this role, I have an opportunity to work with over 2,200 units across the country to ensure that they are effective advocates, to ensure that they have a strong voice, to ensure that the association can really have an impact on public policy and increase the quality of life for all citizens,” Johnson during a phone interview with reporters.

local and state policy development through training and collaboration across issue areas and geography.

BECOMING NAACP PRESIDENT

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the oldest civil rights organization in the country. Derrick Johnson took over the leadership of the NAACP, becoming the Chief Executive, which was actually a position he was holding in an interim capacity for several months.

The move to place Mr. Johnson on the leadership role came in after the Association promised a systemwide refresh, and at a time there were concerns that the Association was losing ground to younger, more dynamic social justice groups.

“In this role, I have an opportunity to work with over 2,200 units across the country to ensure that they are effective advocates, to ensure that they have a strong voice, to ensure that the association can really have an impact on public policy and increase the quality of life for all citizens,” Johnson during a phone interview with reporters. “We must ensure that we have a strong national voice,” he added. “For too long, we have operated with restrictions in terms of our voice.”

Over the past, the association has been criticized for opting for risk aversive and bureaucratic tactics compared to the younger groups like the Black Live Matters, a racial justice organization formed in 2012 after the murder of Trayvon Martin in Sanford Fla., Michael Brown on Ferguson, Mo., and many others.

But, to put off the noise and the criticism, Mr. Johnson said the Association was working in tandem and actually supported the young civil rights movements and young activists and that the association was in close communication with the groups. “Activists today are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “Our goal is to provide whatever support we can to any configuration of young people who are willing to add their voices to policy discourse.” Mr. Johnson is the 19th president of the Association which was founded in 1909. The Association has been extremely vocal especially in the mid 20th century when Jim Crow Laws were legalized and practiced in the country. Additionally, the Association has been here waging battles against segregation, voter suppression, systemic and institutional racism.

The NAACP Board Chairman Leon Russell said that Johnson has proven himself as ”the strong, decisive leader we need to guide us through both our internal transition, as well as a crucial moment in our nation’s history.”

”With new threats to communities of color emerging daily and attacks on our democracy, the NAACP must be more steadfast than ever before, and Derrick has the vision, mobility, and courage to help us meet that demand,” Russell said in a statement.

Coming in as the president of NAACP, Derrick set out his record straight stating that his top priorities would be fighting voter suppression and ensuring that all children receive a quality education.

NAACP CAMPAIGNS UNDER PRESIDENT JOHNSON THE 2018 LOG OUT CAMPAIGN

Under President Johnson’s leadership, the NAACP has undertaken such efforts as the 2018 ”Log Out” Facebook Campaign, pressuring

Facebook after reports of Russian hackers targeting African Americans, the Jamestown to Jamestown Partnership, marking the 400th year enslaved Africans first touched the shores of America. A Report for the US Senate Intelligence Committee into Russia’s social media activity in so far as the elections were concerned revealed that black voters were specifically targeted by the Russian Operatives on social media. Research showed that Russians sought to confuse, distract, and ultimately discourage African Americans from voting.

”Facebook’s engagement with partisan firms, it’s targeting of political opponents, the spread of misinformation, and the utilization of Facebook for

propaganda promoting disingenuous portrayals of the African American community is reprehensible,” said Derrick Johnson.

2020 WE ARE DONE DYING CAMPAIGN

In a statement, NAACP Wrote, “Now is the time to protect our communities more fiercely than before. As our communities suffer from the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become painfully obvious that we are still not immune to the racism and prejudice that has afflicted this country for generations. We must demand that state, local, and national leaders take every measure possible to curtail the Black death rate and provide an equitable recovery from this COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Association also called for deliberate and intentional Criminal Justice Reform to ensure the protection of all black lives and also the expansion of the Home Confinement Pilot Program which is under the First Step Act and a reduction in sentence for non-violent offenders. Additionally, according to the NAACP Website, the Association has “Expansive student loan relief to include a suspension of student loan payment until the economy gains strength, discharge of student loans for essential workers, and automatic cancellation of at least $20,000 in federal student loan debt for all.”

As the Biden Administration took office in 2021, President Johnson led the charge in calling for a Cabinet-level position focused squarely on advancing our nation’s longstanding issue of racial justice. President Biden signed an Executive Order establishing an interagency effort to eliminate systemic racial barriers and ensuring federal policies are rooted in equity, optimizing the wellbeing of all in public policies.

President Johnson also continues to be on the frontlines on some of the most pressing civil rights issues of our time, calling out Virginia Governor Ralph Northam for his use of Blackface, condemning the burning of Black churches in Tennessee and Louisiana, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to Attorney General William Barr’s nomination, and overseeing the NAACP’s vote to impeach President Donald J. Trump at the 110th National Convention in Detroit. President Johnson elevated the Association’s visibility and voice as we called for a national response to the coronavirus pandemic that was informed by existing racial disparities in health care outcomes, access, coverage, and services, as well as the disparate impact of COVID-19 on African Americans and other people of color.

ADVOCACY FOR HEALTH CARE

Health care is a basic right to every American, but this promise and right to Americans have fallen short. The overall health of a person is attached to his community conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age. For African Americans however, geographical, income, and race have been a longstanding predictor of their health outcomes. And in recognizing the critical importance of quality health care, President Derrick Johnson has long advocated for expanded Medicaid eligibility, affordable health insurance options, and investment in community-based health care infrastructure through a strong network of equitably located, well-resourced community health centers.

The NAACP President has called for the “expansion of Medicaid as a short-term measure to cover healthcare for those who are impacted by the pandemic.”

NAACP ADVOCACY FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP

Early last year, NAACP joined hands with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, in a partnership that will help ensure that black individuals and families have access to quality financial education, appropriate financial products, and assistance to help them have better chances at increasing African American wealth through homeownership.

In a statement to the Atlanta Daily World, NAREB President, Donnell Williams said that his organization stands together with NAACP in a renewed commitment and effort to the African American community.

“The “R” in NAREB stands for “Relationships” and this agreement demonstrates the power of relationships through partnership. We are grateful for this opportunity to fortify and expand our current relationship with the NAACP, which has proven to be a pillar organization for our people for 110 plus years. Our members are the commanders

and guardians of our communities and this MOU will provide the template, framework, and formula for successful collaboration which will create positive change nationally and globally. We must work together to organize and strategize our efforts.”

Top of the list of the partnership MOU between NAREB and NAACP include;

• Collaboration on NAREB’s 2MN5 (2 million new black homeowners in 5 years) program related target market research to enable generation of prospective buyers in various markets nationwide. • Collaboration on NAREB’s House Then The Car initiative, which is an expansion of 2MN5. This initiative focuses on increasing homeownership amongst creditworthy, mortgage-ready black millennials. • Encouraging NAACP members to post properties for sale within NAREB’s REALTIST Referral Network (RRN). For every property referred and sold within the RRN, an agreedupon contribution will be made to the NAACP by the identified REALTIST (NAREB) member/ practitioner involved in the transaction. • Hosting and participating in various joint events focused on homeownership and other wealthbuilding strategies at regional and national conventions/conferences or in agreed local markets. • Development and publishing of a series of recurring, multimedia, public information, and marketing campaigns designed to promote awareness of homeownership opportunities/ benefits and to promote increased levels of black homeownership/wealth.

President Johnson is frequently featured on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, and many others, advocating on behalf of the Black community and all those who are affected by systemic oppression and prejudice.

Sources

https://support.naacp.org/onlineactions/HTLjqYG940WATTV_Y_SUUQ2 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/racism-naacp-national-protests-george-floydderrick-johnson/ https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/journeytojustice/2017/10/21/ naacp-names-derrick-johnson-new-ceo/787312001/ https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/21/us/derrick-johnson-naacp-president.html https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2020/02/17/naacp-and-narebannounce-partnership-to-increase-black-homeownership/ https://www.blackenterprise.com/naacp-and-national-association-of-realestate-brokers-sign-agreement-to-increase-black-homeownership/?test=prebid https://www.tougaloo.edu/tougaloo-alum-named-naacp-president https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/naacp-names-derrick-johnson-presidentamid-time-tremendous-challenge-n812971 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_Johnson_(activist) http://www.democracyinitiative.org/derrick-johnson-0