HOME IMPROVEMENT L
10 Value-Added
Upgrades by Darren Elms
1. CURB APPEAL First impressions are everything. They set the tone for a buyer of a home and are lasting. Your home’s appearance could be the difference between someone walking into the open house or just doing a drive-by. “On many occasions, I’ve had buyer’s wave at me to keep driving and not stop at the property we were suppose to view—just because they didn’t like its curb appeal,” says Bill Sadek of Realty West in Roseville. “Basically, there was none.” Checklist for home sellers: • Is there oil in the driveway? • How does the grass and landscape look? • Is the exterior paint fading and chipping? • Is the color outdated? When your property is inviting from the outside, it automatically adds value and extends the desirability of your home. “The front entry is especially important,” says Nick Sadek of NRS Real Estate in Roseville. “Try dressing up the exterior with either new landscaping or nice garage doors.”
40 stylemg.com - February 2014
Paint roller photo © pixelrobot/fotolia.com. Curb Appeal photo © Iriana Shiyan/fotolia.com.
ooking to sell your home in the near future? Or do you just want to increase the equity you already enjoy? There’s never a bad time to add value to your home, especially in today’s competitive market. But what home improvements give you the most bang for your buck? Before you go installing a brand new swimming pool, let’s take a look at 10 smart upgrades that not only attract buyers, but also give you more leverage with the selling price.