3 EASY AT-HOME

3 Easy At-Home DIY Projects to Increase Property Value

Most homeowners have a lengthy list of chores and bit projects they intend to accomplish around the house. Oftentimes, those to-do items are completed piecemeal over a long stretch of time, or else sometimes not at all. However, when it comes time to prepare a home for market, all those tasks begin to pile-up and overwhelm. The list of things to do before the photographer comes or the first open house is held might seem endless, but not if you tackle just a few things here and there as you go. These sorts of projects—easy, DIY, at-home tasks you can accomplish in a few hours or less, with tools you most likely have on hand— go a long way with marginal effort.

Complete a quick rehab of closets and storage areas

Many agents advise clients to declutter and depersonalize their spaces ahead of professional photography and home showings. The idea is to provide prospective buyers with a neutral palette. Not only does this allow them to imagine their own lives unfolding within those four walls, but it also helps make a home’s square footage stand out. One way to add visual space to your home without calling in the contractor is to declutter common storage areas and closets. When buyers can get a complete look at a closet’s capacity, or a pantry’s depth, or the garage’s full functional potential, they get a better sense of a home’s potential and thus, its value. In that vein, consider decluttering and cleaning your high-traffic storage spaces: the garage, pantries, closets, attics, and basements. Besides, organizing and discarding unwanted items help you prep for a move anyway, while giving potential buyers a peak at how spacious your home really is.

Add easy curb appeal with a bit of sweat equity

Sure, curb appeal can arrive in the form of a new mailbox, pathway lighting, or updated house numbers, but it can also come cheaper than that. Curb extends to the upkeep of your lawn, landscaping, and home’s façade, and there are plenty of ways

you can give these zones a refresh without spending anything but time. Keeping your front and back yard green and uniform adds a lux layer to exterior square footage. Likewise, polishing the outside of your windows, trimming hedges, and sweeping the walkway can make a tidy and wellcared for first impression. There are other measures you can take too. Planting wildflower seeds in empty beds, or collecting some landscaping rocks to frame mulched areas can add a bit of character to your residence. Repainting the front door, ensuring trees are trimmed, and keeping back patios neat and uncluttered also underscore a home at its finest, which is ripe for buyers to snatch up.

Transform tiled spaces into sparkling clean surfaces.

Bathrooms and kitchens are where sellers can stand to add plenty of value in the process of selling a home. While pricey renovations might be out of the question for some, there are still affordable and time-effective ways you can transform for these spaces for the better. Cleaning,

bleaching, or redoing your tile grout—in either kitchens, bathrooms, or other tiled spaces—can give these high-trafficked areas a new lease on life. Ensuring windows, mirrors, stainless steel appliances and backsplashes are streak-free and polished also demonstrate to buyers that your home is well-cared for and practically move-in ready. Sometimes, the devil is in the details. You might consider relining drawers, changing out knobs and fixtures, or else decluttering cabinets and shelves for a fresher look.

No matter the challenges ahead as you prepare your home for sale, completing a few small tasks every weekend or so can put you miles ahead of the competition. Without spending a dime, you can add serious value to your home’s bottom line, setting you up for success as you begin your own home-shopping adventure.

ZACK ABOONA

ZACK ABOONA

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be born in a different country, move out to a new one as a child, and lead a life many simply dream of? Born in Iraq and having moved to the United States at the age of nine, that is exactly what took place for Zack Aboona. If anyone knows the value of hard work, it is Zack. It all started when he was a young boy moving to a brand-new country and adapting to this new language and culture. His life experiences have led him to be the successful Real Estate Agent that he is today with new deals coming at him left and right. Zack is an example of the American Dream. The question is how did he come to achieve all that he has by his mid-thirties what many people strive to achieve their whole lives? To start he began working at local businesses while attending Wayne State University to pursue a degree in Business. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Global Supply Chain Management in 2016. He went to work for the U.S. Department of Defense as a linguist in 2010 and served with the United States Military in Iraq for a period of two years. When he returned to the United States, he pondered what he could possibly do that would allow him the flexibility to continue his education. In came real estate and little did he know his life would soon take a turn as he stumbled into his passion.

When asked if he genuinely enjoys his job, Zack responded “I feel so blessed to be doing something that I truly love, helping people start the next chapter of their lives”. He went on to say, “It’s about taking the time to really get to know your client

and listen to their needs, so that you can find them that perfect home they can make a lifetime of memories in”.

After ten years in the business he is proud to say that he is a partner at Keller Williams Lakeside and has a team of professionals on his side to service his client’s needs. Zack prides himself in providing excellent customer service. He knows that buying your first home or your last home are important life decisions. He makes it a priority to ensure that his clients receive the best representation possible and that they are tended to on an impeccable level.

“Zack is knowledgeable and professional! He helped my wife and I purchase a beautiful first home. His attentiveness to our needs and ability to be there every step of the way will not be forgotten. We are grateful to him for his exceptional service” said Kevin K.

Raquel O. said “Zack is awesome!!! He always answered all our questions and made himself available. He helped us sell our home in just 3 days and he helped us find a new home that was perfect for our needs. We are so thankful to have worked with such a wonderful person”.

Zack believes in giving back to his community which is why he is involved in mentoring younger agents who are getting into the business of Real Estate in hopes that they too can find the passion he found for it. “Real Estate is a rewarding field and I hope to give others the chance to have the incredible opportunities that I have been fortunate enough to experience”. In addition to having a successful career, Zack is a family man blessed with twins who keep him and his wife extremely busy in the best way possible. There is never a dull day in Zack’s life, and he would not change a thing. For more information about Zack Aboona, please call 586-524-2424 or email zackaboona@kw.com