7 Tips To Radically Update Your Home And Not Lose Money

< b>Everyone loves to update      walls as you can and still retain  their homes, and if you         the integrity of the home, and     live in an older home in an     the NECESSARY separation of        appreciating neighborhood, it can     rooms. If you compare older homes  be a fantastic investment.        to newer homes, you’ll notice      There are some pitfalls to avoid,     that older homes are typically     which can cost a homeowner quite      “choppy” while newer homes feel    a bit of money because of no          “open and flow well.” This is due  return on investment. However,        to “line of sight.” Newer homes    it’s better to focus on what TO       opt for less separation in rooms.  do and stay the course.               You can create this same feeling                                         by demolishing a half-wall that    1)Raise the Roof!!!            separates your kitchen from the    Not literally, but gut the attic,     living room or knocking down the   and raise the ceiling in, at          wall between the living room and   least, the living room. Older         dining room to create one grand    homes typically have 8 foot           room. You’ll be AMAZED at the      ceilings, and it’s one of the         difference it makes.               first characteristics that buyers                                        notice. It’s relatively               3)Overhaul Your Kitchen and/or  inexpensive, when you compare         Master Bathroom                your return on investment, to         These are the two rooms in the     demolish the ceilings of your         house that you can ALMOST go       older home and sheetrock over         overboard and still get your       your new, vaulted ceiling. It’s       money back when you sell the       amazing how much larger and           home. Refinish or replace the      lighter your home will feel.          cabinetry, put in new tile and                                           sinks – even install a new,        2)Knock Down Walls             stand-up shower! When (or if) you  Literally, knock down as many         put your home on the market, you   should see a GREAT return on          buyers decide whether or not       investment.                           they’ll “click on your house”                                            online to further investigate the  4)Add a Master Bathroom        interior. You can xeriscape a ¼    The 1-Bathroom houses from the        acre lot for around $3000, and     1970’s and earlier are now            you’ll more than make up for that  obsolete. Americans have decided      when your home goes on the         that we like a private bathroom       market. Furthermore, it’s          for ourselves and another             environmentally & fiscally         bathroom for our guests and           responsible. Stop wasting water!   children. While 90% of the house                                         additions are bad ideas because       6)Paint!!!                  they don’t flow well or create        It’s fairly obvious, but painting  poorly usable space, a master         your home modern, neutral colors   bathroom addition is a fantastic      makes a HUGE difference in the     way to add more square footage,       appearance of the home. And when   and more value to your home. Make     you factor in the cost – roughly   SURE that your builder ties in        $0.75/s.f. – it would be a HUGE    the new slab to the old, and make     mistake to forego painting your    sure that the addition is done        home when you decide it’s time to  properly. A poorly designed or        modernize it. If you’re planning   executed addition never adds          on staying in the home for some    value – most buyers immediately       time, paint it whatever colors     imagine demolishing the work.         you wish, but plan on repainting                                         right before it’s time to put it   5)Xeriscape Your Lawn          up for sale. If you plan on        It’s trendy, it’s cheap – it          updating your home in order to     should be a go! Your homes curb       sell it, go with neutral colors    appeal is the first thing that        so that it will appeal to the      buyers notice, and it’s how           widest audience.                                                         go with wood – it appeals to the   7)Put in Wood Floors           most buyers.                       You won’t ALWAYS get your money                                          out of installing wood floors. If     Updating your older home can    you’re in a great area, and it’s      be very fun, very rewarding, and   time to replace the floors, look      potentially very lucrative.    at the cost difference between        Older homes in established         tile, pergo, and wood. If your        neighborhoods are ripe for         home will sell for $250k+ then        updating and can draw a premium    forget about pergo and, if you        on the marketplace. Make sure and  choose tile, make sure it’s not       follow these guidelines, and you   cheap tile. If the cost               should see a great return on your  difference between wood and your      investment.                        other options is negligible, then                                     About the Author: Eric Bramlett currently manages his Austin Texas Real Estate Guide, his Tulsa Real Estate company’s website, & his Austin Real Estate Guide. Read more articles by: Eric Bramlett Article Source: www.iSnare.com