Real Estate and Remodel

Thinking about selling your house…hey, the real estate market is great…why not cash in and move up to something bigger and better. Great idea, but there are always a few things that should be fixed before that eagle eyed real estate home inspector comes around. Fix it now and put more money in your pocket on closing day. New paint and a few touch ups here and there to make your house look well maintained will make buyers want to snap it up in a heartbeat. You may even have buyers bidding to buy…a glorious and happy event, to say the least.

On the other hand, maybe you like where you are living and realize by the time you factor in real estate fees, mortgage fees, title searches, attorney costs, surveying costs, transfer taxes and moving expenses, staying put and remodeling may be the most cost effective idea. Great , but how do you decide where to spend your remodeling dollar.

Why, a new kitchen of course. We all love grandma, but her avocado and turquoise kitchen is long past it's prime. A modern efficient kitchen brings joy to any homemaker's heart. A bigtime kitchen remodel is the number one choice in major remodel decisions.

Time to replace that crusty old bathroom decor with clean new tile and a modern vanity with fresh new fixtures. You bet...bathrooms just seem to fall apart after about tewnty years. Cracks and chinks appear here and there. The whole thing becomes impossible to clean and sanitise with unstoppable mold and mildew seemly growing  out of the wall...and who in the world choose those colors anyway. Rip it out. New tub and fixtures and definitly new tile and vanity. 

Whether you decide to remodel or home upgrade, there are many decisions and plans to be made

Selling Your Home:

• Do I need to do some repairs on my home before I sell it. If so, what is necessary and what is mandatory.
• Expect a Home Inspection form the new buyer? How to survive and even make money.

Buying A Home:

• Know that some realtors will sell you anything, regardless of condition
• Do I need a professional home inspection?
• Make sure the home will fit your needs before you sign.

Remodel A Home:

 "Oh, I want it to look fantastic and beautiful." Doesn't just happen, you have to take the steps to get to that goal. Some people have what I call "vision" and others don't. Vision allows you to see what the completed project might look like in your mind's eye. Consult a designer or an architect if you are unsure about your plan. This will help eliminate major budget crashing mistakes.

Before you build, draw the floor plan and wall plan out on graph paper and make sure you measure, measure and re-measure. Pick out your cabinets and appliances first and write down the external dimensions. It is a major setback if your new refrigerator or pre-made cabinet will not go into the designed space. Drawing it out on graph paper can make all the difference in seeing how things will fit and work together. .

Remodel information abounds in magazines, books and on the Internet. Research what you want or need to do and make a budget. Decide what can you afford and what will the house market bear in your area.

Buying, Selling or Remodeling can be a wonderful experience or a dismal pit of despair. The outcome always depends on the decisions you make before you start. The time spent planning is priceless in assuring a happy and profitable outcome.