Serving the North Shore, South Shore & Metro Boston Areas

Underwater Home Upgrades

October 11, 2012 by

 The mortgage for your house is underwater and you need to put it up for sale. What are some the most   economical home improvements you can make to increase the value without going over board?

1. Increase curb appeal with simple cosmetic changes. A little paint, general cleaning, sprucing up the yard, or planting some flowers go a long way.

2. Create more space economically. Finish off or redo the basement or convert a garage to create more living area.

3. Green is Good. Increase the home’s efficiency with energy efficient lighting, adding solar panels, wrapping pipes, upgrading insulation or converting to a tankless water heater.

4. Expand the interior. If you have a variety or small rooms, combine rooms by knocking out shared walls to create a larger, more useful space, and the feel of a much greater, modern expanse.

5. Use Every Inch. Take a good look around and see if there are any areas that are wasted space that could benefit from built ins [under stair closets, corners between cabinets that are not being used for anything, garage walls, etc.]. Maximum storage is always a great selling point.

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A Good First Impression Helps Sell Your House

March 7, 2012 by

It can’t be overstated—when it comes to buying a house, the first impression is everything. If you’re selling or getting ready to sell in the coming months, one of the easiest and most dramatic ways to enhance that first impression is through paint.

Fresh paint makes your house look clean, bright, and inviting.

Painting your house’s exterior and interior before you put it on the market give the biggest bang for your fix-up buck.

Agents agree that sellers shouldn’t take curb appeal lightly, especially when so many buyers are doing their homework and looking at the exterior of houses before they even contact an agent.

If nothing else, paint at least the door, door frame, and foyer or first room the would-be buyers will see.

  • Use fresh,  neutral colors. If you’re painting the exterior, make sure the color blends in with the neighborhood. Opt for whites, creams or neutrals. The PQI says these colors appeal to the greatest number of people.
  • Whether you paint yourself or hire someone, make sure all the prep work is done—washing all dirt away, and patching and repairing any necessary areas  on the surface before it is painted.
  • Paint railings, window frames, trim, and other accents to freshen up the exterior.
  • Promote any recent painting in your ads, flyers and online descriptions of your house. Homeowners and buyers place a high value on the painted appearance of a  home. Include the date the paint job was completed and the quality of paint that was used.

                                                                                                                                                                                       an exerpt from By Referral Only

 

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