Despite some periodic fluctuations in the housing market, homeowners know that the house they’ve purchased is an investment, destined to grow in value over the time that they own it. What some of them don’t realize is that there are a number of simple ways that they can help their home accrue value even more quickly. Here are some ideas to increase your home’s value that you can get started on next time you have a free weekend.

Simple Kitchen Renovations

Most of us spend a great deal of time in our kitchens; to that end, an attractive kitchen can also be a big selling point for people looking for a new home. If you want to improve your kitchen quickly, you might consider replacing your kitchen faucet and basin, cabinet door hardware, or outdated lighting fixtures.

Improve Home Security

Installing or upgrading your home’s security system can be a great way to not only improve your peace of mind as a homeowner, but to also to increase the value of your property. Many home security companies offer free installation with the purchase of certain security systems, so make sure you look around a bit to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

Give Your Bathroom a Facelift

The bathroom comes in close second to the kitchen for places where simple renovations can really improve the overall feel of the house and add some much-needed perceived value to prospective buyers down the road. Simple fixes include new faucets, new toilet seats, or even a new floor; replacing crumbling tile with easy-to-clean vinyl sheets can go a long way toward improving the fit and finish of this frequently used room.

Create New Storage Solutions

A big deal breaker for people looking to purchase a new home is a lack of storage. If you’ve found that your home is lacking for closet space, there are a number of attractive modular closet options on the market today. Some of the better-known manufacturers, such as ClosetMaid, even let you redesign your closet online before you commit to purchasing anything. All you need are some simple measurements to get started.

Replace Your Flooring

Old, dirty, or just plan worn-out carpeting can be a big eyesore. If you’re feeling ambitious, replacing the carpeting in your favorite room could go a long way toward improving the overall appearance and value of your home. Who knows? After you tear out a carpet or two, you might even find a hidden gem underneath, like wood flooring that the previous homeowner covered up years ago.

Get a Professional’s Touch

Most of these projects are things that the DIY enthusiast could tackle themselves if they’re feeling ambitious. For everything else, you can always turn to Seva Call for help finding the very best professionals in your area.

Stacey Waxman is a freelance tech writer. She can be found typing away on her laptop in cold Cleveland, OH. Stacey welcomes your feedback via email. 

A repair contingency clause is a part of the agreement between the buyer and the seller of a real estate property. They agree that if repairs are found to be necessary in the home, the buyer can opt to pull out of the sale or can have the seller pay for the repair.

This is a very important clause, especially when shopping for a house that has not been used for a long time. The buyer may not be fully aware at the time of purchase of all the repairs necessary. A repair contingency clause will help to give the buyer peace of mind when purchasing the property.

A contingency is protection against something that is not certain to happen, but can have negative consequences if it does. That’s why this clause is important. When buying a new home, clauses are important to protect the buyer from unwanted expenses.

Importance of a Repair Contingency Clause

Unless you are building your own home or buying a brand new one, this clause is important to protect you from surprises. Repairs to homes that had previous occupants may be very expensive and the seller may not choose to reveal all the flaws of the property at the time of the sale.

This is especially true when buying a foreclosed home, where the previous occupants may not have had the means to make the repairs themselves.

A repair contingency clause will protect the buyer from repair costs that may add up to thousands of dollars. Thus, it’s essential to have this clause in the contract, since it will save you a lot of trouble when purchasing a new home.

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Before deciding whether the condo life is right for you or not, do a little research on your own. Would you be willing to purchase a fancy condominium, join the homeowner’s association (HOA), and take money out of your own pockets to pay a considerable monthly (or annual) fee? How much would you be willing to invest in your own comfort? In order to respond to these questions, you need to take a few factors into consideration, like the average HOA fees, for instance.

What Are HOA Fees and How Do They Actually Impact My Monthly Budget?

Before buying that lavish condominium that you’ve always dreamed about, start thinking about all of the expenses that it implies. Of course, you’ll benefit from a wide range of amenities, including an elevator, an underground parking lot, clubhouses, a swimming pool, a gym, security gates and more; but these first-class amenities require a regular maintenance routine and trigger monthly expenses supported by you and the other residents.

If you want to make the most of luxurious amenities, be prepared to pay high HOA fees to maintain your celebrity lifestyle. Generally speaking, the average HOA fees range anywhere from $200 to $500, paid on a monthly basis.

Are There Hidden Fees I Should Worry About?

Living in a fabulous condominium has its perks, but it can definitely make you pinch pennies in the long term. Be prepared to deal with an extra assessment, charged by the association every single time a new improvement is taken into consideration and the HOA funds aren’t enough to cover its costs.

For instance, you might be forced to come up with more money, aside from your monthly HOA fee, when the association has to face significant expenses correlated with a new roof, a new elevator, a new gym, and so on.

Ask an Expert

Are you worried that your new condo life will leave you high and dry in no time? Want to know more about average HOA fees? In this case, contact a real estate expert as soon as possible to get accurate answers to all of your questions. Find the best one by consulting TalkLocal, your primary source of contact with hundreds of reputable service providers living and working in your area.

Location

When looking for tips for buying a new home, the question of location is one of the most important. You have to ask yourself where you want to live, obviously. However, this question is not as easy to answer as it may seem.

> Is the place accessible to public transportation?

> Is it accessible to freeways?

> Is it near schools? Hospitals? Malls? Parks? Do you like going to the beach, for example?

> How do you like to spend your weekends? Do you like taking leisurely walks in the parks or having picnics? Then, obviously, having a home that is accessible to places like these should be your top priority.

> What kind of neighborhood would you like to live in? Would you like a laid-back one or a fast-paced neighborhood?

Size

Again, this may seem obvious to some people, but it’s something that you should really explore.

> For example, do you own pets?

> Do you need a spacious yard for large dogs or for a big hobby?

> How many kids do you have, or how many rooms do you require?

> Do you plan on having a lot of guests over or hosting a lot of parties?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you need a spacious house.

Pricing

Now you have to take a good, hard look at your finances. You need to know just how much you are willing to spend on a new home. Are you willing to build a new home or are you willing to buy a built one? Buying a home that is already built can save you thousands of dollars, but you may not always get the exact specifications you want.

Need Help?

Keep these  factors in mind when shopping for your dream house. Contact TalkLocal today and let us help you find a real estate agent in your area, who can help you find your dream home!

Most homeowners will sell their home through a real estate agent or broker. However, many others will venture off to try and sell their homes on their own. By doing so, they have been able to successfully save a ton of money in the process. If you too are in the market to sell, then here are a few tips on how to sell your home for sale by owner.

Step 1: Prepare Yourself Mentally

In today’s market, it is extremely important to understand that you may not actually get what you feel your house is worth. Unfortunately, none of the sweat, blood, or tears that you’ve put into your precious home are going to dictate what you get out of it. The single most important thing that will dictate what you will actually get for your home is the “market.” What people are actively paying for comparable homes within a half mile of your home is the single most important thing that will help you in determining what your property will sell for. And if you’re not ready to face that number, assuming that it is less than what you expected, then you may just need to hold onto it a little while longer until the market shifts and people start paying more.

Step 2: Staging

Once you’ve come to terms with a fair and realistic asking price, then you’ll need to start getting your property ready for buyers to look at it. The first impression is everything, so you may need a few home improvements – this includes anything from the curb appeal to the paint on your walls. Most home buyers are drawn to clean, spacious, and uncluttered homes. They’re also drawn to neutral wall colors and warm, cozy spaces. So, as you prepare your home for selling, it may be a good idea to make a checklist of everything you need to do, while keeping these particular things in mind each step of the way.

Step 3: Marketing

If you’re not getting the word out there about the sale of your home, then no one is going to buy it. Here are a few ways to let people in the area know that your home is up for sale.

Use yard signs. You might place 1 or 2 signs in your yard, but you might also want to place a few on busy streets within a mile or so of your property.

Take tons of photos of the property. Video is even better. Share your photos or video online via classified ad sites such as craigslist and backpage. Place new ads every day until it sells.

Plan an Open House. Place classified online ads inviting potential buyers to the open house. Also, invite everyone you know, including friends, family, and neighbors. Be prepared to hand out brochures displaying the features of your property to each and every guest.

Step 4: Negotiate, Sell, & Profit

Once you start receiving offers, you can then begin negotiating the price. Average acceptable offers are typically between 91%-97% of the asking price. You may also be asked to contribute to closing costs. If that’s what it takes to close the deal, then it may be a good thing to consider. Also, be sure to close with a reputable title agency or closing attorney. They can assure you of a smooth closing. Upon title transfer, you may close escrow and take your check to the bank.

Need Some Sound Real Estate Advice?

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