Posts Tagged ‘kitchens’

Home Improvement Projects that Pay off

Friday, November 27th, 2009

Even with home values falling off over the last year, it still pays to remodel, renovate and update. After all, there is no better way to instantly increase the value of your Coppell home than through remodeling.

According to REALTOR magazine, homeowners can expect to recoup an average of 67.3 percent of their investment, nationally. Although this number is down about 20 percent from the peak of the housing expansion several years ago, it still reflects that it almost always pays off to remodel your home.

And there are a number of home improvements that almost always enable homeowners to recoup nearly 100 percent (or more!) of their investment. These include:

  • Decks
  • Midrange kitchen remodels
  • Vinyl siding
  • Window replacement

Many exterior home remodeling projects enjoy a nice payback because they increase a home’s curb appeal. With that said, it appears that the only interior remodeling project that pays back close to exterior remodeling projects is a mid-range kitchen remodel.

REALTOR magazine recently highlighted the national average that homeowners can expect to get back on popular, exterior and interior remodels:

1. Upscale fiber cement siding (86.7%)

2. Midrange wood deck (81.8%)

3. Midrange vinyl siding (80.7%)

4. Upscale foam-backed vinyl (80.4%)

5. Midrange minor kitchen remodel (79.5%)

6. Upscale vinyl window replacement (79.2%)

7. Midrange wood window replacement (77.7%)

8. Midrange vinyl window replacement

Seller Tips: Kitchen Upgrades that Won

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

As you have likely heard before, the kitchen is the centerpiece of most homes these days. It therefore comes as no surprise that kitchens sell homes.

If your kitchen isn’t exactly stellar, but you don’t have thousands to devote to a remodel, don’t despair. There are many ways to update your kitchen before you list your University Park home for sale:

  • Out with the old, in with the new. Outdated lighting does absolutely nothing for your kitchen and, chances are, it is the first thing buyers notice when they walk into your kitchen. Instead of scaring them away with outdated lighting fixtures reminiscent of bad 70s sitcoms, take a walk through your local home improvement center and check out all the newest lighting fixtures. From contemporary to traditional, there are a great variety of lighting fixtures that are sure to suit your style – and your budget.
  • Cover them up and go from there. If you are lucky enough to have wood cabinetry in your kitchen, but they’ve seen better days, there is absolutely no better way to instantly transform them than to give them a quick coat or two of paint or stain. While you’re at it, switch out the old hardware and handles with something more streamlined and clean, and voila, you’ve just updated your kitchen cabinetry for a fraction of what new cabinetry would have cost.
  • Say hello to new countertops. Old countertops that are nicked, scratched or just plain worn out can not be repaired. However, you can replace them with new, laminate countertops. Before you break out into a cold sweat when you hear the word laminate, don’t fret: laminate countertops have come a long way in just the past, few years. In fact, some of today’s laminate countertops are quite attractive, even mimicking granite or marble.
  • Everything and the kitchen sink.