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Answers (21)
- Showcase Twins
- Contributions:69
Two words... Curb Appeal.
- Michael Ramos, "numberonereo"
- Contributions:701
Depends on what is old and run down,
But I will go in order from cheapest to more expensive.
Trimmings, paint, carpet,
Clients always look at the kitchen next then bathrooms,
the last tow i would say is roof then windows, depending on your budget go in that order
But I will go in order from cheapest to more expensive.
Trimmings, paint, carpet,
Clients always look at the kitchen next then bathrooms,
the last tow i would say is roof then windows, depending on your budget go in that order
- NTETS, "Mr Caveat"
- Contributions:6436
first, the question is months old, and sufficiently answered
second, in most markets the cost of redoing the floor adds nowhere near the value to make it worth it right now(unless your dog pees on your carpet or something). if you get .40-50 cents on the dollar, you would be lucky. especially with laminates or carpet where you probably have an equivalent product on the floor already.
same is true of kitchens and bathrooms .70-80 roi... this is because in most markets people are more concerned with price vs amenities...
this is why the GOOD answers below say "there is no magic formula" "case by case basis" or "ask a realtor what they would do"
second, in most markets the cost of redoing the floor adds nowhere near the value to make it worth it right now(unless your dog pees on your carpet or something). if you get .40-50 cents on the dollar, you would be lucky. especially with laminates or carpet where you probably have an equivalent product on the floor already.
same is true of kitchens and bathrooms .70-80 roi... this is because in most markets people are more concerned with price vs amenities...
this is why the GOOD answers below say "there is no magic formula" "case by case basis" or "ask a realtor what they would do"
- Flooring 2day
- Contributions:3
Remodel your floors! It is the best remodeling project you can do to add serious value to your home. Laminate and vinyl are both great products that look and act like real hardwood, but at the lower price end. You can save money and make money!
- Melody91
- Contributions:229
eSierra Vista -
All the pros say that Phyllis' comments above mine, are 'right on,' as in Kitchens and Baths bring the best buyers and best yield.
Also the moderate upgrades tend to yield more bang for the buck' than over-costly improvments. Rememeber that one does not want to be the most expensive home on the block.
Re-reading you question again, which was whether a skylight or a fireplace, was your actual question, made me re-think. Perhaps you were already telling us (silently) that your Kitchen and Baths are already AOK, and you are about to takyour abode a step further.
I think the answer depends on where you are, as well as the usual questions, of how long you intend to stay, for whom is this, etc?.
Both have skylights and fireplaces have pluses and minuses.
Also, skylights can leak; can give too much light; and if there is an electrical shade on them, it can be problematic during power outages.
As for fireplaces, there are so many kinds. Also many people are concerned aboiut pollutants as well. Also, are you thinking of building a vented one, or an indoor wall mounted modernistic one, with or without gas? Some Units that look aglow and have candles (need no venting, & do not pollute) can add a lot of atmosphere. They are not very expensive, and be incredibly charming...
Maybe the real question, as usual, is FOR WHOM, how long do you intend to stay, etc. It it for you only, & you hope or plan to stay 7-10 years; do whatyou want, as long as the Kitchen and Baths have already been updated? Hope I didn't read too much into this. If I did, then Phyllis put it better by neing more succint.
All the pros say that Phyllis' comments above mine, are 'right on,' as in Kitchens and Baths bring the best buyers and best yield.
Also the moderate upgrades tend to yield more bang for the buck' than over-costly improvments. Rememeber that one does not want to be the most expensive home on the block.
Re-reading you question again, which was whether a skylight or a fireplace, was your actual question, made me re-think. Perhaps you were already telling us (silently) that your Kitchen and Baths are already AOK, and you are about to takyour abode a step further.
I think the answer depends on where you are, as well as the usual questions, of how long you intend to stay, for whom is this, etc?.
Both have skylights and fireplaces have pluses and minuses.
Also, skylights can leak; can give too much light; and if there is an electrical shade on them, it can be problematic during power outages.
As for fireplaces, there are so many kinds. Also many people are concerned aboiut pollutants as well. Also, are you thinking of building a vented one, or an indoor wall mounted modernistic one, with or without gas? Some Units that look aglow and have candles (need no venting, & do not pollute) can add a lot of atmosphere. They are not very expensive, and be incredibly charming...
Maybe the real question, as usual, is FOR WHOM, how long do you intend to stay, etc. It it for you only, & you hope or plan to stay 7-10 years; do whatyou want, as long as the Kitchen and Baths have already been updated? Hope I didn't read too much into this. If I did, then Phyllis put it better by neing more succint.
- PHYLLIS BLOODWORTH, "ASK PHYLLIS"
- Contributions:64
THIS WILL BE SWEET AND TO THE POINT, YOUR KITCHEN AND YOUR BATHROOMS
- NTETS, "Mr Caveat"
- Contributions:6436
if my posts helped in any way, do me a favor and don't indulge the idiots below...
please dont feed the wild animals!
please dont feed the wild animals!
- Michael Crum, "Michael J Crum"
- Contributions:3
[self-promotional post, removed by moderator]
- Michael Crum, "Michael J Crum"
- Contributions:3
[self-promotional post, removed by moderator]
- edtilton
- Contributions:129
I did Solatube in a dark hallway and a bath that had no window, it really enhanced the value
- bamkmartin
- Contributions:104
Skylight! Fireplaces are a pain in the rear.
- John Crowe, "CroweHomes"
- Contributions:118
Think like a future buyer: is your house bright now, or fairly dark? Do most of the homes in your neighborhood have fireplaces? That should help you make a decision.
Also consider the money you will spend on each project and how long you plan to live in the house. One is a much more complex project (fireplace), something you'd certainly like to enjoy for more than a year, say.
Also consider the money you will spend on each project and how long you plan to live in the house. One is a much more complex project (fireplace), something you'd certainly like to enjoy for more than a year, say.
- Raymond Sinsley, "Timber Creek Const."
- Contributions:195
Velux skylights are the very best you can buy.
You might not need a full blown "brick" fireplace, maybe a pellet stove would do ?
You might not need a full blown "brick" fireplace, maybe a pellet stove would do ?
- Barbara Quintana, "buysalehouses"
- Contributions:5
Due to our warm AZ weather and the expense of a fireplace my vote is for Skylights because they are cost effective and brighten up a home!
- AWS Electrical Solar
- Contributions:14
In California are PV Systems, improve value of the house, no property tax , roi 6-10 years for residential.
- Tim Mehan, "tim.mehan"
- Contributions:6
SOAP and WATER
- Stephen Penrose, "stlrealestateguy"
- Contributions:45
Paint.
- NTETS, "Mr Caveat"
- Contributions:6436
under no circumstances should you google 'home improvement roi' and expect that the person blogging about any such thing has any idea what any improvements would return in any specific market. what sells in pheonix and what sells in little creek are very very different things. likewise the costs of installing something like granite and the price it fetches varys widely by city and sometimes even by neighborhood(let alone the type of granite). you can always find a local realtor/appraiser/interior designer for help too, but you will want to do research before you move on with any 1 plan
- NTETS, "Mr Caveat"
- Contributions:6436
PS
flip through "dueling diggs" i bet you see something you like... try to copy it, but keep a very tight rein on your budget.
great example of value added, the tile work and the under cabinet lighting brighten up the kitchen and make it look both custom and bigger. projects like those can be accomplished for just a few hundred dollars and are well worth the investment (rent the tile saw from home depot)
flip through "dueling diggs" i bet you see something you like... try to copy it, but keep a very tight rein on your budget.
great example of value added, the tile work and the under cabinet lighting brighten up the kitchen and make it look both custom and bigger. projects like those can be accomplished for just a few hundred dollars and are well worth the investment (rent the tile saw from home depot)
- NTETS, "Mr Caveat"
- Contributions:6436
it depends on so much... if your roof/furnace/water heater/appliances is 10+ years old, start there because they can wreck value.
next you want to take a que from your neighborhood. if no one has granite there is no reason to shell out for it. the neighborhood will hold your price down. Likewise if granite were "to be expected" not having it will be a turnoff to potentials. furthermore in this market you'll want to do the bare minimum because there is no guarantee of any value added. in fact most upgrades are losing 20-80% of their value right off the bat, especially the overpriced ones. your best bet for adding value is small inexpensive upgrades that have a huge visual impact.
custom tilework is a great do-it-yourself project and goes great in any cook's kitchen...
adding natural light to the living areas and bathrooms by virtue of solatube or skylight is pricy if you want to add for instance 6 but you save a little on electricity and more importantly it gives the impression of space. you usually cant go too far wrong(as long as you dont put it in the bedrooms). if you get a contractor for this job, you can probably negotiate a pretty good price of $200 a piece for skylights on a decent sized job... expect to pay 500 ea if you just get a couple.
fresh paint, new carpet goes a long way, but sometimes you can get away with some 409, elbow grease and 2 days with a rug doctor. remember it isnt a very good investment if you dont get more than you put in.
my last suggestion is to look at your sinks tubs and toilets. a house that needs a new toilet is always a turnoff.
next you want to take a que from your neighborhood. if no one has granite there is no reason to shell out for it. the neighborhood will hold your price down. Likewise if granite were "to be expected" not having it will be a turnoff to potentials. furthermore in this market you'll want to do the bare minimum because there is no guarantee of any value added. in fact most upgrades are losing 20-80% of their value right off the bat, especially the overpriced ones. your best bet for adding value is small inexpensive upgrades that have a huge visual impact.
custom tilework is a great do-it-yourself project and goes great in any cook's kitchen...
adding natural light to the living areas and bathrooms by virtue of solatube or skylight is pricy if you want to add for instance 6 but you save a little on electricity and more importantly it gives the impression of space. you usually cant go too far wrong(as long as you dont put it in the bedrooms). if you get a contractor for this job, you can probably negotiate a pretty good price of $200 a piece for skylights on a decent sized job... expect to pay 500 ea if you just get a couple.
fresh paint, new carpet goes a long way, but sometimes you can get away with some 409, elbow grease and 2 days with a rug doctor. remember it isnt a very good investment if you dont get more than you put in.
my last suggestion is to look at your sinks tubs and toilets. a house that needs a new toilet is always a turnoff.
- Nancy Lee, "An OrderLee Home"
- Contributions:1195
You can do an Internet search on 'home improvement roi' and find lots of ideas and the probable return in your investment when you sell.
Generally, to increase buyer's appreciation of your house, concentrate on (1) presentation - the first view a potential buyer has of a house when they arrive is critical. This includes yard, house exterior, entry/front door. (2) kitchen and bathrooms. While these should not be upgraded to the point they pull your price over the neighborhood average, within that price range these should be the best they can be.
If you have already handled curb appeal, kitchen, and baths; I suspect in most parts of the country fireplace is your best bet. But, if you are planning to sell soon, talk with local agents about what impacts sales best in your area. (And, while you do this, you may be able to select an agent to help you sell.)
Generally, to increase buyer's appreciation of your house, concentrate on (1) presentation - the first view a potential buyer has of a house when they arrive is critical. This includes yard, house exterior, entry/front door. (2) kitchen and bathrooms. While these should not be upgraded to the point they pull your price over the neighborhood average, within that price range these should be the best they can be.
If you have already handled curb appeal, kitchen, and baths; I suspect in most parts of the country fireplace is your best bet. But, if you are planning to sell soon, talk with local agents about what impacts sales best in your area. (And, while you do this, you may be able to select an agent to help you sell.)
what are th best remodeling projects that also bring the best home value increases?
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