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Why wait to have your home "Market Ready"?
All too often we wait to do the maintenance & upgrades to our homes until we are ready to sell. This can be overwhelming & expensive. Wouldn't you rather enjoy the upgrades a while before turning your home over to the new buyers?
I am in the process of doing just this at my home in
Lake
Forest Park . A simple hole in the wall between my kitchen & dining room created a view from the kitchen and additional counter/bar space for gatherings. Why didn't I do this ages ago? I wish I would have!
Our homes are our biggest investments and we need to maintain them as such. They are also our domain where we live our lives. I think it is worth the effort to have a plan for the upgrades & maintenance of our homes, making it part of the annual budget.
I am in & out of homes everyday. I see the good, bad & ugly of it. Call me before you begin. Let me visit your home & listen to your wish list & ideas. I can save you money & offer some expert visual suggestions.
Start at the top.
How old is your roof & chimney? It may not be leaking yet but it is worth taking a look. The chimney may need tuck pointing or a good cleaning.
When was the last time you cleaned the gutters?
Did you know that most often, water coming into a house is due to downspouts not directed away from the house's foundation? Or overflowing gutters that have not been cleaned.
Has your furnace been serviced lately? Did you have the vents vacuumed? Do you have a furnace that requires manually changing the filters each month? The quality of air we breathe in our homes is directly related to the furnace & air filters.
How old is your hot water heater?
Most last aproximately 10 - 15 years. Is it sitting on a catch pan in case of a leak? Is the pan insulated from the floor? Is it strapped to the wall in case of an earthquake?
Wish you had windows that were energy efficient?
See any paint chipping around the house?
These maintenance items can help preserve your investment & bring quality to your life.
My favorite upgrades:
Research the era of your home & maintain the integrity. Keep it consistant: avoid putting modern fixtures, doors or trim in a Craftsman or Victorian home & vise-versa.
Get rid of it! Edit your life's stuff. Donate it. Teach your kids to keep it simple & give to others.
Think about this rule of thumb; if you have not touched it in six months to a year do you really need it?
Let someone else make use of it, recycle!
New paint
New quiet bathroom fan
Open up the view to the outside or inside of your home.
Consistent trim, doors & hardware through out the house.
New light fixtures & switches. (Dimmers offer ambience)
Landscaping: The outdoors can offer you additional living spaces. Add a deck, some lighting or new house numbers.
Organize that Garage, Closet, Laundry room...
The bigger ones:
Upgrade the kitchen:
Make sure all your hardware, faucets, light fixtures & appliances match each other & the era of your home. The kitchen & baths are an easy place to bring the home into the new century & buyers prefer it be done prior to them buying.
Create a Master suite
Make the bathroom shine
Finish off that basement! Create more room to live & enjoy your home. Get the TV out of the living room, make a hobby space.
Hardwood floors: tear up that carpet or replace it with hardwoods!
I look forward to your invitation so we can get started.
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