The Smart Way To Look At Home Improvements

What home improvements really pay off when the time comes to sell your house?

That's an important question for any homeowner contemplating moving or remodeling. And the only possible answer is a somewhat complicated one.

That answer starts with the fact that really major improvements ? room additions, total replacements of kitchens and baths, etc., -- rarely pay off fully in the near term. It ends with the fact that small and relatively inexpensive changes can pay off in a big way in making your home attractive to buyers if your decision is to move now.

It's a simple fact, consistently confirmed across America over a very long period of time, that even the most appropriate major improvements are unlikely to return their full cost if a house is sold within two or three years.

Does that mean that major home improvements are always a bad idea? Absolutely not. It does mean, though, that if your present house falls seriously short of meeting your family's needs you need to think twice ? and think carefully ? before deciding to undertake a major renovation. Viewed strictly in investment terms, major improvements rarely make as much sense as selling your present home and buying one that's carefully selected to provide you with what you want.

Even if you have a special and strong attachment to the house you're in and feel certain that you could be happy in it for a long time if only it had more bedrooms and baths, for example, there are a few basic rules that you ought to keep in mind.

Probably the most basic rule of all, in this regard, is the one that says you should never ?unless you absolutely don't care at all about eventual resale value ? improve a house to the point where its desired sales price would be more than 20 percent higher than the most expensive of the other houses in the immediate neighborhood.

Try to raise the value of your house too high, that is, and surrounding properties will pull it down.

Here are some other rules worth remembering:

Never rearrange the interior of your house in a way that reduces the total number of bedrooms to less than three.

Never add a third bathroom to a two-bath house unless you don't care about ever recouping your investment.

Swimming pools rarely return what you spend to install them. Ditto for sun rooms and finished basements.

If you decide to do what's usually the smart thing and move rather than improve, it's often the smaller, relatively inexpensive improvements that turn out to be most worth doing.

The cost of replacing a discolored toilet bow, making sure all the windows work or getting rid of dead trees and shrubs in trivial compared with adding a bathroom, but such things can have a big and very positive impact on prospective buyers. A good broker can help you decide which expenditures make sense and which don't, and can save you a lot of money in the process.

About The Author

W. Troy Swezey is the author of "THE SMART WAY TO LOOK AT HOME IMPROVEMENTS." As a Realtor at Century 21 Paul & Associates, he has helped many individuals with their real estate needs. Visit his web site to download his free e-book, "REAL ESTATE SECRETS EXPOSED." http://www.TroyIsMyRealtor.com or mail to: TroyC21@usa.net

---

Can You Buy Luxury Home Brands Online and Save - Worry Free?

Are you frustrated with the high prices you've been quoted... Read More

Family Fun ? Is Swimming In A Safe Pool

Family fun is one of the most important things you... Read More

Roller Blinds

What is behind the popularity of roller blinds. Is it... Read More

Patios: The New Trend in Home Remodels

In years past a patio was sort of a throw... Read More

Pre-drawn House plans the Benefits and Styles

Pre-drawn house plans are those that are drawn by architects... Read More

Log Homes - Whats Different About Log Homes?

Newcomers to the world of log homes will notice that... Read More

Interconnects for Your Audio/Video System - Choosing The Proper Cables

Research & Development I began designing audio and video interconnect... Read More

Buyers Guide For Modern Mailboxes

Modern mailboxes are made predominately from cast aluminum or stainless... Read More

Checking for Asbestos in Your Home

If you are concerned about asbestos exposure you are not... Read More

Brighten Up Your Patio With Sun Catchers

Sun catchers add sparkle and beauty to any room in... Read More

Buy Area Rugs on the Web? What a Site!

After spending hundreds of dollars on your favorite Picasso print,... Read More

Planning Permission Tips UK - Off Road Car Parking - What Value - Do You Need to Apply for Planning

Isn't it a shame that for most folk, taking a... Read More

Types Of Bedsteads

Selection of bedstead is also an important thing as selection... Read More

Styles And Varieties Of Locking Mailboxes For Sale

Locking mailboxes made from durable, weatherproof materials are highly desirable... Read More

Why Double Glazing?

Why replace your single-glazed windows with double glazing ? For... Read More

What to Look For in a Drill Press

A drill press, also known as a pillar drill, is... Read More

Concrete Cutting: Shedding Light On Your Basement Remodel

Basements or cellars (depending on which part of the country... Read More

Art and Design

Maybe you've faced it before ? a new house with... Read More

About Lighting Your Home

Lighting is such a critical part of any home improvement... Read More

A Checklist for Bathroom Remodeling Plans

Careful planning is the key to a successful bathroom-remodeling project.... Read More

Tearing Down the House

Last year, we bought this big ol' 1887 house. We... Read More

Cleaning House and the 80-20 Rule

Cleaning house is one of those things that needs doing... Read More

Building a Backyard Play Structure

A child's dream backyard includes a play structure complete with... Read More

Replacing Steel Casement Windows

I have been getting quite a few emails from homeowners... Read More

10 Quick Ways to Change Your Fire-less Fireplace from a Black Hole to a Worthy Focal Point

Everyone loves a fireplace aglow with a roaring fire or... Read More

Electric Radiant and Floor Coverings

If the decision of what type radiant heating system to... Read More

Planning Lightning

When you are choosing a color scheme for any room... Read More

Comparing Types Of Conservatory Blinds

The cost of furnishing a conservatory can catch many people... Read More

Ceiling Fans ? That Dont Require The Ceiling

The trend in remodeling homes is to expand the outdoor... Read More

Do You Know How Important Your Air Conditioner Filter Is?

When most people think about an air conditioner filter, it... Read More

The Importance of Bedroom Design in a Home Decoration Project.

A home is a place where we live, spend most... Read More

The Art of Power Washing Siding

Some of the most common mistakes to avoid made by... Read More

Choosing a Vinyl Replacement Window Contractor

Whenever I write an article, it's usually tailored to the... Read More