Small Upgrades That Go a Long Way

No one wants to spend a fortune when it comes to selling a home, but most want to spruce up a few areas to make their property more appealing to potential buyers. There are several types of small improvements individuals can make that can transform the look of a home without forcing them to break the bank.

When it comes to making home upgrades, it's important that sellers remember to go for simple, clean improvements that make homes look more modern and elegant.

New countertops

One of the first areas sellers often focus on when making improvements is their kitchen, and rightly so. Buyers may examine a kitchen space more closely than bedrooms and bathrooms because this is the area where a family will spend the majority of its time. However, unless there is significant damage to the room, sellers may not need to renovate the entire kitchen. Instead, small changes, such as replacing the countertops with a nicer material may be enough to give the area a newer and fresher look, according to AOL Real Estate. Owners should consider using materials that are common in neighboring homes. A buyer may be less likely to purchase a home with tile countertops when the surrounding homes on the market all feature granite or marble.

New doors


Many homeowners overlook the appeal of new front, back and side doors, but these features are some of the first that buyers see when they pull up to a home. Adding a new door or painting the current ones to make them stand out can make the home feel more welcoming. In addition, adding new handles and locks can make buyers feel more secure. Doors are relatively inexpensive, and can be installed by the owners themselves with little effort.


Replace hardware and fixtures


Old, ruddy cabinet handles, kitchen spouts and light fixtures can be a turn off to buyers and make the home seem outdated. Replacing these fixtures with modern, top-of-the-line hardware is a simple and affordable solution that can be done quickly. Most home improvement stores carry a variety of fixtures and hardware, and owners can compare costs easily by doing some research online.


While homeowners are seeking out new fixtures, they may also examine paint samples to freshen up the colors in their home and make it more inviting.

Examining Homes & Square Footage

Because square footage is often used as a basic statistic to define a property, home buyers should be aware that there may be some discrepancies at times. Many are surprised when they find out that not everyone measures square footage the same way.

This is partly about the difference between jobs, experts say. For example, when local governments are looking at square footage for tax purposes, they generally include livable, heated space, according to The Wall Street Journal. This typically means no garages, porches, attics or basements, but varies between localities.

Estimating size
When advertising a home, a real estate agent or home seller might include those spaces. There may also be an error in someone's records, or an addition that is not accounted for. In the last case, prospective residents should ensure any additions are properly permitted before buying a home, since they could otherwise end up paying for someone else's building code violation.

Assuming no mistakes are made, there are still other possibilities. Appraisers, when estimating square footage, may or may not count a finished basement depending on its condition compared to the rest of the home. Whether it counts may depend on how low or high it is situated. Additionally, Realty Times notes they may not subtract the space taken up by high ceilings from a second story, since that is often considered a desirable design and their job is to calculate value.

Beyond that, estimates may be made using different tools. Some professionals may use a laser device while others prefer a tape measure. In some cases, particularly when a space has an irregular shape, someone might estimate by looking.

Choosing a home
Because of all these factors, buyers should not concern themselves too closely with the precise square footage. Any discrepancies may be the result of different information sources, methods of estimating, or a clerical error omitting home additions.

Typically, the amount of space in a given room will be important to determine where and how furniture, appliances and other items fit, but experts recommend not becoming too concerned with the square footage as a number. Some sellers or their agents may list the source of the property's square footage, such as local tax records or an appraisal, which may give the buyers' real estate agent a clearer idea of what the number means.

Beyond that, buyers are generally advised to look at the space for themselves and evaluate it based on their own experience and needs, rather than numbers. Buyers should also keep this in mind when comparing different properties to each other or a past residence.

Extract: Because square footage is often used as a basic statistic to define a property, home buyers should be aware that there may be some discrepancies at times. Not everyone measures square footage the same way.

Love, Marriage & Real Estate

Today, more and more young adults are spreading their wings and enjoying life before choosing to settle down. The savvier have moved away from monthly rent and are taking advantage of the real estate market. As a result, it is not uncommon to see new marriages in which both the bride and the groom enter the union with a dowry that includes real estate!

So, what to do with an extra house? Perhaps the first temptation is to immediately sell one and use the proceeds to fix up the other house or buy something different altogether. A good idea, and one that will set you up with a nice down payment when it is time to purchase a larger house for a growing family.

This is not the only option for newlyweds with two homes. According to the professionals at Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation, another good idea is to keep one house as a rental unit. The tax codes allow you to immediately depreciate the value of the building over 27 years, and any taxes, insurance, visits to your property and fix-ups are all write-offs. With this approach, both homes are investments and you build equity in each. Or yet another suggestion is to sell one of the homes and buy a condominium to turn into a rental unit.

No matter which option you choose, consult with a knowledgeable real estate sales associate before making any big decisions. A good realtor will know the market and be able to counsel you on the type of cash flow you may expect with a rental in your particular neighborhood or whether a straight sale is the better way to go. If you choose to rent, seek the advice of a good accountant to help you navigate the various tax advantages to being a landlord.