6 Tips That Will Improve Your Home's Value.

TINY UPGRADES...BIG MONEY

NO MATTER THE SIZE OF YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, THERE ARE STILL SMALL THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR RESALE VALUE! 

It does not matter if you are getting your home ready to sell or just want a couple of tips for improving the over all look of your pad. It is important to start where your money counts most. Many home owners and DIY-ers are making huge bucks from prospective buyers by focusing on these 6 areas of their homes. So let us help you get the best return on your investment possible! 

YOUR LAWN IS THE FACE OF YOUR INVESTMENT

This might be the easiest fix one can do at an affordable price. If it is fall or summer your curb appeal matters! When someone sees the FOR SALE sign outside your house, before they even see the bricks and Morter, they see the grass and bushes. If you have an abandoned refrigerator or an old tire from your first car in your front yard it might be time to get rid of that. Nothing screams welcome and attracts more buyers then a nicely maintained lawn. Make your realtors job easier and help him or her get more people into the house. 

YOUR BATHROOM, MIGHT COST YOU YOUR BUTT

(NO PUN INTENDED)

According to any good google search the average person spends nearly a year and a half of their life in the bathroom. Yes! So updating your bathroom and keeping it freshly painted or tiled will definitely raise the desirability and value of your home. Bathroom jobs can be pricey so it might be wise to consult with a real estate professional first. 

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

Alexa, turn on the kitchen lights... The age of using fingers to turn on the light in a room are over. Switches are so yesterday but if you decide to update the lighting of your place make sure its done right. Remember the old realtor adage "The brighter the room the larger it looks." Go to home depot and get some LED lights and watch your potential buyers shine! 

THE KITCHEN IS THE HEART OF THE HOME

"Home is Where the Heart is."

FALSE! The kitchen is where the heart is. When it comes to a family home, the kitchen is where people congregate the most! Since it's a human need to eat, most traffic and discussions within the home happen around or near the kitchen. So if you want to raise your home's value this is where you might need to start. 

A remodeled kitchen can make a huge difference in the sale of your home. Lacking the funds to redo your whole kitchen? Try replacing old appliances. The fresh chrome look always makes potential buyers happy!

HOLES IN THE WALL WILL CAUSE HOLES IN YOUR POCKET

This might seem obvious, but that hole you made 5 months ago should be patched and re-painted. For some first time home buyers a $15 job might look like a $1000 job. So, to avoid low offers patch the holes up. 

FRESH PAINT MIGHT MAKE YOU A SMALL FORTUNE

One of the best things a home owner can do to raise the value of their home is a fresh paint job. It's important to use natural and warm colors and avoid bright colors. Sorry, that includes baby blue and hot pinks. A fresh paint job is the equivalent to a new car smell. All potential buyers love a newly painted home. 

TIP: MAKE SURE YOU CONSULT AND HIRE PROFESSIONALS! NOTHING IS WORSE THAN A BAD PAINT JOB OR THE WRONG COLOR. 

Queens Homeowners: Cut your electric bill by nearly $700

What could you do with an extra $500-$950 per year? Would you save up for a weekend get away? Buy your kids the Christmas gifts they've been asking you for all year?

Saving money and home ownership go hand in hand. For most who live on a budget, it's important to cut corners and save where you can. Here are 8 ways you can save some money without  sacrificing much convenience:

Shut It Down

Ever thought about moving into Queens or Brooklyn? 

Not in the room? Lights off! 

When you decide to leave a room or retire for the night turn off all the power strips and lights in a room when not in use. You can get the kids involved by having a points and rewards system. When the habit's in place it would be impossible to not be conscious of it moving forward. 

Countdown timers or Smart lights

Alexa, turn off all the lights in the house! Yes, with technology that allows you to avoid the hardship of actually flipping a switch it should be easier. An alternative to this is motion sensor lights and countdown timers. 

Tip: With motion sensor lights, make sure your moving every so often, nothing is worse than being in the dark on the porcelain throne. 

SAVING ESTIMATE: $100-$300 per year

Heating and Cooling Hacks

Strategically use windows

-Install heavy drapes on your sunny windows. This will allow you to keep the sun out on hot days and help keep the cold out on winter days. 

Install a couple ceiling fans

-Installing a ceiling fan yourself isn't an easy task, but it has a large payoff. Spin the blades downward in the summer to promote cool air flow through your home. Run the blades clockwise during the winter to push warm are through your space. 

Fine tune that thermostat

-Yes, most people do this but it is worth mentioning again. During the winter turn the heat up when home and turn it down 10-15 degrees before bed and/or when at work. You can also apply that to air-conditioning in the opposite manner. 

Estimated Savings: 5-30% of yearly electric bill! 

 

Minimize Hot Water Use

Stop overusing that dish washer

Use your dishwasher only when you have a nearly full load! No more than once a day if necessary. Let's not be lazy you can rinse out your cereal bowl.

Wash clothing in cold water

With the strong cleaning properties of contemporary detergents, it's not shocking that they perform very well in cold water. If you have clothing that requires a hot water wash place them together and wash them together when needed.  

Fine tune the water heater

Lower your water temperature to 120 degrees F. As a plus, this technique can help you avoid hot water accidents. 

Estimated Savings: $100-$250 per year

So, that is how you can save money by being conscious of your energy consumption. Not only are you saving your pockets but you are helping the planet by leaving a small carbon foot print. What are some ways you save money?