Five Outdoor Upgrades to Increase Your Home’s Value

If you’re looking to sell your home and want to have it looking its best or you are just looking to make some changes for the better in your home, don’t forget about your home’s exteriors.  Improvements on the outside of your home can make your home stand out against all of the others and just make it more enjoyable for you and your family; especially during warmer summer months.

Five popular outdoor home upgrades from the real estate pros at the Equifax Finance blog are discussed in the recent article, “Increase Your Home’s Value With These Five Outdoor Upgrades.”   

• Outdoor kitchens – these have become very popular lately; they make outdoor entertaining easy with an outdoor sink, fridge, bar, grill, stove, TV and more

Get the Best Bang for Your Buck with these Home Improvement Tips from Equifax

Have you recently put your home on the market and looking to make some updates to make your home more attractive, while getting a good return on your investment? A recent Equifax Finance blog article, “Inexpensive Ways to Increase Your Home Value” gives some tips on easy, cost-effective improvements you can make on your home without busting your budget.

Update the flooring in one room of your home – Wide-planked wood flooring (five inches or more wide) is an updated version of classic wood floors, and is a way to make that room pop. Wood floors are easier to clean than carpeting and healthier than carpeting (it doesn’t trap dander and allergens).  Hardwood flooring is available starting at about one dollar per square foot and going up to six dollars per square foot, not including installation, which should be left to the pros, the article says.

Save Money Using Social Media

More ways to save money with remodeling by
sharing your experience on social media!

We’re all looking for ways to save money. And most of us spend at least some time each day on social media. Did you know that you could combine the two – use social media to save money? A recent Equifax Finance Blog article, “A Guide To Saving Money Using Social Media” explains how.

Following businesses on Twitter or Facebook is an easy way to get in on exclusive discounts or offers. Local small business owners often offer a percentage off, a small giveaway or other special offer for their social media followers, like a free coffee or 10% off a haircut with a Tweet or FourSquare Check-in. An increasing number of remodeling and construction shops are giving discounts for sharing pictures and testimonials of the work that was done with their products.

Stay Out of Debt: Budget Remodeling with Irregular Incomes

If your job causes you to have unpredictable money flow, it can be difficult to upgrade or remodel your home. The Equifax Finance Blog has some great tips about how to budget for your income of highs and lows so you can enjoy projects like a new kitchen or substantially upgrading your insulation and still avoid debt. Just check out good hints like these:

·         Set a salary – One of the best ways to set a budget for yourself is to create the illusion of a set monthly income, even if you don’t have one. To do this, experts recommend setting a low monthly salary for yourself. Simply examine your previous year’s income and base your monthly salary on the lowest months you had. By setting your average low, you will help ensure all your expenses will be covered even during your low earning months.

Budget DIY Home Repairs for Selling a Home or Living Happier

Stretch your DiY muscles to save money to live
happier and an easier time when selling a home

Whether you’re selling a home or just looking to refresh your home’s look, check out some of these tips from the Equifax Finance Blog in their article, “DIY Home Repair and Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget.”

When updating your home’s look, it is sometimes easier on you (and your wallet) to work on small details around you home first. Kitchens are often a big selling point for homes, so they are a great place to begin your DIY projects. Examine the details around your kitchen. Do you have dated curtains in the windows? Dingy or old hardware on your cabinets? These are two easy fixes that when changed, can add a more modern look to your kitchen. Simply put classic shades in the windows and change out old knobs and hardware for newer, reasonably priced ones. Voilà - these simple changes are as easy as that and take little time or effort!

Insulation Do’s and Don’ts for Real Estate

The Equifax Finance Blog has recently weighed in on the importance of going green in real estate, especially when it comes to energy efficiency. The new article “Green Real Estate Market Trends,” is all about easy ways to save money by making your home more energy-efficient:

• Do have an energy audit. Energy audits can save money by identifying the places in your home needing the most help and offering suggestions about how to improve your energy efficiency. If you’re not sure where to start, an audit is a great way to find problem areas and form a plan for savings.

Update Your Homeowners Insurance Annually to Stay Protected

Make sure your homeowner's insurance is upgraded
along with your projects!

How would it feel to reset your home to how it was when you first bought it? Would you be alright with living without any renovations you’ve made while still suffering the cost of the renovations? Of course not – which is why the Equifax Finance Blog points out why it’s important to keep your homeowner’s insurance in the loop in the recent article, “Renovating Your Home? Renovate Your Insurance Policy.”

For home improvement large and small, it’s important to keep a running track of your upgrades and their costs. Make sure to submit the list to your homeowner’s insurance each year or more often if you are having major work done. This protects your progress, allowing you to get the most money returned to you in the event of a disaster. To make it easier, it’s best to make a habit out of it and set a schedule with reminders as necessary to send updates to your policy holder.

Grow your retirement savings with Your Remodeling Skills

Build your retirement savings as you rebuild
and remodel homes!

If you’re keen on remodeling and design trends, you have a gift that you can make use of to grow your retirement savings. By getting a little capital together, you can turn a foreclosure from an eyesore to a desirable dwelling and net a profit. Best of all, you can defer many taxes on these ventures until you’re retired. The Equifax Finance Blog explains all about a great way for designers to build up their nest egg in the article, “Using Retirement Money for Real Estate Investments.”

Now is the perfect time to take one of the low cost foreclosed homes that are on market, and with a little work you can flip it – renovate modestly and give it some style before putting it back on the market. You can benefit from a flipped home by pricing it aggressively for sale or rent. Remember to be careful in pricing as there are others out there with the same idea as you, and you will also be competing against new foreclosures as they come onto the market.

Getting the Biggest Bang for Your Buck On Home Improvement Projects

Example of a replacement project which will
help you save money.

Real estate writer Ilyce Glink offers tips for getting the most of your home improvement efforts in her article, “Make the Most of Your Home Improvement Projects” on  the Equifax Finance blog.

Homeowners too often don’t think about the real bang for their buck that they will get out of a home improvement project. But, like any other major expense, you have to think about return on investment. You may think certain upgrades are a must-have, but when the time comes to sell your home, will buyers be willing to pay more for that upgrade?

Building an impressive bathroom or kitchen may not pay off as much as replacement projects will – replacing roofing, siding, windows, etc. To get a home in “selling shape” the best upgrades are often cabinet refurbishing, new countertops, paint, bright lighting and a clean floor. The experts say avoid luxury upgrades and focus on your market – if you live in an area where outdoor living spaces are hot, add a deck instead of overhauling your kitchen.