16 Projects You Can Do - Instead of A Renovation, To Sell A Home

Thinking of a major renovation before selling that home? Let’s look at what you may want to consider before you sink a lot of time and money into something that may - or may not, pay off in the long run.

Countless people have added any number of expensive improvements to their property, hoping for a payoff at closing. Lots of times it just turns out to be a costly lesson. So, let’s examine a few things you can do to give your house a nice appearance before you consider that remodel.

First, as we always advise, take pictures of your interior – from lots of different angles. Get on the floor and snap away. This will help give you new insight on views from the lower level. We’ll tell you why you need to do this in a second. Next, get up on a ladder and take pics from the high ground.  Not only do you get a new perspective, but you can see repairs and replacements that need to be made high up. Finally, get every wall of every room at eye level. OK. Now you’re ready to plan your attack

Look at those outlet faceplates. Yeah, you probably ignore these utilitarian heroes, but now you can’t. Are they grungy, or broken? Chances are good they are. Because we see them every day, they tend to be a blind spot for us. Much like everyday clutter, we just don’t see it. For some reason, it just doesn’t register in our brain. But, let us walk into someone else’s’ home, and we see it immediately. It’s just how our brain thinks. This is also why we asked you to get pics from floor level. Just as you think of yourself differently when you see a photo of yourself, you will also think differently about your interior space.

While you’re at it, think about adding outlets that also have USB power plugs on them as well. These are cheap and easy to install – even good ones. Believe it, or not, this will move some buyers in your direction because you are considering how they will use the space. Especially Millennials.

What do your vents really look like? Contractors replace these when they sell previously owned homes because it needs to be done. Dingy vents not only take away from the look of your home, they can affect the value prospective buyers attach to your property. They’re cheap. Replace them.

Add some lighting. Remember those pictures we talked about? Look for dark areas in rooms that get used a lot. Look for older style lights – think kitchen, my friends. Look up. Is there a long florescent tube light staring back at you from the ceiling? Time for an update. The good news is changing light fixtures is a somewhat simple project. You can get the same type of bright lighting in your kitchen from a different, more up-to-date fixture. More on that below.

Change your bulbs! It’s that simple. LED lights are not only more efficient, they’re “tunable” according to the mood you’re trying to set for a room. Comfortable rooms need a warmer, yellowish light, whereas modern, and utility rooms need whiter, cleaner lighting. Imagine trying to work in an office space in your home with subdued lighting. Not a good fit, is it? People have to use desk lamps for a reason. LEDs are available that produce yellowish light just like your old incandescent bulbs, but they only use 26 watts to produce 100 watts worth of light.

Houses themselves have differing “personalities” based on their architecture. To enhance the feeling of the build, your lighting choice is important. Modern interior architecture demands pure, white light to display both the contrast and the crisp lines. Whereas, early constructions are more at home with a soft, friendly lighting. You will find that each room will demand its own particular lighting, according to its use.

Why LED lights? Unlike fluorescent lights, which are cranky about dimmer switches - at best, LED can easily be used with a dimmer. Soon, you won’t be able to find incandescent lighting, at all, so it’s not really a consideration anymore.

Add and replace ceiling fans – even on the patio! You will be amazed at what a new fan will do for the attractiveness of a room/deck. Of course, you’re going to have to match the character of the interior with a specific style of fan, so this is going to require some research. Fortunately, just like lighting, there are huge numbers of fan styles out there – from single bladed fans for modern architecture, to a “palm leaf” style for exterior units. Some exterior fans even have misting heads built into them. 

Look at your stairs. Are the runners worn? Is the carpet in need of replacement? Stairs are always a high traffic area, and get more use, and wear than what you realize. Let’s go back to your photos, and take a closer look. It may only take a couple of coats of stain and clear coat to make those stairs look ideal, or a nice carpet runner. Either way, this is a small thing that makes a huge difference when someone sees it for the first time.

Speaking of paint, what do your walls and handrails look like? Paint can always be problematic. Not just because it always seems to aggressively collect grime and handprints, but because we paint our interiors to please us. If you’re really trying to sell your house, you’re trying to get people to see themselves in this house. You’ll need to seriously consider painting in neutral colors; especially if you have rooms you’ve painted in bright, or dark colors. Just because you like royal blue, certainly doesn’t mean buyers will see your vision for the room. Just repaint it. Grays seem to be the recommendation, at the moment.

Your cabinet faces could use some attention. Short of outright replacing the faces of your cabinets, you can give them a good cleaning, staining and polish. Yes, this is going to take a bit of time, but it’s a lot less time than it takes to replace the cabinets, or even just the doors. Once you have this taken care of, you’ll also want to look at replacing the hardware with something more current. You’ve already replaced the lighting, right? See if you can coordinate the hardware to work with the lighting for a planned look.

Popcorn ceiling? Remove it! You’re going to have to look on the net for various solutions, and it is some hard work, but it can be accomplished as a do-it-yourself project. Nothing says “dated” like this ceiling type. Even if you have to hire someone to do this for you, it’s a lot less costly than a remodel, and it will help with the overall appearance of the room. Enough said.

Organized storage areas complete a room. You’ve seen those roll-out cabinets and lazy Susan built-ins at your local big box hardware store. They’re popular because people really want them, and especially if they’re already in a home they’re looking at. This can make a home much more interesting to a prospective buyer. Not only that, but you’ll get more use out of your space until you sell that home. The more innovative, the better, but don’t go overboard. This is supposed to be about small improvements, not remodels.

If you have real wood paneling in a room, make it attractive. Clean that wood within an inch of its life. No one likes a dusty, grungy paneled room. Period. You don’t see it for the same reason you don’t notice the cracked wall outlet plates, but everyone else will. Wainscoting on a wall, while an older style, can be beautiful in a home that’s built for it. Think beach homes. This style is often painted, so you may be looking at a weekend project to tackle this, but the new coat of paint will make your rooms look beyond great.

Even tiny wall cracks are very noticeable. These really don’t take much to repair. Some spackle and sanding, and you’re done. Now comes the hard part. Be prepared to paint the entire wall. Matching old paint to new is nearly impossible, even with color matching technology. Just paint the whole room. You know it probably needs freshening up, anyway.

Baseboards are always a concern. They make or break a room. Even when they’re cut correctly, over time, they are huge dirt and ding collectors. They take plenty of abuse that we don’t even notice. Other people will. While it is their function to protect walls, we need to inspect and repair them every once in a while them, or they can work against us. Yes, you may have to fill in some dents and scratches, but wood filler, sandpaper and paint are an inexpensive fix for an ugly problem.

The trim around the doors takes some heavy abuse, too. Like your baseboards, trim is meant to protect the edges of your door frame from abuse, and usually does such a great job that it begins to show wear and tear very shortly after you move in. Again, wood filler, sandpaper and paint do wonders for refreshing trim.

Smells stink! There are obvious differences between fragrances and odors. The former can cover the latter, but only temporarily. Imagine walking into a home of people who love to cook fried fish. You get the idea. Don’t mask it; clean it. I’m not going to lie, this is a tough job. But, even if you paint you still won’t get rid of the smell of old grease and detritus in between the stove, dishwasher and refrigerator. You’re going to have to pull them - and the kitchen drawers, to get into the nooks and crannies where the smell hides. It will be worth it – even in the short run. And don’t forget the grease filter in the kitchen hood. This is a huge hiding place for odors. Soak this thing on a degreasing detergent, and use a bristle brush to get it all (this will take a couple of soaks if you’ve not done it in a while.)Now you get to enjoy a fresh kitchen again, and so does your prospective buyer.

Bonus Info:

Small Maintenance Items That Make a Huge Difference

Oil the hinges on your doors. Squeaks are more than annoying, they scream lack of maintenance.

Lube your garage door mechanism. Chains, hinges, runner wheels and anything that can wear or rust.

Clean your kitchen hood fan blades. Again. Odors breed here – especially old grease smell.

Clean out the refrigerator drain pan. Any residual stink is probably coming from this culprit.

That dishwasher really doesn’t clean itself. To get rid of odors, you have to clean that thing out.

Pressure wash your driveway  - and use a degreaser. You’d be amazed at how good it looks.

Reseal that driveway. If you have cracks, they’ll only get worse if you don’t repair them.

Replace your old, drippy faucets. Chances are good they’re wildly outdated (especially the bathroom.)

Check countertops for separation from the sink. Mold from enclosed moisture isn’t pretty to deal with.

Get that chimney cleaned. Not only dirty, but also a safety hazard if not cleaned yearly.

Check for roof leaks. Just because it’s not raining in your house yet, doesn’t mean they’re not there.

Get your septic system pumped. Yearly! Your smelly backyard and prospective buyers will thank you.

Showers and Tubs need re-caulking. Age, use and water weight in the tub will cause caulking to fail.

Pressure wash your deck. Like your driveway, it accumulates grunge with age.

Check and clean your gutters. Seeing a waterfall from the edge of your house means you need to.

Repaint any flaking exterior surfaces. You know it needs to be done. Pick a weekend to spend in the sun.

Check toilets for leaks or wobble. If you pull a toilet to inspect for leaks, replace that wax ring.

Congratulations. If you’ve made it this far down the check list, you are well on your way to impressing your prospective home buyers. This seems like a lot, and it is if you’re trying to do it all at once. However, if you set up a maintenance check list – feel free to use this as a starter, then you’ll have everything ready by the time you decide to sell your home. If you do decide to sell, we’re here to help. Just drop by at WWW.Shafferrealtyllc.com and choose one of our experienced agents.

What Really Affects Home Values?

Home equity is classically defined as the difference between the appraised value of the home you have, and the amount of mortgage you have left to pay off for that house. There are, however, some things that can change your home’s value. Some of these aspects you can’t control, but quite a few of them are up to you.

Obviously, the amount you continue to pay on the principle, simply adds to your equity. But there’s also the appraisal amount, which should, typically, increase over time – assuming the stability of your neighborhood doesn’t decline during that time (one of those parts of the equation you have little control over.)

You can also make improvements to your home to increase value, and thus, equity, as long as those improvements are seen as actual enhancements, as opposed to simple cosmetic changes. Not that cosmetic changes don’t help sell homes; a fresh coat of paint does wonders for homes “resting” on the market.

Additionally, structures around you can change. This can influence the value of your home for appraisers. If local infrastructure changes, or private commerce structures (think better shopping areas) change for the better around your area, this can add to a valuation.

When schools get better ratings in your area, this can also change your home’s value for the better.

Maintenance is also key. Keeping up on repairs is critical to maintaining the value of your home. Without consistent upkeep, a home’s value can depreciate rapidly – especially if you are trying to sell that home. Suddenly it becomes a “fixer-upper” as opposed to someone’s dream home.

Look at the age of your appliances. If you still have avocado green appliances, you might want to consider updating. Older appliances are seen as a liability, just as an older, less efficient HCVAC system is viewed as a problem for future home owners.

Check for any leaks. Even small, long-term drips can wreak havoc on a valuation. A slight leak in a wall, or ceiling, can quickly turn into a mold problem - with a huge cost to remedy. Imagine the valuation that comes back with that written on a report.

What does the roof look like? Just like dated bathrooms, your roof can be very telling. If you have a fifteen year roof, and you’re in your fourteenth year, you should probably consider a replacement. Lifetime roofing materials are available, with transferable warranties. This can be a major point of value for a potential homeowner.

Like a web page, your home is quickly evaluated by what it looks like when someone first sees it. That said, the outside becomes very important to what potential buyers think about the valuation you’ve placed on your home. Look for those things that not only can be seen from the street, but features that can be seen when coming up the walk. Look for any signs of peeling or blistered paint; unruly hedges or bare spots. Finally, take a good look at your windows for any repairs, repainting or replacement.

Seeing what needs to be done can sometimes be difficult. We can become acclimated to our surroundings, and overlook little updates that add value to our homes. One solution to this is to take pictures of all sides of the exterior and every interior space, and then look them over for a fresh perspective of your home. See if you don’t find more than a few things that might need to be repaired or updated. Remember, a well maintained home gets better offers.

Do Both Sides Really Need A Home Inspection?

Home inspections aren’t just for the buyer’s side. Both sides benefit by knowing what’s in need of repair before going into a contract. Think of it as a means of knowing exactly what will come out of a purchase. There are few things worse than being on either side of the table not knowing what to expect from a negotiation.

For the seller, once the inspection is done by a professional – not a friend, or one who also happens to be a contractor, there is little doubt as to what really needs to be done to the property. Using a licensed, and insured, professional inspector also can be instrumental in keeping a friend or relative from becoming less than friendly when additional repairs are found by the buyer’s inspector. It’s also much easier to ask a non-biased inspector to compensate you for losses associated with a less-than-thorough inspection.

Repairs, if necessary, can then be made via a bidding process for the work, or using a contractor most qualified, as opposed to finding a contractor that can simply do it the fastest, just so you can make the sale by the required time. Needless to say, the fastest isn’t going to be the least expensive. The ability to control the contractor’s time frame can save you the amount of money, or more, that the home inspection cost in the first place.

Yes, there will probably be repairs that need to be done, but you’ll be able to advertise them (“Has new kitchen sub-floor”) on the listing, and perhaps get a faster sale. Hoping beyond hope that the buyer doesn’t get an inspection isn’t your best bet, as most buyers know to do a professional inspection

Additionally, when the buyer’s home inspection happens, and you know it will, you can negotiate from a position of strength, and have peace of mind knowing any necessary repairs have already been accomplished. It’s always a good thing to walk into any meeting with everything covered.

The buyer, even if they never intend on living in the property, should also have a home inspection done. Not doing so just invites additional, unplanned expenses that will probably go way beyond the cost of the inspection. Unless you really want to pay for something that should have already had repaired, or negotiated into the purchase price, you can’t go wrong with a home inspection. This goes double if you intend on living in the home.

Home inspectors are incredibly good at their job. Where buyers/owners may not want to get up under the house, or on the roof to look for damage, these inspectors do it every day. They know what dry rot vs. termite or water damage looks like. It’s really the only way you can make sure you get everything looked over properly before you sell or buy a property. They’re trained to look behind flashing, or aluminum window trim for damage that isn’t evident to the casual eye. They also list it out for you, so you can put out a call for bids with all the relevant information. Saving you time, and money.

Finally, unlike in previous years, finding and scheduling home inspectors is also quite a bit easier, as there are many more inspectors out there. Just make sure they’re licensed and insured.

Buy or Rent Your Next Home?

Let’s explore both renting and buying your home, and see where the real advantages are. 

What are some advantages to renting? Well, you can pick up and move at a moment’s notice – assuming you give the landlord proper notification. To move quickly, though, you may have to spend money to repair the place back to original condition, if you want to get your security deposit back. You also don’t have to worry about most of the maintenance, as the owner gets to pick up that expense. If you’re really lucky, you won’t have to pay for some utilities.

Buying, on the other hand, gives you a number of serious advantages. Most people are unaware that owning a home can be less expensive than renting - and usually gets you money back at the end of the year. In a Forbes.Com article, Trulia chief economist Jed Kolko determined that owning a home is cheaper than renting in all 100 metro areas. That’s impressive.

OK, let’s start with the things you might already know about owning a home. You probably know that equity typically grows over time with home ownership. It’s like having someone pay you for simply owning something. Unless you have art, or precious metals, it’s hard to find something that pays you for owning it.

Additionally, you own the land. Do what you want with it; it’s yours! Even though the mortgage includes it, land is usually valued separately from the house, so you have that as an investment, as well. If you want to add a pool, you get to make that decision, not your landlord. Want an English garden? Go for it!

You have the keys to the castle, so no one is going to get cranky if you paint your kitchen in your favorite color, or decide to install berber carpet throughout the house. Not all considerations are monetary. Sometimes it’s all about freedom to do your own thing.

Now let’s get down to what you might not know about owning a house, and how it pays you.

• Your interest paid on the house is tax deductible.
• Your real estate property tax is tax deductible.
•  Insurance on your property is tax deductible.
•  If you operate a home business from your home, that space is also tax deductible.

Since most of your starting payments, and for about 10 years afterward, are interest heavy, you will have quite the deduction. Add your insurance and property tax to your deductible, and you have a sizable little bit of money coming back at the end of the year. This isn’t going to happen when you pay rent.

Another nice benefit, if you meet the requirements, is that you can avoid the capital gains taxes when you sell your home. That can make for a sizable chunk of change.

So, what’s stopping you from getting a home? In most cases it’s a lack of knowledge about the benefits, or a lack of down payment. In some cases it’s a credit score keeping someone out of the market.

What if someone told you that there were loans where you could finance the down payment? And even if your credit is bad, there are ways to raise your credit score, by both your doing and with outside help, to a point where you could buy a house.

There are real estate companies that can help with some of these things, but Shaffer Realty can help with all of them. When you’re ready to look for a home, jump to our web site at www.shafferrealtyllc.com or call us at 844-436-2785.

Condo VS Single Family Home

Choices. Choices. If it’s not one thing it’s another. So, let’s visit the age-old question - condo, or single family home? As with anything else, it depends. It depends on what you’re looking for, and willing to put up with in a dwelling. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each, and hopefully we can help you make up your mind.

First, let’s look at the condo life. Condos are popular, and getting even more popular. There’s a reason for that - they’re affordable. If this is your choice for a first home, you’re in good company. Per the National Association of Realtors, roughly 12% of home sales are condos, and growing. That said, let’s look at the good and the bad of owning a condo.

The Good:

·       The exterior of the building, the pool, the lawn and the landscaping are owned by the condo association. That means you don’t have to maintain it. This is great if you’re a busy person, or really dislike maintenance.

·      They are usually less expensive than a similar single family home. There’s a reason for that, you only own what’s within the walls.

·      Everyone knows your name. You guessed it; they all know what’s going on at your condo, because they’re close by. This is good, as they can keep an eye on things while you’re gone.

The Bad:

·      While they are affordable, it also means you’re probably not going to get as much out of it as you would a single family home when the time comes to sell it.

·      You will get hit with special assessment fees when the exterior areas need special work – think new roofs, siding or pool repair work, etc. These fees can be somewhat surprising.

·      The condo association gets to say what you can do to the property. Just because you like a certain kind of flowers doesn’t mean you get to plant them. If you don’t like rules, this can be quite trying.

·      Everyone knows your name. Yes, this can have a downside – if you’re a private person, or you have an unruly neighbor.

Now, let’s look at single family homes. Like condos, they have a good and bad side, according to what you’re expecting from owning one.

The Bad:

·      You own everything! And you’re responsible for all of the maintenance, so make it happen.

·      

     Home owners associations, like condo boards, can be a pain. Try one little thing they don’t like, and they can get cranky.

·      It’s going to cost you more initially, and in the long run, to own everything about your home.

The Good:

·      You own everything! Which means there’s usually a lot more of everything. This can be very helpful when you’re in need of space. When you need extra storage, you can build a storage area on your property. Need extra rooms? Build them. That’s not going to happen with a condo.

·      You get to park your car where you want – it’s your property. No more worries about making sure you have your parking permit in the windshield, or making sure your guests have a permit. No more unexpected tows. Go crazy! Park in the yard!

·      Personalize it to your heart’s content. The outside of your home is a canvas waiting for you to make a personal statement. Go for it.

·      Think equity. More appreciation and value, because you own the house, the land, and everything on it.

·      No special assessments from a condo board. Yeah! 

     Hopefully this article gave you some needed info. With any luck we’ve managed to help you with your decision. When you want to look at either one, feel free to call us, or drop by our site. www.Shafferrealtyllc.com  800 436 2785

Many Devices. One Way to Update.

There are two things we probably have way too many of – lists, and old smart devices. They just seem to multiply. Fortunately, one is the cure for the other.

There are apps out there that let you keep lists. There are devices with built in list apps. And there are paper lists. Most times you are simply editing yet another list, which duplicates some other list, and another one on another device, until you get sick of updating all those lists and give up on the whole thought of keeping fun or important lists. It doesn’t have to be this way.

While you will probably always have older, outdated devices around – assuming, like me, you hang on to them; you actually only need one good list program. List programs run the gamut. I happen to use a connected list program by Google called Keep. It allows me to post a note, or list, across my known electronic universe with one simple entry. There are other list and note programs that do just that, so don’t be afraid to try them. Whatever keeps you organized.

Here’s the great part. The more old devices you have lying around, the more likely you are to update lists or notes to yourself – and family members, too, if they’re using these devices. Because these devices can all access your wireless, they are still useful as a networked device when you set up an account for just that purpose. They don’t have to be connected to a phone plan to work on wireless.

I have an old tablet I now use in the kitchen almost exclusively. I look up recipes, add to my grocery list, and watch the occasional YouTube video whilst waiting for the coffee to finish.  There is also another tablet there for someone else, in case I’m hogging the other one when prepping dinner from a recipe site.

I have an old smart phone I use as a remote for all of the electronics in the living room. You guessed it, there’s an app for that. Additionally, if I think of something to add to the grocery list, I can add it from that “remote” because it’s a phone that connects to wireless. Which updates the Google Keep app on every device.

In the bedroom there’s an old touch screen TV, with a built-in chrome browser. Guess which apps I have installed? Yep. Google Keep and Google Documents. It also allows me to review and edit documents in Google documents. If I get a phone call concerning a document from work, I can pull it right up, make the changes and have it ready when I get to the office. All from old devices “littering” my otherwise spotless house.

The key takeaway here is that you only need to have one list/document app, but to make this thing called the cloud truly functional, you’re going to need multiple devices. Chances are good, you already have them. And I know you’ve got a list out there that needs updating. If not, here’s a few list suggestions:        

• Fun things you would like to do with $1000.00
• Gift ideas I’ve run across while shopping
• Great finds on the internet to share
• What can I accomplish while waiting on something else to finish
• Books I need to read
• Great ideas

Drop by and find a new home for all of your old devices: Shaffer Realty

Upgrades For That Perfect Home

After searching for months, you just closed on that perfect home. And now that you’ve had a chance to move in and look around, something still seems amiss. We get that. So, we thought we’d help out with a few ideas on how to make that house a home.


Much like outdoor kitchens, the fire pit seems to have become one of the most sought after additions to homes, lately. And who can blame people for this? These range from the simple DIY models, to elaborate set ups with swings and theatres.  Before you build, just measure carefully. Sometimes the area you have available to create that perfect relaxation spot seems to appear larger when we’re planning and shopping. Click here for ideas:

As with anything in today’s world, we are nothing if not technology based. That said, how many times have you had to charge a tablet, phone or digital device, only to be stymied by the lack of a charger or transformer to fit your device? Well, if you have a USB cable, you’re in luck – if you install USB hubs throughout the house. The good news is that they’re inexpensive and you can still use 110V plugs at the same time. Here’s a few ideas to get you started. You can get them in surface mount, as well as built in models, to replace your present outlets (which is actually quite simple to do.) Click here for ideas:

Solar Exterior LED Lighting isn’t new, but it has become brighter and even more energy efficient. It’s no surprise that it’s becoming a must-have for homes today. While you can get good efficiency from plug-in LED lighting, the best efficiency is still “free.” Solar lighting is the key to lower utility bills. With the variety available, it’s easier than ever to make your home safer, as well as even more attractive. Click here for ideas:

Electronic locks make for a safe home. Key codes mean never having to put a spare key in the mailbox, or under a rock. Electronic home locks vary. Some use finger prints for access, whereas others use key codes. Still others use magnetic codes. These locks are not only stylish enough to go on just about any door, but they’ll keep you from ever being locked out again.  Click here for ideas:

Laundry Pedestals make your life easier. Newer washer and dryer sets are front load. This means you’re bending over more than ever to get at your laundry. Stop bending over; get a pedestal for your laundry set. While manufacturers do make pedestals to match your set, you can also build your own to accommodate your height, or working style. Click here for ideas:

This is one of our favorites. The fold-flat garage work bench serves dual purposes. While giving you the freedom to pursue your hobbies, it also gives you back the space you would normally lose to such a big garage addition. Like everything else we’ve discussed, it comes in so many versions, it’s hard to choose just the right one. That said, click here for ideas:

We’ll be posting other articles on upgrades for your home, soon. Be sure share the link and drop by again. You can visit us any time right here: Shaffer Realty LLC