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July 19, 2011 By leslietp Leave a Comment

Improve The Value Of Your House With Home Maintenance

Home Maintenance

Buying a home is an exciting step for most people. However, like most other objects people purchase, the value of a house begins to diminish almost the second you purchase it.

There are steps people can take to ensure the value of their home will not decrease. Basic home maintenance can prevent a house from losing its market value. This maintenance includes repairs to door and window frames, which can have gaps due to the shifting of the house’s foundation. When foundations shift they can also leave cracks in walls and ceilings which also need to be repaired.

There are also items which can be replaced as they begin to show signs of wear. This often happens to flooring made of linoleum or carpet. Areas using wood such as handrails on stairs, can also become worn over time or accumulate nicks and scratches. Banisters can be replaced or sanded to smooth out marred surfaces. Another way to increase the value of a your home is to remodel old areas such as kitchens and baths. Updating cabinets, sinks and showers goes a long way in helping the value of your home. You can also add energy efficient products such as low flow faucets and toilets to improve the marketable value of your house.

If you have any questions relating to home maintenance please contact us today.

July 19, 2011 By leslietp Leave a Comment

What Are You Looking For In A New Home Builder?

Choosing a new home builder depends upon a number of factors in order to assure you get the type of home you really want. Of course, the first consideration you need to make is what you want most overall in the home including the construction materials, size, and any special features you may want.

Your new home builder should not only be someone who can accommodate those needs but also someone who can give you a fair price for the amount of labor it takes to build your home. As you research builders, you should look at any previous projects and determine if they have built homes similar to the one you want. You can also ask their previous clients about their work to find out if they are reliable and if the end product was worth the time and money.

It is also important that your new home builder be accessible to you both during and after the home has been built. You should ask previous clients about any problems they experienced and if their builder promptly addressed these issues. If possible, you should inspect any work the builder has done in cabinetry, carpeting, painting and trim work to get an idea of the quality.

July 18, 2011 By leslietp Leave a Comment

Building vs. Remodeling: Should you Build or Remodel?

Building vs. Remodeling

Many potential home owners seem to be caught in a building vs. remodeling dilemma however, with the present state of the real estate industry; some professionals think now may be the right time to build. The reasons for this decision are varied but among the top ones are lot prices, labor cost, and home value. In some cases remodeling may be beneficial but a new home is likely to have a better resale value than a remodeled one.

Benefits of building now

Land prices are currently at their lowest in a long time which means that persons can buy more land than they could normally afford; additionally the overall cost of construction is much cheaper than normal. This means bigger, better homes for less in many cases. Add this to the current interest rates being charged, along with the guarantee of controlled increases when rates start to rise again, and building becomes even more attractive.

Besides these, there is also an increase in availability of a lot of good land since so many persons are trying to use real estate to regain financial stability. Persons who are concerned about craftsmanship also have a little less to worry about since, in a lot of cases, companies have downsized their teams leaving only the best workers.