Double Your Return Through Smart Home Improvement

You have heard it so many times that when it comes to home improvement that for every dollar you spent should gives you back two dollars. Home improvement and fix-ups cost could range from few dollars all the way to thousands of dollars.

What home improvement gives you the best bang for your buck?

1. Kitchen - you will find out later on when you start selling your acquired foreclosed homes that the very first part of the home the buyers interested is the kitchen. Kitchen is the most expensive part of the home to furnish. And it's also where some appliances and other amenities could get real fancy or even extravagant. If your homebuyer is a female, you better make your kitchen shine!

Your main objective in doing a home improvement or fix ups in the kitchen is to get it as modernized as possible. The design and appliances of your acquired property will more than likely be outdated, worn, faded or even broke. Cabinets and countertops are most likely way out of style.

Adding a built-in microwave over the range is an inexpensive investment that "wow" most homebuyer. Shiny knobs for your cabinets and cupboards also adds flare. Restoring the finish on the cabinet could also make a night and day transformation of your kitchen's overall appearance.

Make sure you have a working garbage disposal. Dishwasher could be an optional improvement since additional plumbing and space restriction might be an issue.

Brand new linoleum is another very simple repair that could payoff the sale of your home.


2.Bathroom - if the kitchen is for the ladies, the bathroom could be for the men's favorite place. But the bathroom is also ladies'. Everything in the bathroom must be sparkling white and shining. Even a small cabinet could make a big difference in home improvement. Make sure the faucets and shower knobs are shiny or new. Remember if it shines, it's good!

Old vanity lights should be replaced too. For less than $30.00, you could have it replaced by a fancier and more modern style light fixture.


2. Paint job (exterior and interior) - not unless you have vinyl siding and the exterior is flawless, new paint job is a must. Nothing impress homebuyers more than the scent of new paint as soon as they walk in the house. This psychologically gives them the feeling of buying of almost brand new home.

And please, this is not the time to get real creative when it comes to your colorful taste. Stay with neutral conservative color for both exterior and interior. A shiny red, green or orange might be your taste but not of your home buyers.


3. Roof - if your buyer is buying your home through FHA, make sure your roof could last for another three years. Overlay of new shingles over existing shingles is cheaper than complete tear down. You could have as much as three layers of shingles as per code.

4. Landscaping - landscaping home improvement could give your home the initial curb appeal. Your main goal when it comes to landscaping is to make the prospective homebuyer to get off his car so he could see more of your house. Curb appeal is like having an attractive book cover tempting the reader to read the rest of the stories in the book.

New lawn with a programmable sprinkler system is another basic landscaping improvement that gives your overall curb appeal an instant transformation.

If you're tight of time, planting sod is your best bet. The best time to plant sod is early April and late fall.

5. Carpet - you could try to have the carpet cleaned professionally. But you have to make sure that the rest of the carpet is not faded or soiled badly. If it is too obvious of the difference between other part of the house, change the carpet.

Just like new paint job, neutral color carpet (i.e. tan, beige or light brown) is your best bet when choosing for the color of the carpet.

You dont' have to go overboard when you have to install new carpet. Don't buy the premium class, just something cheap or reasonable and average quality.