By W. Troy Swezey
The classic way for homeowners to increase the value of their house is by remodeling existing rooms or adding on to its current plan.
Some choose to build recreation rooms and studies while others add new appliances, fixtures and cabinets to enliven rooms and make their home more attractive to future buyers.
But, when should you decide to stop sinking money into a home and buy a bigger place? And how much rehab is too much when it comes time to recovering remodeling costs through a home sale
For instance, if you’ve just spent $1,000 remodeling your living room and didn’t expand your small bathroom, the chances of increasing the number of interested buyers are slim.
With these concerns in mind, I can offer a few tips for those struggling to add value to their home.
First, always protect the character of your home. Nothing sticks out more than a new addition that is in a completely different architectural style. Be consistent. Recognize your home’s character and stay within its framework.
The most financially rewarding areas to remodel are usually the kitchen and bath. Newly re-done cooking spaces and cabinets can attract more buyers and may command a slightly higher price for the home than a comparable one on the market. Simple repairs that are made to last will bring you the biggest returns upon sale.
Enlarged bathrooms are the most popular attraction for new home buyers, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Today, the most popular additions for younger buyers are sunken whirlpool baths and showers. But be sure to install modest, solid amenities. It’s easy to quickly over-spend on bathroom fixtures.
Buyers are, by convention, more interested in above-ground living space – not basements, yards and walkways. Swimming pools can be a poor investment if installed for the sole purpose of increasing a home’s value; it’s rare that a pool’s cost will be recovered in a home sale. It can also be a negative feature for potential buyers with very young children.
Replacing worn carpeting, tiles and wood floors can give your home an immediate advantage over similar properties in the area. Updating paint colors in all areas of your home can also prove beneficial.
However, it’s recommended that you use neutral colors, such as gray, beige and off-white when adding new floor and wall coverings. Fewer buyers will then turn away because of differing tastes.
Stay simple with your remodeling and look at your home as though you were the buyer. Chances are that if you find the upstairs bedroom could be brightened by a larger window, potential buyers will probably feel the same.
Don’t go overboard. Concentrate on improving two or three deficiencies in your home. More than likely, the time and money you spend adding quality to your home will be rewarded with greater profit at selling time.
About the Author
W. Troy Swezey is the author of “REMODELING YOUR HOME: HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?" As a Realtor at Century 21 Paul & Associates, he has helped many individuals with their real estate needs. Visit his web site to download his free e-book, “REAL ESTATE SECRETS EXPOSED.” http://www.TroyIsMyRealtor.com or mail to: TroyC21@usa.net
By Martha Matthews
When your bathroom cabinets are busting at the seams and your shelves are spilling over, it's time to get organized. Try these four easy organizing steps to bring some order to your chaos. 1. Clean and Clear
Remove everything from the drawers and cabinets. Toss out all old and unused or out of date products: Make-up, hair care, lotions, medicines (check expiration dates). Remember, "When in doubt, throw it out!" Move your medicines and vitamins to the kitchen. The moisture and heat from the bath will ruin them.
As you sort through things, take the time to evaluate whether or not you really need each item. If you have kept perfume samples, and cosmetics that are the wrong color, now is the time to throw them out or give them away. If you aren't using them why keep them?
Wipe out the cupboards and shelves. Clean off the counter top. Replace the shelf paper on the shelves and in the cabinets if needed.
2. Only the Essentials
The next step is to organize your belongings. Start by putting back only the essential items that you use every day. Put them in locations where they will be easily accessible. Try to store what you can under the sink in plastic bins. If you have the room, give each family member their own plastic bin to store their toiletries.
As you arrange your counter top, try to put out only the things that you will use on a regular basis. If you can get away without anything on the counter, that is even better. There will be less to clean.
If you have decorative items, now is the time to review their relevancy. If you don't really love them, replace them or remove them all together. There is no sense in having things you don't really love in your home; especially if you need to clean them.
3. Making Families
Categorize your shelves and drawers by creating families of like items: shaving products, hair styling, makeup, nails, personal hygiene items, first aid, medicines, etc.
4. Relocate the Excess
Make sure that only items that belong in the bathroom are in the bathroom. Transfer cleaning products to a caddy and store them under the kitchen sink. Store surplus toilet paper, shampoo and seasonal items, such as beach towels, tanning, or sunburn lotions in the hall closet or other location.
4. Storage Ideas
Make use of dead space. Try using any or all of the following organizing ideas: wall mounted cabinets, carts on wheels, hooks on back of door, shower caddies, coat rack, hanging mesh bag for holding children's bath toys, wall mount hair dryer and curling iron, drawer organizers.
Once your bathroom is organized, sit back and admire your work. If you make this an annual project, your bathroom will always be a joy to use. Now go take a bubble bath. You deserve it!
About the Author
Martha Matthews is the Editor of Christian-Homemaking.com, a web site with resources dedicated to Christian homemaking. In addition to her web site, she also has a popular free monthly newsletter for Christian wives called The Wives of Excellence Newsletter. To subscribe send a blank email to wivesofexcellence-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Or visit our web site at http://www.christian-homemaking.com/newsletter.html
When your bathroom cabinets are busting at the seams and your shelves are spilling over, it's time to get organized. Try these four easy organizing steps to bring some order to your chaos.
By Anonymous
August 22, 2004 -- Schroff, the global leader in electronic enclosure solutions, now offers a full range of customizable seismic Zone 4 cabinets that provide exceptional protection against shock and vibration. Comprised of a rugged, cold roll steel frame with reinforced structural steel corner angles, the Tecnorack Series is ideal for heavy duty, indoor applications in the telecom, security, and defense industries.
Available in heights from 15 U to 47 U, widths up to 1,200 mm, and depths up to 1,000 mm, the new Tecnorack Series can be configured to fit virtually any customer specification. The Series has been tested with a static load capacity of 2,000 lbs. in accordance with NEBS Zone 4 and GR-63-CORE in three manually perpendicular axes: front to back; side to side; and vertically. Dynamic load-carrying capability is 1,600 lbs.
Options and modifications that add to the cabinets’ versatility include vented sides, custom cut-outs, and a shielded EMC/RFI version for protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI). The EMC/RFI version, tested in accordance with NEBS GR-1089-CORE; VG 95373; and MIL-STD-285, also features a fabric-over-foam gasket made from UL-94HB urethane foam. The doors have a multi-hinge design and three-point latching to ensure a consistent EMC seal. The frame and external components of the EMC/RFI cabinets are marked and covered with conductive tape at all contact points.
The top cover and side panels of the Tecnorack Series are 1 mm, the steel doors are 2 mm, and the base uses a Telcordia-compliant floor bolt-down pattern. The cabinets come prepared for GND/earth line connections to VDE 0800 and VDE 0804 part 100.
A complete line of accessories, including shelves, power distribution options, and thermal management components, is available.
Pricing starts at $1,000. Delivery is four weeks ARO.
For more information on the Tecnorack Series, please visit http://web.schroff.de/webcat/subgroup/pdf/us/tecnorack_overview.pdf?lang=us&catId=US, call 888-550-9543, or contact Technical Sales, Tel: 401-732-3770;
Email: info@pentair-ep.com; Web: www.schroff.us.
READER SERVICE INQUIRIES: Please forward all reader service inquiries to George Ross, Pentair Electronic Packaging, Schroff Products, 170 Commerce Drive, Warwick, RI 02886; Email: gross@pentair-ep.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: SchroffÒ provides a world-leading brand of subracks and accessories, instrument cases, 19” cabinets, backplanes, integrated systems and enclosure hardware; and complete enclosure systems for CompactPCI, AdvancedTCA, VME and VME64x. Schroff manufacturers customer-specific enclosure systems including NEBS and outdoor aluminum enclosures; high volume stamped chassis; as well as custom backplane design and 4-level system integration. The company has 17 manufacturing locations in the Americas, Europe and Asia. More information is available at www.schroff.us.
Schroff is a subsidiary of Pentair, Inc., Golden Valley, MN, (NYSE: PNR) a diversified manufacturer that operates in two principal markets: electrical and electronic enclosures and water and fluid technologies.
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