Real Estate Information Archive

It's no secret that home improvements, no matter how big or how small, cost money. So, it is only prudent to consider if the renovation will be financially worth the time and money it will require. So, instead of a full-blown remodel, consider a simple facelift on what's already there.

Some other bank-account friendly home improvement alternatives that still boost your home's overall value and appeal include, but are not limited to, the following:

Polish the shell

The exterior of your home is what will make the all-important first impression on potential buyers and anyone else approaching your home. Make sure to stay on top of seasonal maintenance, replace or repair siding and windows, and keep your yard free of clutter, such as toys, bikes and refuse.

It's easy being green

Energy efficiency is easily achieved and can reduce your monthly utility bills. Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models, and consider adding low-flow faucets and toilets.

Stick to your current layout

If you know from the planning stages of the process that you're going to utilize the current blueprint of your home, you can minimize your costs. Typically, the most expensive part of a renovation project is major undertakings, such as removing existing doors, ceilings or walls and replacing them with new ones in the newly made areas of the house.

Furniture: re-imagine before replacement

Replacing furniture can cost several thousand dollars, and the fact is you probably don't need that new loveseat (for example). Maybe it just needs a new cover. So, prior to selling your furniture, take the time and effort to determine if reupholstering would have an equally pleasing result.

Look for new item discounts

If you've determined you need new granite countertops but are naturally concerned about the expense, just ask the manufacturer for the cheapest pattern. Also, ask about stone pieces that may have small imperfections.

In a seller's market - less inventory available than interested buyers, like most areas of the country are experiencing now - potential home buyers should be ready to make an informed, realistic offer that will stand above the others. There is more to it than simply offering the highest dollar amount. The following suggestions are just a few things to consider on your next house hunting adventure.

Be flexible

Money is often not the sole incentive for a seller to accept your offer. If a seller sees that you are willing to bend compromise on things like the closing date or willingness to overlook relatively minor repairs following the home inspection, he or she will remember you when it comes time to decide on an offer. Other things you can do to show you're serious include offering a sizeable amount of up-front earnest money or have the cash on hand to make a large down payment.

Be ready to buy immediately

Get yourself pre-approved for a home loan before you start actively looking for homes. Bring your preapproval letter with you when you go to open houses or showings. In today's mostly uncertain real estate market, it can take a long time to get approval on a home loan. If you are already approved when you make an offer on a home - even one on which there are multiple offers - yours will immediately jump to the head of the line.

Expect counter offers

If you have a well-informed, thorough knowledge of your financial means when you make an offer on a home, you will know what your limits are when it comes to deciding what concessions you can afford to make if the seller bounces a counter offer back at you. You will be able to quickly determine to what degree you are willing to meet the seller's counter offer terms, such as a higher monthly payment or flexibility when negotiating the myriad contingencies on the closing contract.

Your real estate agent is your best resource when it comes to negotiating with a seller. Before making an offer, talk with a real estate agent. Get the inside scoop on your local market so that you are fully armed and ready to win a bidding war.

Curb appeal is more than just what your home looks like from the curb. It incorporates everything from the landscaping and the exterior color scheme, to the driveway, sidewalks and entryways. Here are four springtime projects that can make your home sparkle like dew in the early morning sunshine.

Landscaping

Impressive landscaping can be as easy as mowing your lawn on a regular basis, watering it, and keeping it clear of sticks, twigs and other organic material. You can also put an attractive face on your home by pruning your shrubbery, planting flowers and keeping it as clutter-free as possible.

Touch-Ups

Over time, paint chips and peels; and siding starts to warp, mold and rot. It's inevitable; however, it can be dealt with easily and, in most cases, inexpensively, with just a small amount of preventative maintenance.

Sandpaper and some elbow grease are typically all that's needed to smooth over peeling paint and paint chips. Once this is accomplished, apply primer and paint for a brand spanking-new exterior.

Roofs and Gutters

Unless they leak, sag, break or fall down, roofs and gutters are easy to overlook or even ignore entirely. Do this at your own peril, homeowner! Truly awesome curb appeal is attained through meticulous attention to just these types of details.

Water is lazy; it will always take the path of least resistance. Instead of trying to flow through a rock, it will simply go around it. Gravity forces water to exploit imperfections in your home, such as cracks, holes and gaps, which can lead it to invade your living quarters.

It might be worth your time (and money) to have a roofing expert take a look and give you some directions repairs and improvements you can make yourself.

Fencing

A fence does more than just protect your lawn from the neighbor's dog's leavings. It impacts your home's curb appeal as much as your landscaping or exterior color scheme.

Unless you plan to replace or remove your entire fence, doing some simple stuff, like adding a fresh coat of paint or blasting it clean with a pressure washer, can yield significant results in a relatively short period of time.

Finally, take a moment and look at your home from the curb. That's right, actually go outside and try to see it with the critical eye of a potential homebuyer. Brave the questioning stares from your neighbors and take your time; examine everything. This should open your eyes to at least some of the obvious places to start your spring home improvements. A little time, effort and, let's be honest, money can save you some of each of these headache-inducing issues in the long run.

After nine months without a positive gain, the Pending Home Sales Index - a forward-looking contract signing indicator - rose 3.4 percent in March, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). This gain, however, must be tempered with the fact that it remains nearly 8 percent lower than the 105.7 it was in March 2013.

NAR's chief economist, Lawrence Yun, attributed much of the increase to the seasonal change in the weather, from winter to spring. Prospective buyers had more of an opportunity to physically go out and look at homes, which has led to more contracts being offered, Yun said. He also indicated that he expects sales activity to continue to rise as more available homes reach the market and more jobs become available to pump more life into the overall economy.

Sales of homes are predicted to trend upward during the months of the forthcoming year, as well as into 2015; however, this year came in on a sour note, meaning the 2014 sales totals will probably not match the 2013 level.

The expectation for 2014's existing-home sales is slightly more than 4.9 million this year, which would fall close to the 5.1 million in 2013. With the available homes for sale continuing to fall short of expectations in much of the United States, however, the national median existing-home price is predicted to rise about 6 or 7 percent in 2014.