Increasing the Value of Your Home with the Help Bathroom Remodeling

If you are getting ready to put your home on the market, you certainly want to do everything you can to make your home as appealing to potential buyers as possible. One area where you can make some improvements and enjoy a great return is with a bathroom remodeling project.

Deciding Whether or Not You Should Remodel Your Bathroom

Although a bathroom remodeling project can potentially increase the value of your home, you should first ask yourself a few questions in order to make certain the investment is worthwhile. Some of these questions include:

Is my bathroom outdated?
Is my bathroom in need of repairs?
Can I recoup the money I invest in the remodeling project?
Does my bathroom appear cramped or dreary?
Can I complete the remodeling project in a reasonable amount of time?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be a good idea for you to remodel your bathroom before you put it on the market.

Simple Remodeling Tips for Your Bathroom

Depending upon the condition of your bathroom, you may be able to complete a remodeling project at a fairly minimal cost. In fact, there are some simple improvements that you may be able to implement for less than a couple hundred dollars. Yet, by implementing these improvements, you may be able to increase the overall value of your home significantly. In addition, the improvements may help you sell the home more quickly.

Some simple remodeling ideas you might want to implement include:

Add mirrors to the bathroom in order to make it more functional and appear larger. Consider purchasing decorative mirrors or mirrors with special features, such as those are resistant to fogging, in order to really impress your potential buyers.
Find ways to allow more natural light to enter the bathroom, such as expanding the size of the window or installing a skylight.
Make certain the bathroom is well lit so that it does not appear dark and dreary. Installing a mirror with lights around it can be a good way to make the bathroom appear larger while also increasing the amount of light it has to offer.
If your floor needs to be replaced, consider giving it an upgrade by laying down a heating cable before putting the new floor in place.

Of course, if your bathroom is outdated, you may also need to seriously consider making some updates to the space in order to make it more attractive to buyers. A home with an outdated bathroom can be a major problem when it comes to making a sale, as the potential buyer will instantly consider that to be a repair that will need to be made after purchasing the home. For those homeowners who are looking for a home that is ready for moving into, an outdated bathroom can be enough to cause you to lose a sale.


About the Author:
Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.byownermls.com/, a For Sale By Owner MLS service, the leading real estate search engine of homes for sale by owner (FSBO). For more information, please visit http://www.byownermls.com/.

5 Tips for Choosing a Contractor

If you are planning to make a few home improvements or if you need to make some repairs to your home before putting it on the market, you may want to consider hiring a contractor to help you get the job done. Even if you are a do-it-yourselfer, hiring a contractor may be a good idea because it will increase your chances of getting the job completed in a timely fashion and that it will be competed according to building codes. This way, you can get the property on the market sooner and, hopefully, will get it sold in a more time manner. At the same time, you need to make certain that the contractor you hire is one that is reliable and that will get the job done right. With these helpful tips, you should be able to find the right contractor for the job.

Tip #1: Contact Multiple Contractors

When looking for a contractor, it is important for you to explore multiple options. Therefore, you should call at least three different contractors before you select the one you will work with. This way, you can compare what each contractor has to offer and make certain you hire the one that will provide you with the best work and the best prices.

Tip #2: Make Certain the Contractor is Licensed in Your City or State

Most states require contractors to be licensed in order to providing contracting services, so make certain the contractor you are considering is properly licensed. If licensing is not required, ask the contractor to provide you with information about the professional trade organizations he or she belongs to as well as where he or she was educated.

Tip #3: Check References

When you contact the various contractors on your list, ask each of them to provide you with references that you can check. Be certain to obtain references from individuals who have worked with the contractor within the past year. This way, you will receive timely information when you call and check the references you are provided with.

Tip #4: Make Certain the Contractor is Insured

Before hiring a contractor, you need to be certain he or she is properly insured. This way, you don't have to worry about facing liability issues if a problem should arise. At the very least, the contractor should have Workmen's Compensation liability insurance in place. Don't just take the contractor's word for it, though. Contact the contractor's insurance agency to check on the effective dates of the policy. You may also want to ask your contractor to name you and your property as co-insured when it is time to start the job.

Tip #5: Hire Someone with at Least 5 Years of Experience

Although you may be able to save some money by hiring a contractor that has only recently started his or her business, it is generally best to hire someone with at least 5 years of experience. This way, you can be more certain the contractor will be reliable and has solid business practices.


About the Author:
Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.byownermls.com/, a For Sale By Owner MLS service, the leading real estate search engine of homes for sale by owner (FSBO). For more information, please visit http://www.byownermls.com/.

5 Tips for Marketing Your Home

Are you looking for some easy ways to better market your home? With these simple tips, you will be certain to get your home noticed and will significantly increase your chances of closing a sale.

Tip #1: Photograph the Front of the Home

Many potential homebuyers won't bother looking at a home if they cannot look at some great photos first. If you are limited to just one photo, take a picture of the front of the home and make sure your home looks as attractive as possible. You can increase the attractiveness of the photo by cropping streets and sidewalks out of the photo, by keeping vehicles out of the photo, by clearing any vegetation covering the door or pathway to the door and avoiding taking the photo while shade is cast on the home.

Tip #2: Make Use of Signs

Placing "For Sale" signs is an easy form of advertisement that is both free and effective. If your property is on a corner lot or if it has a long stretch of frontage, put a couple signs in the yard. If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, you might even want to ask those who live on corners if you can place a sign in their yard that points in the direction of your property so you can catch the attention of even more potential buyers.

Tip #3: Send Out E-Flyers

Thanks to the Internet, reaching a larger pool of potential buyers is made easier than ever before. Create some E-Flyers containing several photographs of the property and send them to your friends, family and co-workers as well as to real estate agents in your area and brokers who represent buyers in your area.

Tip #4: Use Print Ads

Print ads can also be an effective means for reaching potential buyers. Consider placing ads in major newspaper, local newspapers and real estate publications. If your budget allows, you can also create print ads to use in a direct mail campaign. Four color postcards are an inexpensive option that will still catch the eye of your potential buyers. Send these postcards to your neighbors, real estate agents who represent buyers in your area an even to buyers in areas where the residents frequently relocate to your neighborhood.

Tip #5: Host an Open House

Hosting an Open House is a great way to show your home to potential buyers in a non-threatening way. If your home is located in a high traffic area, your Open House is likely to be a great success. Just be certain to advertise the event in your newspaper as well as online. You should also place signs on the property advertising the Open House and you should invite your neighbors to attend.

If you can't host an open house or if you are located in an area where you are unlikely to see a great deal of traffic, you might want to consider creating a virtual tour of your home and placing it online. This way, potential buyers can "walk through" your home from the comfort of their own home and get an idea of whether or not your home is the one they have been looking for.


About the Author:
Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.byownermls.com/, a For Sale By Owner MLS service, the leading real estate search engine of homes for sale by owner (FSBO). For more information, please visit http://www.byownermls.com/.

Deciding Whether Refinancing is the Right Move for You

Are you trying to determine whether or not refinancing is the right option for you? Perhaps you are interested in making some improvements on your home before you put it up for sale or maybe you are even having second thoughts about putting it on the market. Before you decide to refinance that mortgage loan, there are several factors you need to consider in order to be certain it is the wisest financial move for you to make.

Considering the Costs

Although refinancing your home can potentially help you save a substantial amount of money in the long run, there are also many expenses involved with completing the refinancing process. Some of the things you may have to pay for before you can refinance your home include:

Survey fees
Attorney fees
Appraisal fees
Recording fees
Inspection fees
Application fees
Underwriting fees
Credit report costs
Title insurance fees
Loan origination fees
Points fees needed to reduce your interest rate
Insurance costs - both private mortgage insurance and potential increases in your current rates

Obviously, these expenses can add up rather quickly. Although you may not have to pay for all of these expenses, it is essential for you to add up all of the fees you will have to pay in order to make certain the amount of money you save in the long run will be worth the upfront costs.

Determining if it is Worth It

Once you have calculated the costs associated with refinancing your mortgage and you have determined how much money you will save each month by refinancing your loan, you can decide whether or not refinancing is worthwhile. Basically, it all comes down to looking at your short-term and long-term goals.

If you will be saving $100 per month and it will cost you $1000 to refinance your home, you will need to continue with the loan for another 10 months before you break even on your investment. Therefore, if you still plan on moving within the next year, refinancing your home probably would not be worthwhile in this scenario. If you plan to live in the same home for a few more years, however, the time and money you invest in refinancing will likely be worthwhile.

When making this determination, don't forget to factor in hidden costs as well. For example, getting a cheaper loan means receiving a smaller tax benefit on your state and federal taxes. In addition, your current mortgage loan may have a prepayment penalty that you will have to pay when refinancing your loan. These fees can sometimes be quite costly, with some being calculated based on the amount of interest you would have paid over the next six months on 80% of your balance.

The bottom line is that refinancing a mortgage loan can be a great way to save some money or to access some extra cash. Nonetheless, there is no guarantee that refinancing is the wisest financial move you can make. So, take some time to shop around and to crunch some numbers so you can be certain you are making the best move possible.

About the Author:
Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.byownermls.com/, a For Sale By Owner MLS service, the leading real estate search engine of homes for sale by owner (FSBO). For more information, please visit http://www.byownermls.com/.

For Sale By Owner Trends - November 2008

For Sale By Owner Real Estate Trends

Most Popular*

Top Cities 1. Philadelphia, PA 2. Albuquerque, NM 3. Miami, FL 4. Boca Raton, FL 5. Chicago, IL 6. Houston, TX 7. Louisville, KY 8. Virginia Beach, VA 9. Lexington, KY 10. San Antonio, TX		Top States 1. Florida 2. Texas 3. North Carolina   4. Pennsylvania 5. California 6. New Jeresy 7. New York   8. Georgia 9. Illinois 10. Kentucky		Most Viewed Properties 1. Log Cabin - $195,800 - Cuba, NY 2. Log Cabin - $219,000 - Towanda, PA 3. Duplex/Triplex - $329,900 - Philadelphia, PA 4. Duplex/Triplex - $220,000 - Louisville, KY 5. Duplex/Triplex - $128,000 - Denton, TX 6. Single Family - $377,000 - Wilmington, DE 7. Single Family - $350,000 - Venice, FL 8. Mobile Home - $14,900 - Fort Myers, FL 9. Condo/Townhome - $224,900 - Houston, TX 10. Condo/Townhome - $369,000 - Wildwood, NJ
*Based on property views on ByOwnerMLS.com in November 2008.

About the Author:

Greg Sullivan is the President of www.ByOwnerMLS.com, a For Sale By Owner MLS service, the leading real estate search engine of homes for sale by owner (FSBO). For more information, please visit www.byownermls.com.