| If you are thinking of re-vamping your home with | | | | quality homes as opposed to quantity of square |
| a view to putting it up for sale in the spring realty | | | | footage are in demand. So if your house is one of |
| market - read about what is in and what is out. | | | | the smaller homes, then think of this as a plus and |
| Easiest to start with, perhaps, is what is out. | | | | list the advantages of it. |
| Mosaic tiled bathrooms and kitchens are out. The | | | | Real estate agents recommend that it is better |
| best idea would be to change the tiles yourself, as | | | | to live in your home, or at the very least keep it |
| the word is that they are monstrous to replace! | | | | looking 'lived in' while you sell it. Of course the |
| Another 'out' is the retro seventies look that has | | | | antidote to this is clutter, so also keep it clear and |
| been enjoying some trendy fame and is now | | | | spacious-feeling. Keep the heating on low, and the |
| very dated and passe. If both of these looks are | | | | lamps on for viewing. |
| describing your home, you need not break the | | | | There are a few other innovations that you could |
| bank to replace it. | | | | install to tempt buyers, but unless you are a real |
| Sometimes you can avoid ungluing all the tiles | | | | 'handy DIY' family, you may decide to skip these! |
| from the bathroom and shower surround by | | | | One of them is the home elevator which is now |
| installing one of those 'all-in-one-shell' bath | | | | replacing the chair-on-the-stair idea! |
| surrounds. Get an expert to help you check the | | | | Another fad that is catching on is the dog |
| thickness of your existing tile versus depth of the | | | | bathroom or pet shower. These are low shower |
| fiberglass shell. If you are replacing mosaic tiles in | | | | systems installed in a shower cubicle that has a |
| your kitchen you will probably have to hack them | | | | three foot by three foot base which is tiled to |
| out the hard way and then be smart and replace | | | | approximately four feet up the wall. Rather than |
| them with neutral colors. Neutrals are favored in | | | | wash doggy in the kitchen sink, these units are to |
| all rooms, whites, beiges and grays. | | | | be found installed in the basement, in the mud or |
| There is another 'don't want'. That is buyers who | | | | utility room, in a corner of the garage etc. One of |
| think they are still selling in a seller's market. Offer | | | | the advantages of a pet shower is that you do |
| buyers a deal if it will clinch the deal; for instance | | | | not have to lift your pet in or out of it. They just |
| one way would be to help with their closing costs. | | | | walk in (or get reluctantly pushed in?) |
| Well, that's what the new buyers of 2008 don't | | | | Well, in saving the best for last, we now come to |
| want; what about what they do want? | | | | the bathroom. Most of us cannot re-model our |
| Well, for one, balconies and decks with real space, | | | | bathrooms like this, because our bathrooms are |
| in fact outdoor rooms. Here is one way that you | | | | too small, but we can dream.... Apparently, the |
| can improve your property and actually reap the | | | | bathroom is evolving into the home getaway with |
| benefit back. | | | | multiple task areas. |
| Real estate agents report that five remodeling | | | | The optimum way to present this room is now |
| jobs will return about 80% of the dollar cost in | | | | with a huge bath-tub in the center of the room. |
| the reflected sale price. These are kitchen, | | | | These are referred to as 'bath thrones'. Flat |
| bathroom, modern windows, vinyl siding and | | | | screen TVs are installed along with wireless |
| decks. Therefore if you spend the national | | | | Internet and a small bar for coolers, snacks and |
| average of $8,000 for a contractor to put in a | | | | the coffee machine. For those who have room, |
| deck, you may increase your property by $6,000. | | | | an in-home hair salon is also desirable! |
| Of course, if you can put it in yourself...... | | | | Yes, well, good luck with that one, but as stated, |
| Where once square footage was prestigious, now | | | | we can always dream! |