Are You Making The Most Of Sweat Equity?

Are You Making The Most Of Sweat Equity?

by Bill Prudehome

Sweat equity is using your labor to make home improvements that increase the value of your home.

What has changed?

The do-it-yourself home renovation market has expanded dramatically over the past 20 years. Manufactures are now producing products aimed directly at the home handy person rather than professional trades people and contractors. These manufacturers are supported by an array of building material retailers that are catering to the do-it-yourself individual. Equipment and tool rental facilities have expanded their offerings, locations, and advertising to attract the do-it-yourself market place.

Packaging of building materials is now designed for point of sale purchase. Products are now packaged in sizes and weights that allow an individual to load the product in their personal vehicle. Packaging is now colorful, to attract the prospective buyer and includes detailed instructions on the proper use of the product.

Along with the change in the packaging of materials, the do-it-yourself market has created millions of pages of information. Books on home improvement provide step-by-step instructions on all aspects of almost any project. The availability of books on home improvement has been expanded by the Internet where websites offer chat forums on do-it-yourself projects enabling individuals to draw on the experience of others as well as expertise from professionals - at no charge. The Internet also provides websites that provide general information, manufacturer's websites that provide specific product information, retail websites that provide convenient purchase and websites that provide on-line videos on the installation of almost anything you can think of. Television shows on home improvement, decorating and landscaping have multiplied exponentially over the past few years. Many of the video rental stores provide home renovation videos as part of their inventory.

This change in the market has created hundred's of thousands of new do-it-yourselfers. An area that up until a few years ago was dominated by men is now attracting women even the Internet has begun to have specific websites that cater exclusively to the home handywoman.

It is allowing the homeowners to add value to their homes by renovating, decorating, and remodeling their homes by using these newly developed products and information and adding their personal labor. In many home renovation projects, trade labor costs can easily be equal to or exceed the value of the material. This is especially true in areas such as flooring, painting, wallpapering and landscaping, projects that are not overly difficult but very labor intensive.

If you are not currently taking advantage of this market change to increase the value of your home, you are missing out on a great opportunity. Besides, the monetary value of sweat equity there is an intensive pride in standing back and looking at a completed project that you did yourself.

Minor Home Improvements Will Get You A Higher Price For Your Home!

Minor Home Improvements Will Get You A Higher Price For Your Home!

by Bill Prudehome

There are many home improvements that are quite economical, especially if you use sweat equity, which will increase the value of your home exponentially.

In order to get the most money for your home when you sell you must look at it from the point of view of a potential buyer. There are two types of homebuyers. Those that are looking for a fixer upper, possibly to flip and those that are looking for a new home for their family. This article is based on the later, those who are looking for a new home for their family.

The most important thing to remember is that it is the first impression that remains in a person's mind when they see your home.

The first thing to do is to drive up to your home, as a potential buyer would do (if your home can be reached from two directions, then approach the home from both). It is also important that you do this during the day and in the evening when it is dark outside. What is your first impression of your home as it compares to the homes around yours?

• Are the lawn, gardens, bushes, and trees well manicured?
• Is the yard cluttered?
• How does the chimney look?
• Does the paint look fresh?
• Does the roof look worn?
• Are there leaves and branches in the eve's trough?
• Are there any broken windows?
• Look at the position of drapes, blinds and shutters.
• Do all the outdoor lights work?

The overall impression that you want to convey is that the home has been very well maintained. It should also look inviting. You want people to feel that they would be proud to show their friends and relatives the home they just purchased.

Once you have arrived at your home. Park and enter the home as a potential buyer would. Do not use garage or side doors, a potential buyer will enter through your front door.

• Do the doorbells work?
• Are door handles tight and working?
• Is weather stripping in good condition?
• Can you see light from inside the home through the edges or bottom of the door?

Small things can imply that you have not taken proper care of the property.

Now that you are in the foyer of your home, what do you see? Remove clutter, such as a boots and shoes on mats as you enter. People like a bright home and you might want to consider increasing bulb wattage in all light fixtures. This is especially important in the kitchen.

Now as a prospective buyer, you will inspect the home. Studies have proven that women are sold on kitchens and bathrooms, while men are sold on family or entertainment rooms, and workshop areas.

All rooms should be painted with a neutral color, such as bone (this includes any children's rooms that maybe currently painted with deep colors). A neutral color makes rooms look bigger. Wallpaper should be removed and the walls painted. Replace any light bulbs that don't come on. Carpets that are stained should be replaced or removed (especially if they are pet stains).

Every room should be clutter free (clutter implies a lack of storage space and makes rooms look smaller than they are). This is of prime importance in the kitchen. Countertops in the kitchen should not be inundated with small appliances and other cooking aids.

Bathrooms must appear to be clean. Mold and mildew around tubs and showers is a massive negative to a homebuyer and it can be corrected with a few dollars in cleaners and some elbow grease. Bathroom fans that are excessively noisy, will also lower the value of a home much more than the cost of a new fan motor.

It is amazing how we can ignore the obvious and not see what others do. One way to avoid this problem is to take pictures of your home from different angles using a digital camera. Then put the pictures on your computer and look at them as a full size picture on your screen - pictures don't lie, and you will most likely see things that you have never noticed before.

In most cases, you can dramatically increase the selling price of your home with a small investment in material and a large investment in sweat equity.