What to Expect from a Home Inspection

If you are trying to sell your home or if you are interested in purchasing a home, you may mistakenly believe that getting an appraisal is the same as getting a home inspection. While there are some similarities between the two processes, they are actually quite different and serve very unique purposes. Whereas an appraisal is meant to help determine the value of the property that is being bought or sold, a home inspection is meant to help the potential buyer understand what may be wrong with the home before making a purchase. In fact, after completing a home inspection, the buyer may want to renegotiate the price of the home based on the repairs that are going to need to be made.

What is Inspected During a Home Inspection?

There are several key areas of the home that are reviewed during a home inspection. These include:

· Appliances - includes range, oven, dishwasher, garbage disposals, microwaves and smoke detectors
· Attic - includes ventilation, framing, roof construction, gutters and flashing
· Electrical - includes grounding, wiring, ceiling fans, exhaust fans and light fixtures
· Exterior - includes grading, landscaping, elevation, wall covering, fences, driveways, trim, driveways, sidewalks, windows, fascia and lights
· Garage - includes ceiling, walls, slabs, firewall, openers, garage doors, exterior windows, lights, roof and windows
· House Systems - includes furnaces, water heaters, duct work, air conditioning, sprinklers and fireplaces
· Plumbing - includes showers, toilets, faucets, sinks and traps
· Structure - includes the floors, ceilings, walls, foundation and roof

The report you receive after the inspection will tell you about any problems that may be a danger to your health or safety as well as any moisture or drainage issues. You will also receive notification if the roof has a short life expectancy, if the foundation is deficient or if your furnace or air conditioner are malfunctioning.

What is Not Inspected During a Home Inspection?

While there are certainly many things included in a home inspection, there are many areas that are not addressed by the typical home inspection. For example, the home inspector will not check for asbestos, radiation, radon, lead, formaldehyde or methane. He or she also will not check for wood-destroying organisms such as termites, for rodents or for mildew, mold or fungi. This is primarily because the home inspector is not certified to check for these particular problems. Therefore, it is a good idea for you to hire a professional to check for these potential health and safety issues as well.

About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of on-line home appraisals and offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about home appraisal. For more information, please visit .
http://www.electronicappraiser.com.

What Impacts the Value of Your Home?

Did you know that there are more things involved in determining the value of your home that its most basic features? The reality is that there are several features and characteristics that homeowners are looking for when purchasing a new place to live. Here is a look at just a few of those things.

The Street

The street and the location of the property on that street will be important to your buyers. If your home is located on a busy street, for example, you will probably have to knock thousands of dollars off of your price. This is because houses on busy streets tend to be noisier and, if the buyer has children or plans to have children, a busy street is a safety hazard. The same is true of houses with corner lots. While these homes generally have larger lots than other homes on the street, they do have more problems with traffic noise and trespassing than homes that are not on corner lots. If your home is in a cul de sac, on the other hand, buyers with children will be far more attracted to your home.

School Districts

Although school districts are technically subject to change, they often are pretty static. Therefore, if your home is located in an area with a top-notch school system, you will find it easier to sell your home to buyers with families.

Special Amenities

Those little "extras" in your home may help make it more attractive to potential buyers, though some buyers won't be willing to pay extra for certain added perks. Therefore, you generally don't want to add extra amenities in order to increase your chances for a sale. If you already have extras such as a spa, a pool or a fireplace, however, it may help you get a little extra or your home.

Availability of Utilities

The availability of utilities such as satellite service, DSL service and access to public utilities such as water and sewage will also impact your sale. Most buyers are looking for a home that allows them to enjoy these modern conveniences, which means you may have a harder time making a sale if these amenities are not available in your home.

Condition of Electrical, Plumbing and Heating and Cooling Units

The condition of items such as your electrical, plumbing and heating and cooling units will also impact the value of your property to potential buyers. After all, no one wants to purchase a new home and have to replace these items within the first couple of years. Therefore, if your electrical, plumbing or heating and cooling units are outdated or in need of repair, you should either replace them or expect to knock down the price your are asking for your home.

About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of on-line home appraisals and offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about home appraisal. For more information, please visit .
http://www.electronicappraiser.com.

Does Your Home Have a Bad Layout?

When it comes to appraising the value of your home, one thing that many appraisers do not take into consideration is the layout of the home. Although the layout may not be factored in when valuing the home, it is certainly a factor that potential buyers will consider when deciding whether or not they want to make a purchase. Unfortunately, there are many bad layout designs that can decrease your chances of selling your home. Here's a look at some of the most common layouts that potential buyers find unattractive.

A Stairway or Hallway that Faces the Entrance

In some homes, you are immediately greeted by a stairway when you enter the home. This can have a negative impact on the first impression a person has when entering the home. The same is true when the entrance leads immediately into a long or dark hallway. Remember, buyers generally make their first impression of a home within 6 seconds after entering, so you want to make certain this first impression is a good one.

The Center Dining Room

Having a dining room in the center of the home is also a turn-off to many buyers, as it requires walking through the dining room and around the table in order to enter most other rooms. This layout is considered inconvenient by most people because it does not provide easy access to the other rooms in the house.

Bedrooms That are Connected

Connected bedrooms can be unattractive to buyers because of the lack of privacy it creates. In fact, in some parts of the country, an appraiser will consider adjoining bedrooms to be just one room.

Bedrooms Accessed through the Dining Room or Living Room

Many people do not care for a home with bedrooms that have to be accessed through the dining room or living room because this also reduces privacy. In addition, a bedroom that is connected to a dining room or living room will be more susceptible to being disturbed by the activity that takes place in these rooms.

Oddly Placed Guest Bathrooms

The location of the guest bathroom can also be a turn-off to potential buyers. In some older homes, for example, a long hallway may end with a bathroom, which provides for an unattractive and uninviting view down the hallway. Similarly, most potential buyers will not care for a bathroom that can only be accessed after walking through a bedroom or a utility room either.

Lack of a Good View

Homes seem to be larger when you can sit in one room and see other rooms. Therefore, open space and doorways will help create this feeling of spaciousness, which will appeal to a larger number of potential buyers.



About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of on-line home appraisals and offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about home appraisal. For more information, please visit .
http://www.electronicappraiser.com.

Three Major No-Nos to Avoid When Selling a Home

Are you looking for a way to make your home more attractive to potential buyers? While an appraiser may only consider the basics of your home when developing an appraisal, such as the number of rooms in the home and its total square footage, there are some factors that can significantly decrease the value of your home and the likelihood of making a sale and you may not even realize it! In fact, there are many things that homeowners innocently do with their homes without realizing the potentially negative affect things factors have on the overall value of their homes. Here's a look at just a few.

Getting Attacked by Pets

While the dog may be a man's best friend, it can be the worse enemy of the homeowner who is trying to make a sale. Whether you have hired a Realtor to show your home or you are planning to make the sale on your own, keep your pooch away while the property is being shown to prospective buyers. Some potential buyers may actually be frightened if they are greeted by your dog in the driveway or at the front door - even if your dog is the friendliest pet an owner could ever hope to have. Others may be simply irritated by your pet or possibly even allergic. So, do yourself a favor and take your pet to a friend's house or to a boarder while your house is being shown.

The Seller Who Can't Leave

Just as it can be bothersome to have a pet hang around while the house is being shown, so can it be if you stick around while the house is being shown. Obviously, you will need to be at the house showing if you are selling the home yourself. If you have hired a Realtor to help get the job done, however, it is best for you to leave during the showing. If you stick around, potential buyers may feel uncomfortable about looking through closets and really getting a good look at the home. After all, it will make them feel as if they are invading your personal privacy. In order to get the house sold, you need to make certain the potential buyer is as comfortable as possible. If you absolutely must be present while the house is being shown, make certain to give the potential buyer some space and not to hover.

Watching Out for Wallpaper

If at all possible, you should also limit the amount of wallpaper on the walls in your home. Many potential buyers are not major fans of wallpaper and those who do like wallpaper probably won't like the colors and patterns you have selected. So, do yourself a favor and remove the wallpaper and apply a fresh coat of paint instead. This way, you will be able to appeal to a larger group of potential buyers and will be more likely to get your house sold in a short period of time.



About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of on-line home appraisals and offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about home appraisal. For more information, please visit .
http://www.electronicappraiser.com.

5 Inexpensive Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home

Are you looking for some easy steps that you can take to increase the value of your home while also improving its overall curb appeal? If you hope to sell your property quickly and to get top dollar from it, it is important for you to take a few simple steps to help it look its best. With these simple tips, you will be able to increase the value and appeal of your property without having to make a large investment.

Tip #1: Work on the Lawn

Your lawn is one of the first things potential buyers will notice when they see your home, so make certain it makes a good impression. Do everything you can to make your lawn look healthy and green. If you will be selling soon, you may want to consider laying down new sod so you can get an instant improvement. If you have time, on the other hand, weed and fertilize your lawn regularly until it is looking great and be sure to add edging in order to create that well manicured look.

Tip #2: Improve Your Landscaping

After noticing your lawn, prospective buyers will also notice your landscaping. You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to give your landscaping a complete overhaul. Rather, planting a few annuals near your house or around your trees will really spruce up the look of your yard. You should also consider adding some bushes or plants around your foundation in order to create a more welcoming look.

Tip #3: Focus on the Door

After getting past their initial impression from the lawn, your potential buyers will enter your home through your front door. Therefore, you want to be certain the door is as attractive and inviting as possible. To that end, you should paint the door or possibly even replace it if necessary.

Tip #4: Keep it Fresh

If you want to lure people into buying your home, it should look fresh and attractive both inside and out. Therefore, be certain to clean up any dirt and clutter and to take steps to make the outside, the walls and the windows look fresh and crisp. You may need to apply a fresh coat of paint certain areas and cleaning your windows may take a little extra elbow grease, but the payoff will be well worth the effort.

Tip #5: Make Upgrades

If certain parts of your home are getting rundown or are simply outdated, you may want to make a few upgrades before you put your home on the market. Replacing countertops, cabinet hardware and doors, toilet seats and faucets are all relatively inexpensive facelifts that can really spruce up your kitchen and bathroom and make your home more attractive to potential buyers.


About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of on-line home appraisals and offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about home appraisal. For more information, please visit .
http://www.electronicappraiser.com.

Top 5 Ways to Turn Off Potential Homebuyers

If you are trying to sell your home, its appraised value is irrelevant if you no one is interested in your home. For that reason, it is important for you to take steps to make your home as attractive to potential buyers as possible. But, did you know that there are certain things you can do with your home that will actually make them not want to buy it? Here is a look at the top 5 ways to lose out on a sell.

Unappealing Smells

One of the first things a potential buyer will notice when stepping into your home is the way it smells. Pet smells and cigarette odors are the top two turn-offs, but potential buyers will also be turned away if they smell mildew, old food smells or other odors. Therefore, be certain to do everything you can to make the home smell fresh and clean. Keep in mind that it is easy to become used to the smells in your own home, so ask someone with a fresh sniffer to smell the inside of your home and give you some feedback on how it smells.

Lack of Lighting

Lighting is essential when it comes to making a room feel warm and inviting. In addition, proper lighting will help make the space look larger and more appealing. Therefore, you should be certain to replace any dim light fixtures while also removing heavy drapes and cutting tree limbs that may be shadowing your house. You may even want to consider installing additional light fixtures or skylights in order to increase the amount of light entering your home. Cleaning your windows and repainting your rooms with a color that reflects light will also help make the inside of your home appear brighter.

Overgrown Gutters

Gutters with plants growing inside are a big turn off to potential buyers, as they will view this as a job they will have to tend to right away. In addition, it makes it look as if the home is not properly cared for and maintained. So, be certain to clean your gutters before putting your home on the market.

Excessive Dampness

Dampness in the basement is a major concern for buyers, as it is a sign that there is a leak in the foundation. While this isn’t necessarily the cause of your dampness, just the potential of a leaky foundation is enough to turn most homebuyers away. If you are getting moisture in your basement, look for other potential causes and try to rectify the situation. Some places to look include underground drains that may be clogged, a lack of rain gutters along the roofline or downspouts that are facing the wrong way.

Scummy Bathrooms

No matter where it is found, dirt is a major turn off to potential buyers. Nonetheless, you should pay particular attention to your bathroom. Having a bathroom that is bright and shiny is a sign that you take great care of your home, so repaint it, purchase a new curtain and scrub it down in order to make it look as good as you possibly can.


About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of on-line home appraisals and offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about home appraisal. For more information, please visit .
http://www.electronicappraiser.com.

Increasing the Curb Appeal of Your Home

When it comes to increasing the value of your home, you may not need to look as far as you thought. In fact, making a few simple changes can potentially increase your home's value while also helping you get it sold more quickly. So, what is the secret? The answer is curb appeal.

What is Curb Appeal?

Put simply, the curb appeal of a home is a measure of its attractiveness when viewing the property from the road. In other words, it refers to the first impression your buyer is likely to get. In order to determine your home's level of curb appeal, you should ask yourself whether or not your home looks appealing as you pass it on the road or as you pull up in your driveway. If your home lacks curb appeal, you will lose out on many potential buyers before they even come inside your home. Therefore, no matter how attractive your home looks from the road, you should do everything you can to make it look even more appealing before you put it on the market.

How Can I Increase Curb Appeal?

In order to increase the curb appeal of your home, you should first identify the most attractive exterior features of your home and then find ways to enhance them. Sometimes, simply adding a little edging or weeding away the vegetation growing between the bricks in your walkway can go a long way toward improving your curb appeal. Other inexpensive ways to improve your curb appeal include:

Removing any mold or mildew growing on your driveway, house or sidewalks
Clean your windows, gutters, siding, decks and patios
Put away items so your lawn is free of clutter
Rake your leaves, mow your lawn and get rid of the weeds growing in your yard
Trim trees and pushes so they are neat and attractive

You might also need to repaint the outside of your home, add some new landscaping, replace your door or complete a few other changes that will require spending a little money. Nonetheless, the investment will likely be minimal, while the rewards can be fantastic.

Is There Anything Else to Keep in Mind?

While making your house look more attractive from the main road during the day is certainly of very high importance, you should also consider how your property appears at night as well as from other vantage points. For example, can your backyard be viewed from another road? If so, you should make an extra effort to make this part of your property look attractive from the road as well. Similarly, it is a good idea to enhance the curb appeal of your home at night, as you never know when a potential buyer will pass by. Simple additions such as placing lighting along your driveway, adding a decorative street lamp or other lighting around your doorways and windows will help make your home more attractive both day and night.


About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of on-line home appraisals and offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about home appraisal. For more information, please visit .
http://www.electronicappraiser.com.

The Ins and Outs of FHA Loans

If you are interested in purchasing a home, you will find that there are many different financing options available to you. Depending upon your personal financial situation, one of the options you will want to explore is the FHA loan. This loan option has been available for over 60 years and, during that time, has made it possible for literally thousands of people to become proud homeowners.

The Benefits of FHA Loans

There are numerous benefits associated with FHA loans. For instance, if you have less than perfect credit, you may be able to get approval for an FHA loan even if you have been turned down for a conventional loan. Even if you have had financial difficulties and have had to file for bankruptcy, you can still obtain an FHA loan just two or three years after filing if you have maintained good credit since that time. In addition, if you have had to foreclose on a mortgage loan in the past, you can still qualify for an FHA loan just two to three years after your foreclosure if you keep your credit in excellent shape afterward.

In addition to the benefits associated with your credit rating, there are several other benefits you can enjoy when obtaining an FHA loan. For example, there generally is no adjustment made to the interest rate. If an adjustment is made, it generally varies by only about .125 percent from a conventional loan.

Another benefit to obtaining an FHA loan is the fact that the mortgage insurance is paid through the loan. This results in a premium of 1.5% that is added to the balance of the loan rather than having to be paid out of pocket. A small amount is also added to the monthly payment for the mortgage insurance premium, but this is generally lower than the cost associated with private mortgage insurance premiums.

Meeting FHA Loan Requirements

Although there are many benefits associated with acquiring an FHA loan, there are many requirements associated with the loan as well. For example, the home will have to pass through an inspection before it can be purchased with an FHA loan. Although the requirements have become less stringent over the years, the home must still meet certain qualifications in order to be purchased with an FHA loan. For example, a defective roof with a leak needs to be repaired, but an older roof does not automatically need to be replaced if it does not leak.

Although the home need to pass through an FHA inspection in order to qualify for the loan, it is important to note that this inspection is not meant to replace the traditional home inspection. Rather, you should obtain a professional home inspection in addition to the FHA inspection in order to make certain you are getting involved with a good deal.

About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of on-line home appraisals and offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about home appraisal. For more information, please visit .
http://www.electronicappraiser.com.

Understanding Jumbo Mortgage Loans

Are you considering obtaining a jumbo mortgage loan in order to purchase the home of your dreams? If so, you may find that obtaining a jumbo mortgage in today's market is a bit difficult. Yet, only a year ago, jumbo mortgages were a relatively common type of mortgage loan for future homeowners to use when buying the home of their dreams.

What is a Jumbo Mortgage?

Put simply, a jumbo mortgage is a type of mortgage loan that exceeds the industry standard for a conventional loan. The amount of a mortgage loan that is considered to be conventional is determined by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae and any loan that exceeds this amount is considered to be a jumbo mortgage. The amount that is considered to be conventional changes each year and certain areas have higher set limits than others. The U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Alaska and Guam are all areas that have a higher limit placed on conventional loan amounts.

What are the Risks of a Jumbo Mortgage Loan?

Obtaining a jumbo mortgage loan is actually more of a risk for the lender than it is for the buyer in many ways. Even if you have obtained an appraisal that demonstrates the value of the property you wish to purchase, selling one of these homes to the mainstream homebuyer can prove to be difficult. In other words, if you were to default on your loan and the lender were to repossess the home, the lender will likely have more difficulty selling your home because there aren't many buyers in the market capable of paying for a luxury home. In addition, the value of a luxury home can be quite subjective and can change quickly. For that reason, many lenders require at least two appraisal before they will approve a jumbo mortgage loans.

What are the Drawbacks to Getting a Jumbo Mortgage Loan?

Although a jumbo mortgage loan is not necessarily riskier for the buyer, there are drawbacks to getting this type of loan. Namely, jumbo mortgage loans tend to have higher interest rates than conventional mortgage loans. The increase in the interest rate depends greatly on the current market trends, but generally ranges anywhere from 0.25 to 0.5%.

Another drawback to applying for a jumbo mortgage loan is that you may have difficult obtaining the loan. Just as recently as a year ago, jumbo loans were a fairly common phenomenon because the market was stronger and the prices on homes were increasing. With the current status of the market, however, the prices on homes have fallen and lenders have become less willing to take a risk on a jumbo mortgage. Therefore, unless you are getting a great deal on a home with a high appraised value and unless you have an excellent credit history, you may find it nearly impossible to get a jumbo mortgage loan.

About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of on-line home appraisals and offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about home appraisal. For more information, please visit .
http://www.electronicappraiser.com.

How is Your Home’s Value Appraised?

When it comes to appraising the value of your home, you might be surprised by the vast difference in value of your home when compared to one that is nearby. In fact, in some cases, the appraised value of homes located right across the street can be much higher or much lower than the appraised value of your home. Why is there such a discrepancy in these values? The answer is simple: market value.

Calculating Market Value

In order to determine a market value, appraisers must crunch a variety of different numbers. Obviously, it is impossible to determine the true 100% market value of a home because every house across the nation is not put up for sale each year. Therefore, appraisers have to piece together a variety of information in order to determine the value of your home. This includes looking at the average percent change in value for homes in the neighborhood, which is based on sales information that is available. This information is then used to help determine of a home’s value.

If there is no recent sales information available for the neighborhood, the appraiser may look at similar homes in different communities instead. By looking at homes of similar size and with similar amenities, an appraiser can get a good idea of the value of the home. Nonetheless, the differences in neighborhoods needs to be taken into account, as some neighborhoods are simply more desirable to potential buyers than others. For example, a home located on a golf course is certainly going to have higher appraised value than one that is not, if all other attributes are similar.

Considering Special Circumstances

Of course, there are special circumstances about homes that can make their actual value different from others in the same market. For instance, if your home is located in a part of the neighborhood that is near a highway, your value will likely go down because of the noise and distraction of the highway. On the other hand, a home that is located on a corner lot or near to a park may have a higher appraised value because of the added land or convenience it brings to the homeowner.

Determining the value of a home in a neighborhood where the houses are of varying sizes can also be difficult. In some areas, where each home is of similar in size age and attributes, finding comparable sold homes is easy and appraisals are generally quite accurate. In the neighborhoods where this is not the case, however, the value of one home can be much less or much more than the value of the home located next door.

In order to get an accurate appraisal, a variety of factors need to be taken into consideration. In addition, it is important to remember that an appraisal is not a guarantee of the amount of money you can expect to get for your home. Rather, it is a good starting point for you to use when determining how much you would like to receive when selling your home.
Appraising is an “art”, not a “science”. If you hire two different appraisers to value your home, you most likely will get two different values.


About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of home appraisals that offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about house values. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com .

Should You Renovate Your Kitchen Or Bathroom Before Putting Your Home on the Market?

Many people think that renovating their kitchens and their bathrooms is the best way to add resale value to their homes. While these renovations can certainly help bulk up your home’s value, there are some things you should keep in mind before you start tearing out walls and cabinetry in either of these two rooms.

How Much Can I Get Back From a Renovation?

The amount of value you add to your home when you renovate your kitchen or bathroom will really depend on the status of the room before you got started and the types of renovations you made. For the most part, however, you can expect to get anywhere from 75 to 100% of the money you put into your renovation project back when you sell your home.

Although making these renovations won’t necessarily help you make more money than what you put in, they can help you sell make the home more attractive to buyers. As a result, you may be able to sell the home more quickly. In addition, if you do the work yourself, you may see a much greater return. Just be certain the work is of high-quality, or you may actually decrease the value of your home rather than bring its value up.

What Should I Consider Before Making a Renovation?

When making a renovation in your kitchen or bathroom, your goal should be to modernize the space without making it too personal in terms of taste. In other words, while you might like the thought of having bright red cabinets in your kitchen, many of your potential buyers may not like this color scheme. So, update your room without going over the top with colors and other design elements.

You should also consider the other home in your neighborhood before you start your renovations. If other homes in your neighborhood are mid-market houses and you add the highest-end finishes, you won’t get as much back on your return and you may actually have difficult selling your home. After all, most buyers don’t want to spend a great deal of money on a very nice home that is surrounded by less attractive houses. You should aim to keep the home on the same level as the surrounding homes in the neighborhood in order to get the greatest return.

Completing a bathroom or a kitchen renovation can certainly help to boost the value of your home, but plan out your renovations carefully in order to make certain every dollar you put into your home will come back to you in resale value. Ideally, your renovations should help you earn more than what you have put in, so talk with a real estate agent and ask for feedback and guidance before you start making your changes.


About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of on-line home appraisals and offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about home appraisal. For more information, please visit .
www.electronicappraiser.com .

Increasing the Value of Your Home

Are you considering selling your home? Before you get the value of your home appraised and put it on the market, you might want to consider making some changes to your home that will help to improve its value. You just might be surprised by how much your home value can be improved by a few simple changes.

Creating a Modern Kitchen

One of the best ways to increase the value of your home is to update your kitchen. Most of today’s buyers are looking for large kitchens that offer plenty of workspace. Solid surface counters are also a must in an updated kitchen, as are newer appliances that are in good working order. A kitchen that opens up to another room will also be well-received by potential buyers and you should place a window over your sink whenever possible.

Updating Your Bathroom

After the kitchen, the bathroom will generally have the greatest impact on the value of your home. Bathrooms containing a whirlpool tub or spa are big sellers. Other features that homebuyers look for include separate showers that contain multiple jets or steam and double sinks. A growing number of buyers are also looking for toilets in a separate room and master baths that are nice and roomy.

The physical appearance isn’t all that matters when it comes to the bathroom, however, as the plumbing is also important. Make certain your pipes are large enough to carry enough water and that your hot water heater is big enough to keep the water at a comfortable temperature. At the very minimum, you should have a 75 gallon hot water heater, though most homebuyers will prefer a 100 or 150 gallon heater.

Going Natural

Today’s homebuyers are also looking for homes that contain natural materials. Items such as hardwood floors, ceramic tile, and granite are all positive additions to a home. When it comes to bathrooms and kitchens, buyers are especially interested in avoiding linoleum and having flooring such as wood and ceramic tile. Laminate and wood floors are more popular than wall-to-wall covering in other rooms of the house.

Providing Plenty of Storage

The more storage space you can provide, the happier your potential buyers will be. An oversized garage and attic space are both great assets. Buyers are also looking for closet space to store their personal belongings. His and hers walk-in closets are particularly attractive in the master suite. Don’t look at your basement as your storage space, as homebuyers are more interested in finished basements rather than basements filled with clutter.

Making it Light and Airy

Homes with a light and airy feeling are particularly popular. Therefore, you might want to consider adding additional lighting and finding ways to let in more natural light. Find ways to open up your home in order to create an illusion of spaciousness. Knocking out the wall between your kitchen and your dining room, for example, can really open up your home and make it more appealing to potential buyers.

About the Author: Shannon Kietzman is a well known author and trusted resource. Shannon regularly writes for http://www.electronicappraiser.com/, which is a leading provider of home appraisals that offers a nationwide personalized instant informational report about house values. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com .

Selling Your Own House

You have decided to put your home on the market and want to do it yourself. Here are a few steps to consider as you prepare to do a For Sale By Owner.

1. Put up your For Sale Sign. Before advertising your home, make the right first impression. Attract buyers with low cost cosmetic steps such as cutting the grass, cleaning up the outside and painting drab walls. Have a garage sale to get rid of inside clutter. Why? Because people buy homes that appear clean, solid and well maintained.

2. Set your price right and sell your own home fast. To find the true value of your home, compare it to similar homes recently sold in your neighborhood. You may even want to get an appraisal to be sure of what your house is worth. When setting your price, also consider the cost of closing fees, other selling costs, and the amount of cash you want after the sale. You may also want to look at financial terms that support a higher price for your home. A Buyer might be willing to pay more for your house if he or she can assume your current mortgage, or if you are prepared to provide. Often, home prices are higher in Spring and Summer. Buyers look for homes in the Spring and Summer, making it harder to get high prices in Winter when few Buyers are looking for homes.

Be sure to list what items are not included in the sales of your home. In general, items that are bolted to a wall, floor or ceiling or attached by a pipe are included in the sale. Expensive chandeliers are usually bolted to the ceiling. If you want to take your chandelier with you, list it as NOT included in the sale.

3. Good Advertising Sells Homes. New low cost web sites will put multiple pictures of your house on the Internet. Use Internet ads in combination with local newspapers and neighborhood flyers.

A flat fee MLS listing is an effective form of advertising because real estate agents look in the MLS to find homes that match buyer requirements, and most buyers use real estate agents.

4. Schedule An Open House. Kick off your home selling campaign with an open house. Invite all the neighbors for blocks around your house. Show them your home's best points and tell them your price. Why? Because neighbors are the best promoters of the neighborhood and they all have friends and family who buy homes.

5. Negotiating With Buyers. Always make a counter offer when selling your own home. The buyer who offers less than your asking price can be encouraged to pay more or agree to other terms like accepting the house without repairs.

6. Closing the deal and selling your own home. Avoid the tendency to relax after getting a buyer to sign your sales contract. Finishing details, the events between signing a contract and closing day should lead smoothly to collecting cash for your house, but little things can go wrong if you don't pay attention.

Buyers have the right to inspect your house. Pay attention! Every inspection is a potential deal killer. Closing documents can be completed by an attorney, escrow agent or title officer, depending on your state. The closing attorney or escrow agent transfers the title to the buyer, pays all outstanding bills, and turns the cash balance over to the seller.

Greg Sullivan is the President of www.electronicappraiser.com, a leading provider of home appraisals offering a nationwide personalized instant home appraisal service. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com.

Hiring a contractor

You are ready to make those improvements on your home – maybe you are ready to sell it, need equity from it or just want to make the place look better. Nevertheless, finding the right people to help you get the job done requires knowing a few basics.

First of all, there are contractors and there are handymen. The handyman often limits his work to hourly or daily jobs and lives by a whole different set of rules than the home improvement contractor. When hiring a contractor, here are a few things to know:

1. Have a good idea of what you want. You shouldn't even talk to a contractor before you have a fairly clear idea of the scope of the job and the desired end result. Ceramic tile or fiberglass enclosure? Multilevel deck or large platform? Vaulted or cathedral ceilings? Skylights or sun tunnels? You don't have to know all the minute details of laying a foundation or putting up drywall... just a clear vision of the finished job and the major components.

The contractor can help you work within your budget but cannot possibly present you with samples of every product available. This is the job of a home designer or architect and is unfair to expect this, especially on smaller jobs.

One great place to start educating yourself about all the decisions you will need to make is through home-related publications. Visit any of the larger bookstores and you will find walls of magazines on home decor, remodeling and renovation. There are also many magazines that specialize in certain types of jobs, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Though these publications tend to showcase top-end products and intricate designs, the fact is you can learn much about your own likes and dislikes while educating yourself about the variety of available products... all from your living room sofa.

2. Finding your contractor. Though there may be hundreds of contractors in the Yellow Pages and newspapers, this is of little value to you, except to help you to develop a list. By far the best way to find a good contractor is through a direct referral from someone you trust who has successfully completed a similar project. The next best source of referrals is your local hardware store, home store or lumberyard. Established businesses are loath to give a referral to a contractor who will hurt their reputations. A business that receives valid negative feedback about a contractor will stop referring him.

3. Qualifying your contractor. To qualify your contractor, complete the following:

A. The contractor should come and look at the job. Some contractors will try and give a job quote sight unseen. This is most common with tradesmen... electricians and plumbers... especially when they are very busy. You still want him to come to your home. Why? Well, you can tell a lot about a person by talking to him face-to-face that you just can't get over the phone. Look at his truck, his physical appearance.

B. Licensing and/or registration -Every state has different rules and contractors are expected to follow them. Some states require licensing for all contractors, some are based on the average size of the job, others require licensing fees per job, and some require nothing at all! In some large metropolitan areas, the rules can vary literally from block to block! Some states defer to local governments. To determine the licensing requirements for your area, call your local building inspector or town hall.

C. Insurance is not optional -Liability and medical insurance for contractors may or may not be required in your state, but it must be for anyone working in your home! Hiring an uninsured contractor is hiring an irresponsible contractor. Require that they present a certificate of insurance prior to signing any contracts, and call the agent to verify that the policy actually exists and what it covers. At a minimum, the contractor's general liability policy should be 100% of the value of your home.


4. Get at least three clearly written, understandable bids on any project. The written quote will give you first real sense of what you project will entail and how much it will cost. The quality, clarity and style of the quote will tell you a lot about the contractor and his penchant for detail. Clarity and detail is important. Without the details of the project on paper in an understandable fashion, it is impossible for you to compare the bids from the different contractors, making your choice of contractor all the more difficult.

Taking a very low bid may be looking for trouble. It could leave the contractor cash-strapped and begging for more money later. One of the main causes of an honest contractor pulling a Houdini is that he needs money to live on, so he moves on to another job temporarily to feed the family. This is a particular problem with smaller contractors who do not have adequate credit and must "pay-as-they-go". Mounting materials costs and poor financial planning can drive them from your job and into the arms of another! Then again, you might find that the low bidder is the only one not overpricing the job. Only by having quality quotes will you be able to make an intelligent choice.

5. Get a written contract. A complete, clearly written contract is absolutely essential for both trust and peace of mind! For example, if it does not say in the contract that he will clean your yard after tearing off the three layers of shingles on your roof… better get it written in. Everything you and the contractor agree to should be in the contract!

Greg Sullivan is the President of www.electronicappraiser.com, a leading provider of home appraisals offering a nationwide personalized instant home appraisal service. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com.

What is A Home Appraisal?

You are ready to make that big purchase, maybe it is your dream home or it could be an investment piece of real estate. Whichever it may be, the purchase of real estate is a complex financial transaction that requires multiple parties to pull it off.

Of the many people involved with a real estate transaction, including the Realtor, mortgage company, title company and financial institution, all want to make sure that the value of the property is in line with the amount being paid.

This is where the appraisal comes in. An appraisal is an unbiased estimate of what a buyer might expect to pay - or a seller receive - for a parcel of real estate, where both buyer and seller are informed parties. To be an informed party, most people turn to a licensed, certified, professional appraiser to provide them with the most accurate estimate of the true value of their property.

To start the real estate appraisal process, first there must be an inspection. An appraiser's duty is to inspect the property being appraised to ascertain the true status of that property. The appraiser must actually see features, such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, the location, and so on, to ensure that they really exist and are in the condition a reasonable buyer would expect them to be. The inspection often includes a sketch of the property, ensuring the proper square footage and conveying the layout of the property. Most importantly, the appraiser looks for any obvious features - or defects - that would affect the value of the house.

Once the site has been inspected, an appraiser uses two or three approaches to determining the value of real property: a cost approach, a sales comparison and, in the case of a rental property, an income approach.

The cost approach is the easiest to understand. The appraiser uses information on local building costs, labor rates and other factors to determine how much it would cost to construct a property similar to the one being appraised. This value often sets the upper limit on what a property would sell for. Why would you pay more for an existing property if you could spend less and build a brand new home instead is the reasoning behind the cost approach? While there may be mitigating factors, such as location and amenities, these are usually not reflected in the cost approach.

This is where the sales comparison comes in. Appraisers use the sales comparison method through getting to know the neighborhoods in which they work. They understand the value of certain features to the residents of that area. They know the traffic patterns, the school zones, the busy throughways; and they use this information to determine which attributes of a property will make a difference in the value. Then, the appraiser researches recent sales in the vicinity and finds properties that are ''comparable'' to the subject being appraised. The sales prices of these properties are used as a basis to begin the sales comparison approach.

Using knowledge of the value of certain items such as square footage, extra bathrooms, hardwood floors, fireplaces or view lots (just to name a few), the appraiser adjusts the comparable properties to more accurately portray the subject property. For example, if the comparable property has a fireplace and the subject does not, the appraiser may deduct the value of a fireplace from the sales price of the comparable home. If the subject property has an extra half-bathroom and the comparable does not, the appraiser might add a certain amount to the comparable property.

In the case of income producing properties - rental houses for example - the appraiser may use a third approach to valuing the property. In this case, the amount of income the property produces is used to arrive at the current value of those revenues over the foreseeable future.

Combining information from all approaches, the appraiser is then ready to stipulate an estimated market value for the subject property. It is important to note that while this amount is probably the best indication of what a property is worth, it may not be the final sales price. There are always mitigating factors such as seller motivation, urgency or ''bidding wars'' that may adjust the final price up or down. But the appraised value is often used as a guideline for lenders who don't want to loan a buyer more money that the property is actually worth. The bottom line is: an appraiser will help you get the most accurate property value, so you can make the most informed real estate decisions.


Greg Sullivan is the President of www.electronicappraiser.com, a leading provider of home appraisals offering a nationwide personalized instant home appraisal service. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com.

How A CMA Can Help You

A comparative market analysis, or CMA, is a real estate agent's evaluation based on local listing and sales data used to determine the probable sale price of a property in the current market. For a seller, a CMA can help you determine a listing price. If you are a buyer, the CMA will help you decide on what to offer for a listing.

Although reports can vary from a two-page list of comparable home sales to a 50-page comprehensive guide, the length and complexity of the CMA depends on the real estate agent's business practice. However, standard comparative market analysis reports contain the following data:

1. Active Listings - Active listings are homes currently for sale. Such listings are not completely indicative of market value because sellers can ask whatever they want for their home, but they will give you an idea of averages.

2. Pending Listings - Pending listings are formerly active listings that were under contract. These homes have not yet closed, so they are not yet a comparable sale. Unless the listing agent is willing to share information about the pending sale -- and many are not -- you will not know the actual sold price until the transaction closes. However, pending sales do indicate the direction the market is moving.

3. Sold Listings - Homes that have closed within the past six months are your comparable sales. These are the sales an appraiser will use when appraising your home for the buyer, along with the pending sales (which will likely have closed by the time your home is sold). Look long and hard at the comparable sales because those are your market value.


When examining comparable sales remember to choose homes that most closely resemble your home. It is difficult to compare a tri-level home to a single-story home. Select the homes from this list that are mostly identical to your home in size, shape and condition, such as: similar square footage, similar age of construction, similar amenities, upgrades and condition and similar location.

4. Off-Market / Withdrawn / Canceled - These are properties that were taken off the market for a variety of reasons. This number can be used as a high water mark. The reason these homes are removed from the market may be due to prices being too high. The median prices of this group will almost always be higher than the median prices of comparable sales. However, listings cancel for other reasons such seller's remorse, the DOM was too long, repair requests, or the seller fired the agent.

5. Expired Listing - This group will reflect the highest median sales price because they did not sell and were probably unreasonably priced. Some of the expired listings could also show up as an active listing, listed by a new agent at a new price. Listings also expire because they were not aggressively marketed or because the home was in need of repairs.

A real estate agent's knowledge of the local market can affect the accuracy of a CMA, particularly in a neighborhood with a lot of variability in the housing stock. Unless the agent has actually seen the comparable listings, he or she may not draw the correct conclusions. So pick your agent carefully and you too can benefit from the value of a CMA.

Greg Sullivan is the President of www.electronicappraiser.com, a leading provider of home appraisals offering a nationwide personalized instant home appraisal service. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com.

The appraisal industry has changed…..forever!

AVM’s have forever changed the way Wall Street, Lenders and Banking industry use appraisal. You may be asking yourself, what is an AVM and how does it affect the appraisal industry?

AVM is short for "Automated Valuation Model". Appraisers, Wall Street and Lending Institutions all use AVM technology in their analysis of residential property. An AVM is a residential Valuation Report that can be obtained in a matter of seconds. It is a technology driven report. The product of an automated valuation technology analysis, public record data, and computer decision logic combined to provide a logical calculated estimate of a probable selling price of a residential property. An AVM generally uses a combination of two types of evaluation, the running of a hedonic model and a repeat sales index. The results of each are weighed, analyzed and then reported as a final estimate of value based on a requested reasoning date. http://www.electronicappraiser.com/why.cfm

AVM’s have been around since the late 1990’s. For decades, mortgages have been constantly bought and sold in large groups of loans, (pools) by banks, institutional investors and Wall Street. As technology caught up with the demand, there arose a need to rapidly evaluate large groups of residential loans without appraising each property associated with the corresponding loan. This has always been an expensive process that could take several weeks to complete. AVM technology allowed the addresses associated with each loan to be fed into a computer, AVM reasoning would be applied to each property and result in a report of the then current “market” value for each property in a loan pool. The AVM would assist the institutional investor in determining their risk for that pool.

As AVM technology improved, many uses for them evolved. Not only were they being used for large pools, but also for individual loans. Fifteen years ago, a no closing-cost loan was virtually unheard of, with AVM’s they became commonplace. Loans were just too expensive to process, one of the largest costs being that of a traditional appraisal. AVMs allowed lenders to quickly evaluate a property and in many cases determine if a full appraisal were necessary to fund a loan, and could be done inexpensively. This was especially true in “portfolio” loans, loans in which a lender did not intend to sell.

AVM’s give a non-partial analysis, appraisers are constantly being persuaded by real estate brokers and loan agents to hit a certain value. There is no bargaining with an AVM, the computer determines a non-biased value, thus greatly reducing the risk of fraud.

AVM’s are attractive in price, significantly lower than a traditional appraisal. From $25-$50 for individual reports, to a few dollars each if bought in bulk.

AVM’s have not evolved to the point where they are able to replace the appraiser, nor are they suited for every use. For example, they are relatively new to the market in originating first mortgage loans and in a rapidly changing real estate market (up or down), local knowledge is a must. The acceptance and uses of AVMs is constantly expanding, and as it expands the need for a traditional appraisals will continue to diminish.

About the Author: Greg Sullivan is the President of www.electronicappraiser.com, a leading provider of home appraisals offering a nationwide personalized instant home appraisal service. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com.

Why Should You Use A Realtor®

We all want to save a few bucks when we can. But there are times when scrimping is not worth it and in the end, it could cost your more than you can save.

Hiring a Realtor® is one of those times when it isn’t wise to scrimp. When the stakes are high, as with the investment of purchasing or selling your home, your want a professional on your side.

So what can a licensed Realtor® offer you?

1. Help you determine how much house you can afford. Sometimes lenders have limited options when it comes to purchasing a home. A Realtor® can help you get more creative and possibly even connect you with a lender who can be more flexible with your funding options.

w2. When looking for that ideal home, you either need to have the time to peruse the listings or leave it to a realtor, whose job it is to know all of the listings. By giving your Realtor® an idea of what you are looking for, they can keep their eye open on your behalf while watching the price range.

3. If you are moving to a new city or town, you want to know the ins and outs of the community. A Realtor® can give your local information such as what the zoning rules are, where the local schools are and what the environment is like. All of this can be of great help to you before making your big investment in a town you are unfamiliar with.

4. If negotiating price is your weakness, whether in selling or buying, a Realtor® can help do this for you. The Realtor® can also help you with date of possession, inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. During the evaluation of your property, your Realtor® will follow up with due diligence. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. The Realtor® can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property.

6. When selling your home, the Realtor® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.

7. When it comes to promoting your home for sale, the Realtor®, who sees people day in and day out looking for property as well as other realtors, can be your perfect marketing strategy. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer.

8. Your Realtor® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your Realtor® can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process.

9. Last, the Realtor® can answer questions and tie up loose ends before the closing of the house. They complete the paperwork and resolve issues, which can save you many headaches.


About the Author: Greg Sullivan is the President of www.electronicappraiser.com, a leading provider of home appraisals offering a nationwide personalized instant information about house values. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com.

Improving Your Home’s Resale Value

Are you getting ready to sell your home and want to get the most for the value? If so, there are a few simple things you can do that won’t necessarily cost you a fortune.

First of all, when potential buyers drive up to your house, the first thing they see is the front of your house. Knowing that the exterior of the house usually is a good indicator of the inside of the house, you want your home to have curb appeal and make buyers want to see the rest of the house. So here are some quick things you can do.

1. Mow the lawn regularly while your home is on the market. If you have patches in your yard where grass doesn’t grow, you can either sow some grass seeds or sod the areas. If the bare area is at the base of a tree, you could turn the spot into a flowerbed.

2. While we’re on the subject of flowerbeds, be sure to keep these areas weeded when trying to sell your home. Adding pine straw or mulch can freshen up your yard and make your yard look well cared for.

3. Add some color to your yard by planting flowers. You can use them in beds, hanging baskets, or flowerpots. Planting flowers can help to liven up a house, especially if the home is older or more traditional. And, be sure to pick vibrant colors over pastels or white in order to give the full effect.

4. Clean your windows. People always look out of the windows when they’re viewing a home. So, cleaning the windows will help the view from the interior and the exterior!

5. Use a pressure washer to clean sidewalks and driveways. Pressure washing cement, especially, can make it look as though it was freshly poured.

6. Make your front door inviting. Since most potential buyers enter your home through the front door, you want to pay attention to this part of your home. If there are any shoe marks at the base (or hand marks near the handle), be sure to clean those. Depending on the type of door you have, you can also give it a fresh coat of paint.

7. Examine your home’s exterior. If your home has siding, check to see how clean it is. If you see collected dirt or pollen, you can clean these surfaces fairly easily with a pressure washer. If your home is painted, check to make sure the paint is not chipping away. If your home was painted recently, you may just want to hose off (or gently pressure wash) any visible dirt. If your home is in need of new paint, be sure to choose neutral colors.

8. While your pet may be your pride and joy, even a friendly dog’s barking may frighten a buyer. If you can’t remove your dog, try to confine it to the garage or dog run. Many buyers are allergic to cats, so be sure litter boxes are clean.

9. Remove the clutter from inside your home. If your home has too much furniture, overflowing closets, junk sitting in corners, and crowded kitchen and bath countertops, potential buyers cannot see your home. Removing clutter will make your home appear bigger and brighter

10. Clean your house. Buyers want to move into a clean home. They feel more assured of that prospect if the home is spotless at it’s showing. Clean walls, baseboard trim, window sills, light switches, doors, and light fixtures. Steam clean carpets and dust window blinds. Dust/wash off lint from the washer and dryer, even wash off the furnace and hot water heater. A sparkling clean home is sure to impress!

11. Do everything you can to brighten the interior of your home. Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is. Let the sun shine in! For an evening showing, turn on all the lights - both inside and outside. Light adds color and warmth, and makes prospects feel welcome. During the winter, maintain a comfortable temperature even if you are away for an extended time.

About the Author: Greg Sullivan is the President of www.electronicappraiser.com, a leading provider of home appraisals offering a nationwide personalized instant home appraisal services. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com.

Inexpensive Ways To Give Your Home A Facelift

If you are looking to sell your home or even have it appraised, you want to get the most value you can for your money.

Those of you who have taken up home improvement projects know that there is a monetary return for every improvement investment. Although the actual cost and payback for each project can vary, depending on both your home's condition and overall real estate market values in your region of the country, here a few things you can do that will most likely improve your home’s worth.

1. Make your kitchen really cook. The kitchen is still considered the heart of the home. Potential homebuyers make a beeline for this room when they first view a home for sale, so make sure your kitchen looks clean and reasonably updated.

For a few hundred dollars, you can replace the kitchen faucet set, add new cabinet door handles and update old lighting fixtures with brighter, more energy-efficient ones.

If you've got a slightly larger budget, you can give the cabinets themselves a makeover. You don’t need to replace your cabinets, hiring a company to reface them can give you the same results for less money. If you're handy, you can order your own replacement cabinet doors and door fronts from retailers like Lowe's Home Improvement or The Home Depot and install them yourself.

2. Give appliances a facelift. If your kitchen appliances don't match, order new doors or face panels for them. Many dishwasher panels are white on one side and black on the other, so if you are trying to match everything up, slide out the panel and flip it around.

A more cohesive-looking kitchen makes a big difference in the buyer's mind -- and in the home's resale price.

3. Buff up the bath. Next to the kitchen, bathrooms are often the most important rooms to update. They, too, can be improved without a lot of cash. Simple things like adding a new toilet seat and a pedestal sink are pretty easy for homeowners to install, and they make a big difference in the look of the bath.

If your bathroom floor is old and discolored, try replacing tiles with easy-to-apply vinyl tiles or a small piece of sheet vinyl. You may not even need to take up the old floor. You can install the new floor right over the old one.

If your tub and shower are looking dingy, consider re-grouting the tile and replacing any chipped tiles. A more complete cover-up is a prefabricated tub and shower surround. These one-piece units may require professional installation but can still be cheaper than paying to re-tile walls and refinish a worn tub.

4. Step up your storage. Old houses, particularly, are notorious for their lack of closet space. If you have cramped storage areas, try adding do-it-yourself wire and laminate closet systems to bedrooms, pantries and entry closets.

5. Add a room in a week or less. "If you have a three-bedroom house with a den, the only reason the den can't be considered a bedroom may be because it doesn't have a closet. If you add a closet to that room, you've now got a four-bedroom house. That adds a lot of value."

6. Mind the mechanics. Spending a few bucks on nitty-gritty stuff such as repairing leaks, wrapping or fixing loose wires, and fixing any faulty outlets.

7. Look underfoot. Carpeting is another detail that can quickly update a home and make it look cleaner. A professional carpet cleaning is an inexpensive investment, especially if your rugs are in good shape and are neutral colors.

If your carpet is showing serious wear, cover it with inexpensive, strategically placed area rugs. Unless it is truly hideous, most Realtors don't suggest replacing wall-to-wall carpeting right before you sell your house. The new homeowners may want to choose their own carpeting after they move in.

8. Let there be light. If you have boring recessed lights in your dining and living rooms, consider replacing one of the room's lights with an eye-catching chandelier. Home stores offer a wide range of inexpensive, but nice-looking, ceiling fixtures these days. If you have a ceiling fan and light, you can also buy replacement fan blades (leaving the fan body in place) to update the fixture's look.

9. Reframe your entry. Do you have a flimsy little knob on your main entry door? If so, spring for a substantial-looking handle-and-lock set. A nice, big piece of hardware on the front door signals to newcomers that this is a solid home.


About the Author: Greg Sullivan is the President of www.electronicappraiser.com, a leading provider of home appraisals offering a nationwide personalized instant home appraisal services. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com.

Improving the value of your home with bamboo flooring

If you are looking to increase the value of your home, replacing old carpets or tile with a beautifully laid bamboo floor will certainly help. And if your home isn’t up for resell and you just want to have beautiful flooring, using bamboo is an elegant and affordable way to go.

Bamboo flooring may only be a little over ten years old, but its beauty and environmental factors have spoken for itself. And, floor experts have discovered that bamboo is actually harder than hardwoods such as Maple and Oak. Not only that, bamboo is extremely eco-friendly, and stands up the look, feel, sound, and warmth of its hardwood peers.


When we think of bamboo, we see reeds of tall grasses growing in tropical locations. So how does a grass become transformed into a wood floor? For starters, only a particular type of Bamboo is used, most often the Moso variety. Once Moso poles reach 40 to 50 feet in height, they are harvested and dried. The drying process is slow, typically four years in the sun. The bamboo is then sliced into thin uniform strips and planed on all sides. The pieces are converted into flooring made of either two or three layered horizontal or vertical laminated pieces. Bamboo can either be nailed to a wood subfloor or glued directly to a concrete sub-floor. Floating is not recommended. There is a variety of moldings made available as well to hide expansion gaps and for staircases.

Bamboo flooring comes in a variety of colors. Pretreated, coloring choices are natural and smoky amber. If the product comes to the states untreated, stains can vary from pinks to a variety of browns. Because bamboo is a grass rather than a tree, its finished appearance is very distinctive. Most distinctive is the eye-catching pattern of slightly darker bands produced by its nodes – a feature that clearly sets it apart from wood. Bamboo’s other aesthetic features include the tightness of its grain and the uniformity of its color.

These untreated and stained pieces of bamboo flooring are then given a final coating, typically made up of an aluminum oxide and polyurethane scratch-resistant topcoat. Coatings can be matte or glossy, with glossy tending to scratch more easily than matte.

Bamboo’s popularity has continued to grow with its discovery. The fact that it is a grass, a quickly renewable resource that yields a product 25 times faster than timber, has been of primary interest to the environmentally conscious. The beauty is an added bonus. With the cost of bamboo equivalent to oak flooring, it isn’t hard on the pocketbook either. Bamboo is also easy to clean and considered ideal for allergy sufferers, as they do not harbor dust mites.

When cleaning bamboo, a soft touch is best to prevent minute scratches on the surface. A padded cleaning head on your vacuum cleaner or a damp mop is most appropriate. This method will keep dust and debris from accumulating and scratching your bamboo floor. You should also take care never to over wet your bamboo floor. While it is resistant to moisture due to its tropical origins, it is best to minimize moisture exposure to help preserve the material. Mop spills using a damp cloth and dry immediately.

Putting area rugs on pathways that may experience high traffic. This keeps the bamboo floor from scuffing due to the high amount of traffic in a certain area. To prevent dirt and other debris from coming onto the floor from the outside, place exterior mats in entryways. Gravel and debris stuck in the bottom of shoes may scratch the finish of your bamboo floor.

If you have pets, remember to regularly trim your pets' nails to prevent them from scratching and gouging the bamboo floor. And of course, when moving furniture from one place to another, lift them instead of dragging them along the floor.

So if you are ready to transform the look of your home, putting in bamboo flooring will give you a huge start.

About the Author: Greg Sullivan is the President of www.electronicappraiser.com, a leading provider of home appraisals offering a nationwide personalized instant information about house values. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com.

What Makes A Home “Green”

Green is the new black, so to speak. Everybody is talking about going green and even building green. So what does it really mean to build green?

Defining green has been a challenge, even for those who are as green as you can get. To sum up green, the question would be – what type of environmental impact does the materials you are using have?

Assessing impact can mean on the front end or the back end. For example, in some instances, the product you use in building your home might not be green to build, but the results of that product can be beneficial. A good example would be if a window is installed in a way that maximizes the collection of low winter sunlight and blocks the summer sun, this saves energy and is green.

Because defining green is difficult, standards are starting to be organized and listed in the GreenSpec directory. This directory bases decisions about products on categories such as energy-consuming appliances and VOC-emitting paints, specific thresholds can be established relatively easily. But for many criteria, the lines are much fuzzier and judgment calls are required.

It is important also to note that multiple criteria often apply—in other words, a product may be considered green for more than one reason. Take recycled plastic lumber, for example: it’s made from recycled waste, it’s highly durable, and it can obviate the need for pesticide treatments. Straw particleboard products are made from agricultural waste materials, and they are free from formaldehyde off-gassing. A product with multiple benefits could qualify for GreenSpec on the basis of its overall environmental performance, even if it doesn’t meet a threshold in any one category alone. Conversely, a product with one or more green attributes might not qualify if it also carries significant environmental burdens. For example, wood treated with toxic preservatives has advantages in terms of durability, but it would not be listed in GreenSpec due the health and environmental hazards it represents.

The primary intent with any green building products directory is to simplify the product selection process.

Another way to build green is to conform to what is called LEED Standards. LEED or ‘The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’ is a Green Building Rating System™ that encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.

There are many resources available for consumers so that they can adapt their building materials and design to LEED standards. Building this way is probably the simplest way to go and there are many resources available to assist you.

So should you build green because it is popular? Not necessarily. You should build green because it is what will ultimately provide a ‘green’ future and not a black one.

About the Author: Greg Sullivan is the President of www.electronicappraiser.com, a leading provider of home appraisals offering a nationwide personalized instant home appraisal services. For more information, please visit www.electronicappraiser.com.