Author: John Conde

Top 10 Ways to Add Value to Your Home

Posted on by John Conde

It can be a daunting prospect putting your house up for sale. There are lots of uncertainties, from a fickle housing market, to whether you’ll get enough viewers through the door and, ultimately, how long it might take to get any offers rolling in. Whilst you can’t control everything, there are lots of ways you can make your home more attractive to potential buyers, and add value to it. Here are 10 of the hottest home improvement tips to add worth to your abode.

An Attic Conversion

Potential homebuyers find the prospect of an attic conversion an attractive proposition, with it adding about 20% to the value of your property. But, again, make sure it is well designed and laid out, and that access to the loft is easy and you can stand up fully when inside!

A Kitchen Re-fit

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a home, and many property experts argue that homebuyers place a lot of emphasis on the kitchen when it comes to deciding to purchase a property or not. Getting your kitchen re-fitted if it is looking tired and dated can be a wise decision. And although it doesn’t come cheap, it will add value to your home.

Install Central Heating

If you don’t have modern central heating in your home, then you’re at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to selling your property, no matter how appealing the rest of your house is. No potential home buyer wants the inconvenience, disruption and expense of having to get this installed, so you may struggle to clinch that all-important sale without it. Even just having a dated boiler can be enough to put potential buyers off. If you really want to add value to your home then get central heating installed and ensure you have an energy-efficient boiler.

A Driveway

With most families owning more than one vehicle these days, having somewhere on the property to park it, is a desired scenario. If you want to add value to your home, maximise the parking potential at the front of your property. Get any driveway repairs done and consider paving over unused areas at the front to make space for an additional car.

Add a Sun Room

Adding a sun room or conservatory will boost your home’s appeal, with estimates of around a 7% increase in value to your property. Make sure your conservatory is well built and fits in with the style of the rest of the house. This extra living space can be a real bonus but make sure that you don’t swallow up too much of your outdoor space when erecting it, as reduction in garden, especially if it’s already small, may cancel out any positive effects from building the conservatory.

Repair Any Roof Problems

Any problems with your roof will soon come to light, even if they aren’t visible to the naked eye. Most home buyers organize a professional survey, which will soon pick up roof issues, potentially slashing the value of your property. Protect your home and its value by sorting out any roof problems as soon as possible, before they get any worse.

Decorate

Adding a fresh lick of paint to your house (both inside and outside) can brighten it up and boost its appeal. If you’re trying to sell your home, opt for neutral, light colors that increase the sense of space in a room and make it easier for prospect buyers to visualize living there.

Add Curb Appeal

Adding curb appeal to your home can increase its value and make those first initial impressions of your property positive ones. Simply by painting your front door, adding some flowers in a hanging basket, sprucing up the garden, or cleaning the windows can make your home a more attractive proposition.

Add another Toilet or Bathroom

With many homes now having more than one toilet or bathroom, you could put yourself at a disadvantage if you only have one. Many families find the extra facilities a godsend, so if you want to add value to your home consider converting the under stairs cupboard into a toilet or add another bathroom if any spare space allows it.

Insulate Your Home

Energy bills are expensive enough these days, so making sure you insulate your home can reduce the cost of your bills and your energy usage. This makes for an attractive prospect for anyone looking to buy your home, and can add value to your Orlando property.

 

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Looking to Improve Your Home Value? Try Landscape Lighting

Posted on by John Conde

Homeowners are always looking for cheap ways to improve the look and functionality of their home that also increases their home value. For your home’s exterior, there is little that can be done outside of painting and landscaping. Such upgrades can run you a few thousand dollars depending on the size of the home and the extravagance you’re trying to achieve.

However, there is a way to improve the look and functionality of the exterior of your home without emptying out your pockets – the answer lies in landscape lighting. It may seem like a small upgrade, but it makes a big difference when it’s done right. If you’re worried about making an investment in outdoor lighting, Realtors strongly believe you get your money back in the resale of your home. It’s a great selling feature because it’s like having all the bells and whistles on a brand new car.

Why Outdoor Lighting is Gaining Popularity

Exterior lighting has become one of the most popular outdoor living features according to the American Society of Landscape Architects. They’re not talking about the traditional porch light or lamppost though. Lighting that illuminates plants, trees, pools, walkways, and architecture adds a major improvement to your yard that goes far beyond nighttime curb appeal. It adds home value and living space.

Yes, exterior lighting in the front of your home improves the look of your property, but the lighting in the backyard has homeowners spending more time outdoors. It’s like adding an extra room to your house without having to hire a construction company.

As the cost of living and going out rises, people are staying home for their entertainment. The addition of fire pits, patios, outdoor kitchens, and dining areas are becoming more common and all of these amenities require lighting.

With more guests coming to your home you have to make it look presentable and that means landscaping. A little goes a long way in this department and if you really want to top it off, installing landscape lighting will add the wow factor you’re trying to achieve. Once again, such upgrades go a long way when you’re trying to sell your home.

Get the Best Out of Your Outdoor Lights

Placement can make all the difference with landscape lighting. If you have any walkways or stairs that lead to other parts of the yard you’ll want to make sure those are clearly lit. These don’t have to be bright and try to avoid lights that create a glare. You simply want to guide guests through the backyard.

Professionals recommend creating a focal point. If you have a pool, shining a light down from a tree will generate a flickering effect and people will definitely notice. Highlighting main gathering areas is important as well, but make sure the lights you choose aren’t bright enough to blind guests or create shadows. Low-voltage fixtures work just fine in most cases. Remember you’re trying to enjoy the nightlife, not make everyone think it’s daylight.

Another thing to consider is how you’ll control the lighting. Motion sensors work great for security purposes, but no one wants to keep getting up and walking in front of the light to make sure it stays on all the time. Timers can control when the lights turn on and off, but it’s tough to anticipate when your party will end so this may not be the best option. You might want to consider light-sensitive lighting, which tells the lights to come on at night and turn off in the daylight hours.

This last point can’t be stressed enough. If you’re looking to make an impact with exterior lighting, hire a landscape designer. The arrangement, angles, and voltage are crucial to getting the most out of your investment and it’s best to leave it up to those who are more experienced.

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Home Insurance Policies 101

Posted on by John Conde

You’ve decided to make what is probably going to be the biggest purchase of your life – you bought a home – and that’s exciting. However, before you set your heart on the number of bedrooms you want, neighborhood, backyard pool, etc., you should look into the cost of home insurance and determine what you can reasonably afford. Becoming a homeowner won’t be as fun if you end up with a house that is going to cost you astronomically in the insurance department. Since homeowner’s insurance isn’t something you can just skip over, it’s important to analyze safety features, local weather conditions, and crime rate in the community you’re considering moving into. Home insurance policies vary depending on different factors, and taking a closer look into what each of them encompasses will ensure you’re sufficiently covered.

HO-1

This is the most simple home insurance policy on the market. It covers direct damage to the home only caused by specific hazards that include fire, lightning, hail or windstorm, explosions, riots, aircraft, other vehicles, smoke, vandalism, theft, and volcanic eruption. You have to be careful with this policy as it does not include personal liability coverage.

HO-2

An HO-2 defends your home and its surrounding structures, like a detached garage or fence, and includes personal liability. This policy steps it up a bit and covers everything mentioned in the HO-1 as well as falling objects, plumbing system floods, power surges, frozen pipes, broken heater, air conditioner, water heater or fire sprinkler and destruction caused by the weight of sleet, snow or ice.

HO-3

This is the insurance policy many homeowners decide to go with because of the level of coverage and comfort it provides. You will be able to work with your insurance agent to come up with a list of exclusions you really feel you won’t need coverage for and include them in the contract, meaning you will be protected from loss or damage as a result of anything else. Some of these exclusions may include nuclear threats, earthquakes, deterioration, neglect, and war.

HO-4

The HO-4 plan is designed to specifically give coverage to renters. It will provide for the loss of any of the tenant’s personal belongings due to the same perils listed in an HO-2 policy and personal liability of the renter, but does not cover any property damage.

HO-5

Similar to the HO-3 plan, the HO-5 is the most inclusive policy a homeowner can obtain. The biggest difference is that the insured’s personal belongings within the home are fully covered unless something has been pointedly excluded.

HO-6

This will meet the needs of a condo owner who would like to insure their belongings and anything not considered to be covered by the property owner’s policy for common areas.

HO-8

An older home can be more difficult to insure, but that’s what an HO-8 policy is for. If the estimated cost to rebuild your home is more than its current market value this plan will allow you to make sure you are getting some kind of replacement coverage under the damages listed. Depending on the amendments you make, the insurance company may only payout to replace your home using modern materials instead of paying more for the antique qualities it once had.

Going over all your home insurance options and discount possibilities before jumping into a huge investment will give you an advantage and save you in the long run. There may be things in a policy you simply don’t need or depending on the climate you live in, there may be things that are necessary to add.

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8 Awesome Ways To Pep Up Your Sunroom

Posted on by John Conde

The main purpose of the sunroom is not just to bring outdoors into your house, but also to allow the natural sunlight to enter and gleam the entire room. So it is imperative to furnish or deck up your sunroom just as you would do to your outdoor patio.

Here are some awesome ways to deck up the sunroom for making it highly inviting and attractive:

1.    Select furniture pieces that are able to resist the constant rays and heat of the sun. Here, you may consider your outdoor patio furniture pieces, as the materials used to make these pieces are sustainable to all the weather conditions. Furniture pieces made from aluminum, wicker, or wrought iron are a few excellent choices when it comes to sunroom furniture.

2.    Add some cozy pillows and cushions to your sunroom furniture for a more comfortable and cozy experience.

3.    Arrange your seating area in such a way that you can easily interact with the visitors or guests in your sunroom. Position a couch against your wall with a table placed in front of the sofa. Place a couple of chairs around the sides of the table for an organized and purposeful look.

4.    Talking about the floor, it is always a superb idea to have a nice and cozy area rug to provide uber coziness when walking in your sunroom. You may opt for an outdoor rug to get a hang of the outdoors in your sunroom. However, make sure to clean your rug on a regular basis.

5.    Paint up your walls with a light shade for keeping the feel of your sunroom cheerful and vibrant

6.    Add some window sheers of white color to render some privacy when needed as well as to allow the sunlight to enter as well as filter the sunroom.

7.    Place a number of potted plants for keeping the outdoor feel alive in your sunroom.

8.    You may place a small-sized bistro table and a couple of chairs to enjoy a nice cup of coffee in the evening.

Just imagine how it would be drinking your favorite coffee in your wonderful furnished sunroom. It never gets better than this. However, when deciding to refurnish your sunroom, it is advisable to take into consideration the amount of natural sunlight that you wish should exude the room.

These are eight amazing and awesome ways to pep up your sunroom. Consider these suggestions to furnish your sunroom this spring.

If you’re looking to buy a house with a sunroom, contact the professionals at https://orlandorealtyconsultants.com/

 

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Home Improvement Advice For New Homeowners

Posted on by John Conde

When you buy a house, many people feel the need to make changes to it in order to make it their own and to give the house a homely feeling. Personality is a great thing in a home. Changes can also be made to a home to make it more secure or to give a room more space.


There are many different home improvements that prove popular in the months after a house is purchased. It is not only the inside of the house that can be changed but the gardens and the driveways that come with it.


Some people take the immediate aftermath of the purchase as the perfect opportunity to extend the house, to add conservatories, extension or garages – in short, to make an immediate investment that will instantly add to the value of the home while making it more fit for purpose.


When deciding to make these changes it’s important to make sure they are well-planned and thought through to ensure nothing is forgotten about and no costly mistakes are made. Choosing contractors isn’t always easy and the matter of trust is a major issue for homeowners when it comes to building work. Most people act on testimonials and word of mouth, seeking out builders and contractors who have done a great job for someone they know. In some cases, respected companies can take care of the work.


With a garage, for example, there are many different aspects to be thought about – who will build the new room, what sort of roof will be best, whether an upstairs room will be added at the same time or considered for some stage in the future and of course what sort of garage doors will be used.


Every single piece of work done to the new house has this sort of list attached to it and the one above relating to garages is not exhaustive. The key is to think of all aspects of the job you are about to have done and this means giving an answer to each of the following matters: what, where, why, when, who and, finally but perhaps most crucially, how much.


Homeowners that are able to answer all of these questions to their own satisfaction will have made all the necessary deliberations and will be able to press ahead quite confidently with the work they need or want to have done on their new homes.

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