by Shawn Boday | Apr 21, 2020 | House Flipping, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Tips, Real Estate Value, Shawn Boday, Uncategorized
An investment property can be a highly lucrative opportunity for all kinds of investors. Even so, these types of investments do require a bit more hands-on maintenance than other investment vehicles. Fortunately, it is quite easy to increase the value of an investment property. To do so, homeowners must only complete minor upgrades that will significantly improve the overall aesthetics of the property in question.
To get started with your upgrades, first look for minor cosmetic improvements that can be made. For instance, the flooring within many rentals often becomes quite damaged over time. By simply regrouting and deep cleaning tile flooring in the kitchen and bathrooms, you may instantly improve the overall aesthetics of your property. This goes for the rest of the house too. Renters love clean properties. The cleaner are you able to make every surface found throughout your property, the more desirable will it become in the eyes of discerning renters.
A fresh coat of paint on interior surfaces may also go a long way towards convincing renters to occupy a property. Fresh paint can instantly cover up any scuff marks that were created by past tenants while also allowing you to customize the property’s appearance. Try to avoid choosing paint colors you would personally enjoy having in your own house, though. When selecting a paint color, it’s essential to use a color that is widely accepted so that your property may appeal to the highest number of potential renters.
The same principle may be applied to the exterior of your property as well. Dirt and grime build up over time on the exterior of every house. By simply washing down the exterior of your property, and giving it a fresh coat of paint, you can make the entire house look just like new. If you also make the wise decision to add some color through the addition of a few new plants here and there, you will undoubtedly be rewarded for your efforts.
While minor, aesthetic improvements will definitely help to boost interest in a property, they are not the only upgrades that should be made. To ensure your renters will want to occupy your property for many years to come, it is also important that every aspect of your property be in good working order. Replacing hinges on doors and upgrading the hardware on kitchen cabinets will provide renters with an excellent experience that will keep them satisfied for many years to come.
by Shawn Boday | Apr 13, 2018 | Home Buying Process, Housing Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Real Estate Value
If you’re a first-time homeowner new to property renovation, the idea of fixing up your outdated home is probably extremely intimidating. The professionals on all of those home improvement shows make the demolition and renovation process look so quick, easy, and painless, but you’re smart enough to know it isn’t that simple. For those who are unsure of how to start their first property renovation, this article will give you a few tips on how you can make your home remodel simpler, cheaper, and less stressful.
Get to Know Your Builder
If you’ve never renovated a home before, it’s best to sit down with a builder or an architect to better flesh out how you want your home to look. Additionally, are you planning on flipping this home in the near future, or do you want to settle down in this house and raise a family? Your builder will bring his or her experience to your project, and help you find ways to renovate your home so that it suits your needs.
Your builder will also help you plan ahead and keep your family and pets safe during your first home rebuild. For example, if you’re re-doing your home’s plumbing and need to shut the water off for an afternoon, your builder will notify you well in advance so that you can make the appropriate arrangements.
Stick to Your Budget
Creating and maintaining a budget is the most effective way to ensure that your home renovation will actually add value to your life, instead of leaving you in financial ruin with a partially remodeled property.
One rule of thumb to keep in mind is that your home renovation will always be more expensive than you anticipate. Experts suggest that you should save at least 20% more than your projected budget to cover unanticipated emergencies or hidden costs.
Think About Comfort
One thing first-time renovators often overlook is the idea of comfort during their rebuild. A good question to always ask yourself is, “How can I make my home more comfortable?”
Comfort doesn’t always have to be about adding high-end appliances or fixtures in your home. Instead, comfort can be as simple as making sure you have enough electrical outlets in your living room, or that you’ve got the right lighting in your kitchen for meal-time socializing. As you progress in your first property renovation, always be thinking about adding comfort to your new space.
