Making profit!

[yonksgirl]

What can I do to up the value of my home? I know there are some realitors out there! ;) I think this whole process may drive me to hit the bottle! LOL! :drink:

Our house is set up for central air, if we put in the unit will it bring up the price enough for it to be worth our while?

Do hard wood floors bring the value up or down?

I have a mocha color in my living room do I really have to paint it a light color?

The good news is a house up the street about 6 months ago that is the same as ours sold for $17,000 more then we bought ours for 2 years ago!

Thanks I feel like the heat is on now!

[compugirl]

Changing windows, updating fuse boxes to switches (if applicable). Create a deck, or restain your deck. If you have crappy floors, put in broadloom. Hardwood flooring in dining area and living room can be great. Air conditioning however isn't something that boosts the image, just the livability. I'd still think something asthetic would probably increase the value more.

[HeavenLeigh]

According to "Designed to Sell" on HGTY kitchen and bathroom(s) are the big sellers for a home.
Keep things light and airy, clutter free, have decent "curb appeal", no bold colors on walls/floors, make sure all the imperfections (like holes in the wall, broken appliances, leaky faucets, missing baseboards, etc...) are fixed, play up the features (like a fireplace, big bay window, extra big bedroom, etc...make sure they're noticable and clutter free), take all the magnets and drawings off the refrig., and if you have large closets make sure you declutter them.
The cheapest things are fixtures. If yours are dated you could replace them. Hardwood floors are a great selling point to most buyers. A fresh coat of paint will make things look newer like kitchen/bathroom cabinets, molding, etc... Try to stay gender neutral to target the largest range of potential buyers possible. Arrange your furniture to play up focal points in the room. If your couch/chairs are in need of being replaced buy some cheap slip covers to spruce them up.
You don't want to go overboard and spend money on things that may not matter. You could paint all the walls, buy new carpet, replace this or that, but whomever buys the place may undo what was done as soon as they move in. Just keep it simple and cheap. A clean and clutter free house that only needs minor cosmetic touch ups will sell the fastest.
Good luck.

[meliz]

I've heard that a yellow house has been tested to be most appealing to buyers (which surprised me, and may not be true). Painting a house seems like a whoooole lot of work though. Also fresh baking smells when people view it are apparently a good idea-- they make people feel homey about the place (and hungry! :)) If you have pets I would also make sure they are out of sight when you show it... some people have hang ups over furbabies. Good luck!