Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Top 6 "Big-Bang For Your Buck" Remodeling Projects
Every year, the National Association puts out a survey of projects the provide a good and not so good investment into your home. The goal is to provide insight and optimum use of space inside and outside your home that will not only attract buyers but also provide the best return for your investment.
Since these numbers are national, not local in nature, one or more of these projects may not apply to your situation. In our neighborhoods of Long Beach, the tendancy to provide great curb appeal coupled with upgraded kitchens and bathrooms. On the other hand, many first time buyers look to jump head first into fixer homes that provide an opportunity that allows them to mold their vision. So, remodelling may put a stamp on your vision but turn off potential buyers willing to pay top dollar to do it themselves. The best advice I can give is to consult your inner circle of firends and your Realtor to get insight and advice on best plan of action.
Here are the top 6 "Big-Bang" return for your dollar remodeling projects:
Siding Replacement
Cost = $ 13,431
Return = $ 10,493
ROI = 78.0%
Entry Door Replacement
Cost = $ 1,238
Return = $ 903
ROI = 73.0%
Attic Bedroom Addition
Cost = $ 50,148
Return = $ 36,346
ROI = 72.5%
Kitchen: Minor Remodel
Cost = $ 19,588
Return = $ 14,120
ROI = 72.1%
Low-End Garage Door Replacement
Cost = $ 1,512
Return = $ 1,087
ROI = 71.9%
High-End Garage Door Replace
Cost = $ 2,994
Return = $ 2,129
ROI = 71.1%
These estimated costs and returns were derived from a survay of more than 3,000 Realtors conducted June-Sept 2011.
There are plenty of projects that will help you increase the value of your home. Making the "right" choices however, will get you the MOST money over time.
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Dave Harbison
Long Beach REALTOR®
Main Street Realtors (562) 618-9770
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Long Beach Realtor® / Real Estate Agent
Long Beach Homes for Sale, Condos and Investment Properties
Long Beach Relocation Expert
--- Labels: Belmont Heights, home improvements, Long Beach, Park Estates, remodel, Remodeling projects, Repairs, Return on Investment
# posted by Dave Harbison @ 6:20 AM
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Regular Maintenance of Your HVAC Unit Can Save $$$!
I previewed a home a couple of months ago and noticed that the Air Conditioning unit(s) looked relatively old. Upon talking with the listing agent, I was told the sellers had never maintained the unit...in 4 years! Wow, I thought, this is not good.
As it turned out the, owners had to spend a sizeable amount of money to have a new. larger air conditioning unit installed or the buyer would walk...After negotiating such a a deal, I'm sure these sellers learned an important lesson.
Maintenance can save you a lot of $$$ !!!
There are plenty of reputable HVAC companies out there that will (for a minimal fee), Many will recommend semi-annual visits in the spring and fall.
- Spring time is when the technician will clean the indoor and outdoor condenser coils, verify refrigerant charge, and inspect all the wiring
- In the fall, look for them clean and inspect the furnace blower, burners, and heat exchanger.
- The Summer and Fall months are key times to continuously brush or blow off fallen leaves and other debris from the outdoor air conditioning units and/or heating pumps
- Spring months (March-May) are the months to wash and dry filters and vacuum condenser coils on all window air conditioning units
- In summer, shut off the water supply to the furnace humidifier
- In fall, replace the humidifier wick filter, set the humidistat to 35% relative humidity, and turn on the water supply
- Make sure when you are mowing the lawn, grass does not get into the unit
- Inspect the insulation and refrigerant lines going into your home and replace them if you notice wear-n-tear, damage, or if they are missing. Doing this every 4-5 weeks will ensure peace-of-mind
- Every quarter, it is recommended to install a new one-inch pleated furnace filter to avoid hair and fibers from you, your family and/or pets
- Make sure that outdoor air conditioning units and heat pumps are on firm and level ground or pads. The ground can shift (even a little) over the course of a year and that can greatly effect efficiency and life of your unit
- Once a year, preferably in the spring, take a cup of bleach and put it down the air conditioner condensate drain. This will do a lot to prevent the buildup of mold and algae -- both of which can cause problems down the road
- To avoid undue strain on your HVAC unit, don't close the home's register more than 20%
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Dave Harbison
Long Beach REALTOR®
Main Street Realtors (562) 618-9770
---
Long Beach Realtor® / Real Estate Agent
Long Beach Homes for Sale, Condos and Investment Properties
Long Beach Relocation Expert
--- Labels: Belmont Shore, Bungalow, Craftsman, Home Improvement, HVAC, Long Beach, Real Estate, remodel
# posted by Dave Harbison @ 7:46 AM
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Ready to Add on to Your Home?
These days, more and more of my clients  have come to the realization that making a move to a new home may not be their best interest, finanicially. In a topsy-turvey real estate market, the more prudent solution is to add a second floor or addition to their existing home.
No matter what you choose to do, planning, preparation and coordination will make the difference to you and your pocketbook.
First of all, adding an addition to your home, if done well, will enhance your property's value in addition to helping you gain a considerable amount of living space. If done with "NO" consideration about resale value, the time and investment you put into the project may end up costing you!
Before you consider anything, I recommend involving a design professional and remodeling contractor, it will also be important for you to become familiar with building codes, structural issues. Having a clear understanding of the process will allow you to be on top of all phases of project and ensure that work is done correctly and runs smoothly without costly delays.
Here are some steps to take prior to making any move to remodel or add on to your home
1. Take a Look at Your Neighborhood
I recommend you walk your immediate neighborhood, take pictures and notes to get a clear understanding of homes nearby that are similar to yours in terms of appearance, size and features. This will help you understanding if adding on to your home is within the neighborhood norm. If your vision much larger than what is acceptable for area, the investment may not pay off as much as you invest. (Having a 5,000 sq. ft. add-on to a home in an area where 1,500 sq. ft homes are the norm, may not yield the return when you decide to move. It may be considerably harder to convince potential buyers and Realtors that your home should be valued exponentially higher than those around it.)
2. Hire Professionals
The complexity of any addition to layout and future value of a home dictates that you engage the services of an architect and reputable contractor. An architect will prepare code-compliant plans and will provide you experience you can't get anywhere else, at a cost of only 5-20% of the total project cost.
A reputable general contractor will coordinate workflow, source materials, schedule delivery and help you with valuable insight during the construction process.
Ask your nieghbors that have done similar renovations who'd they recommend and don't be shy about asking 3-4 companies to bid on the whole project and go with the one you feel most comfortable with -- even though they may not be the lowest cost.
And, always ask for an itemized bid!
Hiring professionals with experience allows you to focus on making the right decisions about your home renovation/addition and is ideal to minimize stress and coordination.
3. Understand the Building Codes and Restrictions for Your Area
Not adhering to building codes and ordinances can result in major setbacks to any project you propose for your property. Leaning on your architect and/or general contractor to make assurances does not provide 100% safety from the inspector. You should have a checklist of all the acceptable and expected requirements of building.
Certain codes, ordinances and association rules might stipulate building height and historical parameters with the goal to preserve continuity and established environment. Also, don't be surprised if there are codes that dictate maximium percentage of your lot that can be covered by built structures. Even the trees and fences allowed, color of paint and roof materials you can use for the structure.
Start by gathering basi  c information about your home. Lot dimensions, property lines and any surveys can be available through The City or municipal property office or building department. In addition, get as clear as you can about the what permits will be needed and any pitfalls you need to be aware of.
Being proactive about your remodel/add-on will save you time and MONEY in the short term. And make you lots of $$$$ down the road.
Labels: home add-on, Long Beach Architecture, Long Beach Heritage, remodel, second story
# posted by Dave Harbison @ 9:37 PM
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