How To Increase The Value Of A Home, Las Vegas Real Estate: Selling Homes in Homes in Las Vegas

Increase Home's Curb Appeal

How To Increase The Value Of A Home

Unlike with many other kinds of investments, there are a number of things you can do to increase the investment value of your home.

This increase in value can result in a capital gain to you when you sell your home. Your capital gain is the amount you sell your home for, minus your cost basis. Your cost basis will be the principal amount you paid for the property, plus the value of any substantial capital improvements (e.g., building a patio, additional bedroom, etc.) you may have invested in, but not including the cost of ordinary repairs and upkeep. The good news is that most people who incur capital gains upon the sale of their personal residences will not have to pay tax on the gains, due to the current exemption limits.

The old adage that the three most important attributes of real estate are "location, location, and location" is worth remembering when you buy a home.  When you buy or build in an area that is attractive to other home buyers, chances are that the market value of your home will increase more rapidly. Important location factors can include:

• Proximity to other focal points of economic development
• Quality schools
• Availability of public transportation
• Overall prosperity of the community

Buying a home at different points in the housing market cycle also affects how the value of your home appreciates. If you buy at the beginning of a housing boom, just as when you buy in the early stages of a real estate recovery in areas of Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada, your gains may be rapid indeed.

1.Re- caulk: Caulk and other sealants safeguard your home against rain and snow at vulnerable points such as cracks and open joints.  Winter can rip caulk apart. Scrape out old caulk using a painter's five-in-one tool. Clean and disinfect with one-part liquid chlorine bleach in three parts warm water.

2.  Add Green:  The first thing dinner guests, relatives and potential buyers see is color, light and symmetry.  March is a good time to add new shrubbery, change outdoor light bulbs and repair any large strips of missing paint.  It is amazing what some flowers, light and fresh paint can do.  Try to keep things symmetrical which is pleasing to the eye.

Expand Your Imagination Beyond Flowers

Gardening in Pots:  Given the beauty and convenience of a container garden, it’s no surprise that an estimated 90 percent of America's 67 million gardeners grow plants in containers. Here are some tips for creating a cheerful container garden of your own.

Plants:  Expand your imagination beyond flowers: a wide variety of plants and evergreen shrubs do very well in containers. Be sure to purchase your plants at a dependable nursery, selecting only high quality plants that are free of disease and pests. For more visual interest in each pot, use three or four plant varieties that harmonize with one another.

Sun & Soil:  When growing plants in containers, rotate them a quarter turn each day to help them grow straight and full. Potted plants usually require more water and fertilizer than plants growing in the ground, using the proper kind of soil is very important.

Containers:  Your imagination is the limit when it comes to containers for your garden. Most plant containers are made out of wood, plastic, ceramics or clay. But you might try non-traditional containers, such as buckets, wooden crates, or an old watering can. An unusual container can make for a striking garden arrangement.
Your garden will make your home appear more welcoming and even more attractive to potential buyers. And whatever type of garden you create, remember to take time to enjoy it.

3.De-Clutter:  Maximize overlooked storage spaces and throw out junk.  Shoe boxes make great storage containers and fit into angular units.  Contact Info for pick up of clutter on Utility Provider page.

Considering Making Improvements To Increase Your Home's Value?

Upgrading your house can also increase its market value. Capital improvements you make will increase the appraised value of your home and help you sell it for a higher price. Capital improvements can include adding additional living space—adding a porch, room or other addition, or finishing a basement or attic—or major refurbishing of existing space, such as remodeling the kitchen or bathroom. These kinds of improvements can increase your home's value by 15 to 20% or more. However, not all improvements add value. Some may even make selling your home more difficult, especially if they make your home "the most expensive house on the block" or cater to peculiar tastes.

If you want a swimming pool for recreational purposes and it would enhance the quality of your life while you live in the house, have at it. A swimming pool is one of those luxuries that some of us fantasize about -- it's all part of the American Dream. We imagine ourselves lounging by the pool, wearing cool shades and consuming drinks with little umbrellas in them -- a scenario that’s all fine and good, for some of us. As a way to boost the value of your home, it's a foolhardy investment.

An in-ground pool can cost anywhere from $20,000 and up. It's also expensive to maintain, dangerous to children and a potential lawsuit. Indeed, when it comes to deaths in the home, more children in America die every year from swimming pool accidents than from handgun accidents. You might never recoup your investment in the pool and in fact, it might turn off potential buyers with small children or those who just don't like pools. For some buyers, an in-ground swimming pool isn't an enticement -- it’s a deal breaker.

Similarly, if you need an addition to house another child or an elderly parent, then fine -- go ahead and build one, if you need it. But if you're only doing so to increase the value of your home, you'll never recoup your investment. An addition is a time-consuming, expensive process that involves a lot of money and, too often, a lot of hassles with contractors. You can expect to shell out tens of thousands of dollars, but any increase you could tack onto the eventual sale of your home would pale in size to the initial investment. Prospective buyers of your home wouldn’t pony up an additional amount that comes anywhere near what you paid.

Remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms will boost the value of your home and the expense and effort of doing so are worth the investment. The kitchen and bathrooms are key areas of scrutiny for any prospective buyer.  However, you're making a grievous error if you're installing in your kitchen, say, expensive cabinets, stainless steel appliances from Germany, imported tiles from Italy, and the latest Viking stove, if the rest of your house isn't up to the same standards. Upgrades must be in synch with the rest of the house; otherwise, people viewing the house will probably think: It will cost a fortune to make the rest of the house match the kitchen.  If using a contractor for building or remodeling, the Nevada State Contractors Board urges consumers to consider only licensed contractors and research their record prior to hiring. Licenses can be checked at the NSCB Web site.

Real estate ads often brag about the presence of wall-to-wall carpeting, but the truth is, it's a turn-off for many people. New studies show that carpeting isn't that healthy because it harbors allergens and dirt. Moreover, your idea of beautiful carpeting may not agree with someone else's. Color and style are subjective; the people viewing your home may be thinking that they hate carpeting, or hate the color of yours, and they're trying to figure out how much it would cost to tear it all up. Getting rid of your carpeting and replacing it with wood floors might be a better investment.  Accentuate with patterned area rugs.

It's always worthwhile to invest in the structural integrity of your home and to properly maintain it, but don't make basic repairs with the thought that prospective buyers will be wise enough to notice and pay extra. They won't. Replacing your plumbing with better pipes, or installing a new central air conditioning system, are inherently worthwhile for you while you live in the house, but buyers tend not to notice, nor care enough to pay more. 

Making your house "greener" is a laudable social goal. You should pat yourself on the back for being a good environmentalist. However, sad to say, you won't recoup your large investment when it's time to sell the house. Buyers tend to be shortsighted about ecological improvements, such as, say, solar-heated water. You'll save money on your heating bill (as well as help the environment), but people looking at your home probably won't care enough to pay more for the house. Not everyone appreciates these features, even though they should.

If you expand your house to the point that it looks like a "McMansion," you might be making a mistake if the houses all around you are considerably smaller. Always consider the context of your neighborhood. If the houses adjacent yours are worth around $150,000, don't expect prospective buyers to pay $300,000 for your house, just because you put your house on steroids with all sorts of additions and expansions. You'll never get the cost of construction back in the sale price.

It is a good idea to get a Realtor to do a market assessment of what your home is worth BEFORE making major improvements.  The next step would be to get a written estimate for improvement costs; then have your Realtor give you an update on the market value to determine how much more money your home will sell for AFTER improvements are made.  This will let you know whether it makes sense to upgrade your home first, then put it on the market, or just put it on the market for sale the way it is.

If you'd like for me to get to know you better or if you have questions regarding buying or selling in today's real estate market, call 702-677-8796.  I welcome the opportunity to be of service.

Las Vegas Realtor, Increase Curb Appeal, Increase Home Values 

 Las Vegas Realtor, Increase Home Values, Increase Curb Appeal, Great Homes In Las Vegas  

Oh, by the way, if you have any friends or family who are thinking of making a move and would benefit from our service, I would love to talk to them.  Just give me a call with their name and number and I would be happy to follow up and take excellent care of them.

Linda Strasberg, All Rights Reserved