Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Home Improvements That Pay for Themselves

Oct 12, 2004

Home Improvements That Pay for Themselves

Lou "Mr. Fix-It" Manfredini

Special from Bottom Line/Personal


ome owners typically end up eating the cost of most improvements when they sell their homes, but a few simple projects can help you enjoy your home more now and sell it for a higher price later...

CURB APPEAL

Most people form a lasting impression of your home as soon as they pull into the driveway. In addition to painting the exterior, consider these improvements...

Upgrade your front door. A door in poor condition or of low quality puts the wrong foot forward. Painting it costs less than $20. Installing a quality brass doorknob, lock and knocker also helps (cost -- about $200). My favorite brands are Kwikset, Schlage and Baldwin.

If the door needs to be replaced, invest in one that is made of solid wood (cost -- about $500). Hollow metal doors cost half as much, but they lack the sturdy feeling and security that buyers feel best about.

If the screen door looks old, replace it as well. A storm door with full-length removable glass or a screen will show off the handsome door behind it.

Repair damaged screens. You can buy the mesh, spline and installation tool for several window and storm-door screens at most home-improvement stores for less than $15. Some hardware stores will do the job for you for about $15 per screen.

Patch walkways, and reseal the driveway. Concrete patching compound costs less than $10 a gallon. Asphalt sealer costs less than $25 a gallon. If your driveway needs to be completely repaved, it should cost between $3 and $6/square foot to have it blacktopped.

Wise: Get a written estimate before having your driveway completely redone. If you choose not to replace the driveway and it becomes a sticking point with a potential buyer, show him/her the estimate and offer to lower your asking price by part or all of that amount.

INDOOR IMPROVEMENTS

There are hundreds of ways to upgrade the interior, but only a few make financial sense. In addition to repainting...

Clean until it sparkles. The most cost-effective way to increase your home's appeal is to make it clean and clutter-free. If you don't have the time, a cleaning company can do a thorough job for about $250 in a day. Prices vary depending on your home's size, condition and location.

The house will look larger if it contains only a limited amount of furniture, decorative items and the things you need to live. Removing clutter also makes it easier for potential buyers to picture their possessions in your home.

If need be, put some of your things in storage. Space can be rented monthly starting at less than $100 a month.

Remove or replace worn carpets. Extremely worn carpeting suggests that a home has been poorly maintained. Good-quality carpet starts at about $20/square yard installed. That's about $500 to make a standard-size room look great -- a worthwhile expense for central rooms that showcase the home.

Brighten things up. Well-lit homes are more appealing to buyers. Use the highest-wattage bulbs recommended for your fixtures... tie back curtains... wash windows inside and out... trim outside bushes that block light.

Make sure electrical switches and outlets work. If they don't, hire an electrician to fix them. At the very least, buy and install covers for outlets and switches that don't work (cost -- less than 50 cents each). Buyers shy away from homes that have electrical problems.

Make sure doorknobs work well. They are the one part of a home that prospective buyers always touch. If they feel cheap or loose, they make the whole house seem insubstantial. A new knob costs about $10.

KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

These rooms influence the sale price more than any others. Small projects that will more than pay for themselves...

Replace worn kitchen countertops. An old or damaged kitchen countertop is certain to turn off potential buyers. A simple laminate replacement will cost around $700 installed, depending on the size. High-end granite or marble countertops will draw raves from potential buyers, but they rarely recover the average $5,000 price tag.

Clean up bathroom surfaces. Bathrooms should look clean and fresh -- tiles... shower curtain, etc. Remove mold or mildew on grout between tile with CLR Cleaner. If discoloration remains, scrape the grout down to 1/8 of an inch and regrout (cost -- about $30 for a 25-pound bag).

Remove mold from caulk between the tiles and tub. Pull up the old caulk and apply new (cost -- less than $5 a tube). A professional would charge about $350 to recaulk and regrout an average bathroom.

BASEMENT

Have foundation cracks professionally sealed if they allow moisture to enter. Look for wetness after heavy rains. Cost for resealing: $500 to $1,000 for work with a transferable lifetime guarantee. The price is high, but buyers will love the guarantee.