| Whether it's adding another room, renovating your | | | | home. Updating a kitchen or bathroom, for example, |
| kitchen or remodeling the bathroom, some home | | | | can really attract buyers to your house. If you have |
| improvements can really help add value to your home. | | | | the space, you may want to consider converting the |
| And they're a smart idea, since that means a higher | | | | master bedroom to a master suite, too. |
| net worth for you! Here are three things you should | | | | DON'T IMPROVE TOO MUCH |
| know about making improvements to increase the | | | | One rule of thumb: Your house should never be the |
| value of your home: | | | | biggest or the nicest in the neighborhood. Although you |
| SOME DON'T PAY OFF | | | | want to keep it up to neighborhood |
| Not every home improvement really pays off in added | | | | standards--consider adding a bathroom, for example, if |
| value for your home. In general, improvements that | | | | every other house in the area has two and yours only |
| most folks don't want or need--such as a second | | | | has one--you don't want to over-improve your home. |
| 3-car garage--won't add value to your home. Other | | | | In terms of value, the "best" house on the block is |
| expensive items that really won't boost your resale | | | | always pulled down by the others around it. Likewise, if |
| value are a fenced-in yard and a 'specialty' room, like a | | | | your home is one of the smaller ones, its value will be |
| library with built-in bookshelves. These types of | | | | pulled up by the better houses in the neighborhood. |
| improvements will only appeal to a small population of | | | | Here is a list of recommended Home Mortgage |
| folks, which means your house will be harder to sell in | | | | Lenders online. It's important to use a reputable lender |
| the future. | | | | online to make sure your personal information is |
| SOME PAY OFF MORE THAN OTHERS | | | | secure. |
| There are plenty of projects, however, that can really | | | | Remodeling and improving your home can help your |
| pay off, especially if you handle a lot of the work | | | | bottom line when it's time to sell your house. Just |
| yourself. Kitchen remodels and renovations, bathroom | | | | remember to pick the best projects that add lots of |
| remodels and renovations, a deck or patio addition, and | | | | value to your home so you recoup your cost at selling |
| a room addition boost the size or appearance of your | | | | time. |