Posts Tagged ‘home repair’

Selling something? Maybe trying to sell your house? Here is the second of our top 5 projects to boost your home’s value for resale.

July 22nd, 2010

Have you already decided to move rather than remodel only to realize, like so many others in the same boat, you are still thinking about remodeling anyway? Why? To make your house more appealing to would-be buyers, cut the time it takes to sell it and maybe even get more cash in hand when you sell is why. While you’re remodeling that other part of the house why not tuck in a new master bedroom suite above the addition? You’ll get all of your money back when you eventually sell your house, right?

Not so fast. While many home-remodeling projects are a great way to add value to your home, not all of them are ironclad cash-back guarantees. Before you invest a significant amount of your precious home equity into remodeling projects, it’s wise to do a little homework on what kind of payback you can expect for various home projects in your area.

A good place to start is the Cost vs. Value report published annually by the National Association of Realtors, or NAR, and Remodeling magazine. The report provides a synopsis of the top projects, the average costs of the projects and their average rate of investment return at resale. It also gives you a city-by-city guide on what various home projects will pay back at resale. Real estate experts caution that these numbers can differ significantly depending on your state, city or even neighborhood. So use these numbers as a starting point, but consider getting the advice of a Realtor and/or remodeling contractor before you commit to a big home project. These experts can familiarize you with remodeling payback figures tailored to your state, city., or town.

The second project of five to potentially boost your home’s resale value is a midrange bathroom remodel. This includes updating an average 5-by-7 foot bathroom that’s at least 25 years old with moderately priced fixtures, a double-sink vanity, a ceramic-tile floor and vinyl wallpaper.

Average payback: 102.2 percent of cost
Estimated job cost: $10,499
National average resale value: $10,727

Improving an existing, but outdated, bathroom is almost always a good investment because an up-to-date bathroom makes your home look like it’s been kept in good repair, and that’s what all prospective homeowners are looking for.

However, do not try to personalize the bathrooms too much or spend megabucks trying to turn them into ultimate home spas. Your home is a valuable asset, and you want to treat it respectfully whenever you remodel. In other words, think twice about adding a pricey imported soaking tub or three separate shower stalls for your growing family’s convenience. Those renovations might not fit the taste of a buyer 10 years down the road. If that happens, the money you spent on your bathroom renovation is down the toilet, so to speak.

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Selling something? Maybe trying to sell your house? Here is the first of our top 5 projects to boost your home’s value for resale.

July 21st, 2010

Have you already decided to move rather than remodel but you still find yourself thinking abut remodeling anyway to make your house more appealing to would-be buyers, cut the time it takes to sell it and maybe even get more cash in hand when you sell? Well while you’re expanding, why not tuck in a new master bedroom suite above the addition? You’ll get all of your money back when you eventually sell your house, right?

Not so fast. While many home-remodeling projects are a great way to add value to your home, not all of them are ironclad cash-back guarantees. Before you invest a significant amount of your precious home equity into remodeling projects, it’s wise to do a little homework on what kind of payback you can expect for various home projects in your area. A good place to start is the Cost vs. Value report published annually by the National Association of Realtors, or NAR, and Remodeling magazine. The report provides a synopsis of the top projects, the average costs of the projects and their average rate of investment return at resale. It also gives you a city-by-city guide on what various home projects will pay back at resale. Real estate experts caution that these numbers can differ significantly depending on your state, city or even neighborhood. So use these numbers as a starting point, but consider getting the advice of a Realtor and/or remodeling contractor before you commit to a big home project. These experts can familiarize you with remodeling payback figures tailored to your state, city, or town.

Our first suggestion in the list of the top five projects to boost your home’s value for resale is to do an upscale siding (new fiber cement) replacement. Here is what you can expect this project to cost and yield:

Estimated job cost: $10,393 for 1,250 square feet
Average payback: 103.6 percent of cost
National average resale value: $10,771

Siding makes a huge difference in a house’s resale value, because it’s one of the first things you see. It really defines the condition of the home.  If other houses around you have old aluminum or vinyl siding and your siding is nicer and newer, buyers will notice you. With this project, you make your house more attractive — you’re not just improving your insulation value.

Next up on out list is a mid-range bathroom remodel but that will have to wait until the next time we meet here.

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The global economy is struggling but our small international gutter protection company is trying to do our part.

July 12th, 2010

The global economy is struggling but our small international gutter protection company is trying to do our part to help minimize the impact on property and business owners by not increasing our pricing or shipping charges within the continental United States for 2010. The bottom line is that gutters are extremely important for the protection of your home. Every year the malfunctioning and overflowing of gutters does cause substantial property damage to residential and commercial property across the world.

GutterBrush is an effective, low-cost gutter protection and rainwater control system made in the USA from 100% sustainable materials. GutterBrush is constructed of exceptionally durable professional grade materials. This sustainable product helps reduce the amount of non-degradable plastics from landfills through its very long lifespan. The product will not deteriorate and therefore will not need to be disposed of in a landfill and then replaced.

GutterBrush simple gutter guard does an incredible job of protecting property from water damage caused by clogged gutters. GutterBrush’s simple gutter guard system helps keep gutters flowing freely and virtually eliminates the structural water damage caused by overflows, standing water, freezing water, and snow buildup while also helping to reduce the risk of combustion of dry, brittle, and very flammable gutter debris and is in compliance with fire prevention building codes. Getting rid of these potential causes of damage increases the longevity of the property and significantly diminishes the environmental shock of repairs and replacements.

GutterBrush also greatly minimizes the maintenance needed to keep gutters clean and free flowing while also promoting a cleaner and more efficient rain water harvesting system. A way to minimize the impact of excess nutrients that drain through local watersheds is to install GutterBrush simple gutter guards to prevent leaves from collecting. When nutrient-rich leaves fall onto rooftops and get caught in rain gutters, the phosphorus and nitrogen leaches out and is channeled through gutters and pipes into storm drains and sewers. GutterBrush can help stop this problem and help improve the environment at the same time.

GutterBrush simple gutter guard is holding the line on prices and shipping charges within the continental United States for 2010 in an attempt to assist you in protecting your property from costly damage and repairs that result from clogged gutters.

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While Passengers Must Pay $8 for Blankets and a Pillow on American Airlines The GutterBrush Guys, LLC. Are Keeping Prices At 2009 Levels!

February 9th, 2010

So now passengers must pay upwards of $8  for a blanket and pillow on American Airlines? An interesting business strategy would be to lobby the TSA to prohibit passengers from bringing their own blankets and pillows to drive revenue from this new plan. While charging for what used to be included in the price is becoming the norm in many industries it is good to be able to hold our pricing here at GutterBrush Guys, LLC. to 2009 levels. Perhaps the airlines could learn a thing or two from us. Unlikely seeing that American Airlines announced, without any fanfare last week, that it would eliminate free blankets in coach and sell an $8 packet that includes a pillow and blanket starting on the first of May this year.

Why would a company that does business in an increasingly reviled industry make this type of move? It seems that American Airlines predicated its decision on consumer surveys. Wait. We are supposed to believe that customers said they were in favor of this added charge in an an increasingly less than enjoyable consumer experience on the airline with the worst-in-the-nation on-time performance, deplorable acumen in baggage-handling or the grotesque state of its fleet of aircraft? Forgive me but I remain skeptical.

While other airlines also charge for various items to make flights more comfortable it seems that no one is asking the consumer what they want. If they did they would likely find out what we have discovered. People want to be treated fairly and with honesty as well as getting the product they were promised. There is no room for deception or taking advantage of your customer base and their disposable income pool. Perhaps when more customers abandon those companies that deliver a less than stellar customer experience those that do will have a chance to shine brighter than ever before. Until then enjoy your $8 blanket and pillow.

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