1 OA The Madison Enterprise-Recorder www. greenepublishing. corn Ri[ Estate Friday, February 8, 2008 Tips To Boost Property Value By Tyrra B Meserve, curb appeal by bringing Greene Publishing, Inc. flowers. Bright pansies an With the real estate market softening, property own- time of year. Inside, mak ers look for ways to give their homes a little extra boost paint and touch-ups. Any to increase the value when it comes time to sell. There that make the different." are a number of inexpensive ways that homeowners can First on the list are o0 up the value of their home without putting in a lot of prospective buyer quicker extra money From tidying up, to a couple coats of paint, When living in a house, r these are some tips to help the house on the market the odors and no longer n stand out in a crowd. on the other hand, smells There are a number of ways to increase property that can change how they value which require larger investments that go the dis- pet odors or food and spice tance. The average homeowner, however, need not spend creases a property's value. a great deal of money to get their home to sell quicker A fresh coat of paint a: and at a better price. A few touch-ups can increase prop- glimmer in a perspective erty value with the homeowner spending less time as lived in, the paint begins well as money According to Lynette Sirmon of All Re- and dull. To bring that tw alty, anything that can be done cosmetically will help. weekend touching up there '"Anything you can do to improve the instant deci- looking new, fresh and ma sion-making process, making it more positive," Sirmon Replace any fixtures 1 informs "is going to improve the value. Increase the run down looking. Shiny, 1 Ten Things New Homeowners Need To Know color with potted, blooming .d petunias are great for this e it brighter and clean with one can do the little things dors. Nothing drives away a r than the smell of wet dog. residents grow accustomed to otice them. A hopeful buyer, right away and it is that odor see the house. Whether it is s, eliminating those odors in- lso goes a long way to leave a buyer's eye. As the house is to fade leaving it looking old inkle back, try spending the paint. It will leave the house rketable. that have become worn and new fixtures give the impres- sion of looking cleaner and brightens up an otherwise dingy or dark bathroom and kitchen. Here is a great ex- ample of how a small example can reap big rewards. Adequate closet space is a must on the list for most buyers. If the home lacks closet space the owner can ei- ther, add more or, simply put in a few additional shelves. Adding space increases the value of the home in the sight of the buyer. Good lighting brightens a home and makes it look more inviting on the market. Touch up a dark house with sheer curtains and some strategically placed lamps to give the home a touch of something special. While brightening, also remember to remove dust kit- ties and tuck away those family mementoes. Future buyers should see themselves living there, not the old homeowner. In so many ways, it is the little things that count. By adding a few simple touches, a home can sell quicker and for more money than if it were to go on the market "cold." In today's housing market, it is the little things that can make a world of difference. It's easy for new home- owners to get caught up ex- perimenting with wall col- ors, new kitchen appli- ances or exciting rec room features. But what happens when a structural or elec- trical problem arises in your new house and a fresh coat of paint just won't do? Whether it's new construc- tion or a century-old inher- ited family home, no prop- erty is exempt from interi- or and exterior repairs or dreaded tax assessments. "New homeowners and first-time buyers alike can soon be faced with a virtu- al money pit of unexpected home repair and mainte- nance bills," says-real es- tate expert ..ida,Davis, au- thor of the new bodk ";'The First-Time Homeowner's Survival Guide: A Crash Course in Dealing with Re- pairs, Renovations, Proper- ty Tax Issues, and other Po- tential Disasters." "The more new home- owners know about poten- tial problems to look for and what solutions to em- ploy, the better prepared they are 'to save buckets of sweat, tears and money," stresses Davis. Here are ten things every new homeowner should know: If you didn't get a pro- fessional inspection when you bought the home, get one ASAP to uncover prob- lems lurking in unexpected places. You can then plan and budget appropriately. Take an aggressive and proactive approach to problems that can let water seep into the home. Small leaks in the roof, siding and foundation can quick- ly escalate and max out your credit card if not cor- rected. If your inspector comes back with a list of problems, first fix those that can escalate and cause more damage. Unfortu- nately, many homeowners tackle fun cosmetic items first and let important items like a bad roof slide. Avoid cheap materi- .s,. Quality primer and paint, for instance, not only goes on easier but looks better and lasts longer. This also applies to flooring, tile, fixtures and appliances. Quality is much cheaper in the long run. Map out your electri- cal system. This is espe- cially important on older homes. You need to know what fixtures and appli- ances are on which cir- cuits. Overloaded circuits are a leading cause of home fires. Never' use a higher rated fuse than the circuit calls for in older systems. Know where your main disconnect switch is - * Located in the Coveted Resort and Marina rp X -9 Community of Mariner's Club GRAND ESTATES AUCTION COMPANY' * Magnificent Ocean Views in All Units call fora FREE colot brochure * 2,3, & 4 Bedroom Villas w/ Spacious Terraces 800-552-8120 * Marina, Dry Boat Storage, Fitness Center, & More .GndtaA n.om RobWr kMFLAWW/M04I573290 located. Walk around your home in a heavy rainstorm and note where the water flows. Look for clogged rain gutters, downspouts and extensions that don't route water away from the foundation. This is a big cause of flooded base- ments, window wells or crawlspaces. Pay careful attention to how your landscaping routes water. It should flow away from the foundation. Make needed changes to keep water away from the home. If you have an older sewer system, have a plumber visually check lines with a small camera .for. reaks,,. invasive .roots or other problems. This is especially important if you have a full basement where water backing up can cause expensive damage. For septic systems have a professional inspection and contract with a reli- able contractor to have the tank pumped as often as needed. Check hot and cold water pipes for corrosion, temporary repairs or other potential problems that can cause expensive dam- age., Every few months check the water heater, washer hoses and connec- tions, turn-offs for toilets and sinks. Know where your main water turn off is located and keep it easy to access. In climates that have freezing winters, make sure cracks in concrete or asphalt are repaired promptly. Freezing water will infiltrate cracks in walks, driveways and porches and cause exten- sive damage. No matter if you're looking to spruce up an older piece of worn wooden fur- niture or impart your own unique style to an unfinished piece, you can bring out the beauty of wood with accent stains. "Staining adds color and character to woodby bringing out its natural beau- ty, and you don't even need to be' an accomplished do-it-yourselfer to do a great job," says Rich Morrell, brand manager for Cabot Stains. "Used properly, stains accentuate wood, enhance the grain pattern, change its appearance or even make it look like another type of wood to emphasize the finer points in furniture, cabinets, moldings or other wood around your home," Morrell points out. Accent staining in particular is a good technique to use when you want to draw attention to the unique details of furniture or to highlight the variety of wood species used on a particular project. To help you get started on your wood staining project, Morrell and the ex- perts at Cabot Stains are offering these helpful tips: When applying an accent stain, try using a soft, lint-free cloth for maxi- mum control in spreading the stain color onto the wood. Begin by dipping the cloth into the stain and then apply the stain to the wood using a circular mo- tion. Finish by wiping the area with a clean cloth to get rid of excess and be sure to wipe in the direction of the wood grain. After you wipe, if the piece of furniture doesn't look dark enough to your liking, apply more stain, but be sure to wipe again when done. Choosing g a color, can be a daunting task but can be equallyrewarding. From the rich warmth of wood tones, to the nature-inspired blue and green stains, and even the popular and vibrant reds, the color possibilities are end- less. By combining traditional stain choices with exciting, new accent colors, you can transform your woodworking project into a one-of-a-kind treasure. "For a truly unique accent look, try blending colors together to create your own special finish. Experiment with various colors and mixes, and be sure to test the color on a sample piece of wood before you begin. "When staining your own furniture you should make sure to choose a high quality stain that will penetrate the wood evenly and ensure professional qual- ity results. We developed Cabot Interior Wood Stains by blending the finest grade oils, resins and pigments to always offer a consistent appearance and su- perior depth of color that's easy toapply and control," said Morrell. 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