Real Estate, like any other industry, has trends that seems to be tweaked naturally by the economic climate. Anyone that is buying or selling needs to be intuned to what is currently happening to get the most bang for their buck at the close of escrow. I found this article very enlightening and it contains new information that I have not seen mentioned before. Here are six good points to ponder when considering remodeling.
Here are some excerpts from what was published on eTrade this morning and a link to the article. By Josh Garskof, Money Magazine.
Just a few years ago you could count on getting the bulk of your money back for almost any home-improvement project you took on. Today merely replacing a toilet seat can feel like throwing caution, and cash, to the wind. According to a study from Remodeling magazine, the average return on value for an upgrade declined from 87% in 2005 to 64% in 2009. But these six new rules will help you maximize your return on your remodeling investment.
Rule No. 1: Repairs get the biggest returns.
The smartest money now goes into needed maintenance. That's because while buyers might appreciate enhancements like Jacuzzis and Sub-Zeros, they won't tolerate a house with a leaky roof or antiquated plumbing. "If a property is known to have issues, today's buyers won't even look at it," says Austin real estate appraiser Jim Amorin.
And trying to keep problems a secret can cost you big-time. If buyers discover them during inspection, it's now common practice to ask sellers not only to pick up the tab for the repair but also to pay a penalty to compensate the buyer for the inconvenience of having work done.
So the $20,000 you saved by putting off a roof repair, say, could turn into a $30,000 credit to the buyers at closing, says Amorin.
Rule No. 2: Remodeling beats adding on
McMansions have gone the way of the SUV -- and large additions don't pay off either. "There's been a fundamental shift toward quality over quantity," says Warwick, R.I., real estate agent Ron Phipps.
Want an eat-in kitchen? Knock down the wall between the kitchen and dining room ($2,000 to $8,000, depending on whether it's load-bearing or contains plumbing). That will instantly create a large eat-in kitchen and give the whole house a more open feel -- without a huge investment to make up at resale.
Rule No. 3: Eco-friendly upgrades can save cash.
Some green improvements pay you back long before you sell your house. Install energy-efficient features, such as EnergyStar appliances and extra wall insulation, and you'll see lower energy bills every month.
Most people in the market right now are first-time homebuyers in their thirties, and they've been raised to care about carbon footprints and being ecofriendly.
The best way to go green is with a while-you're-at-it job: When it's time to replace your furnace, upgrading to super-efficiency might add only $500 (after tax credits), compared with standard new equipment, but it will save you -- and your buyers someday -- $150 or more in annual heating costs.
Rule No. 4: Tech infrastructure trumps cool gadgets
Ethernet cable
Home electronics seem like a deal, since prices have fallen about 50% over the past three years and continue to drop, according to Stephen Baker, president of industry analysis at NPD Group, a market research firm.
Still, that doesn't change the fundamental problem with expensive built-in technology: Put in a $10,000-plus dedicated home theater today, and something better will come along tomorrow. With buyers seeking any excuse to low-ball their offers, they're not going to reward you for an out-of-date system.
Tech infrastructure is different, however. Anytime you're opening up walls for a construction project, have cabling and Ethernet ports installed. At about $80 a room, it's a low-cost way to provide the capability for whatever technologies come along.
Rule No. 5: Let the Joneses be your guide
During the boom, you could be the first on your block to have a luxury kitchen, spa bathroom, or in-ground pool and count on others following suit. And even if the neighbors never took your lead, there was plenty of equity growth to cover your costs.
Nowadays that fudge factor is gone. "You really have to keep your house's amenities in line with the neighborhood now," says Kermit Baker, director of the remodeling futures program at Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies.
If other houses on the block have real marble countertops, by all means add one to your house, but if everyone still has faux blue-marble Formica from the '70s, you're not getting your money back.
Also, keep your projects design-neutral so they'll appeal to the greatest number of people. Choose neutral colors and traditional electrical and plumbing fixtures unless your house has a modern architectural style.
Rule No. 6: The new payback time is five years
As with any volatile investment, the longer your time frame, the lower the risk. Don't take on a big project if you're likely to move in less than three to five years. There's just too much chance that any money you put in -- aside from necessary repairs or superficial cosmetic work -- could be lost. while the housing market continues to meander.
But if you plan to stay awhile, don't delay starting a project. Home improvements are a bargain right now, with contractors bidding 10%, 20%, even 40% lower for the same work than just a year or two ago, says Bernie Markstein, senior economist for the National Association of Home Builders.
Grab them while they're hungry for work and make it clear that you'll be getting multiple bids so they'll be motivated to undercut one another's prices. You'll fulfill the first rule of investing: Buy low. Then hope that when you're ready to move, you can sell high."
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I think this article gives some very valid guidelines in today market we have to look for every possible advantage when making any plans with our home, our biggest investment.
People in this climate tend to be reluctant to spend any money but if they don't spend some, they will lose a percentage of their profits when the deal is closed. The key is to be informed and aware of the trends and to make the best choices of where that money is spent. Although I found the point to make electronic infrastructure upgrades a part of any remodel when the walls are open a new idea, it makes prefect sense.
It has been my experience that buyers rarely find things in disrepair appealing. The difference between now and 2006 is that at that time buyers would tolerate just about anything just to "get in" to a home. Not so today and now the buyer holds the trump card. They will find ways to get what they want so it is time for the seller to beware. You have to do everything in your power to present your home at its best just to get a good appraisal.
If you set your price too high, the buyer will not be able to get a loan unless everything is just so. I expect that we will never see that Mad Hatter ride of the earliest years of the 21st century again in our life time. The heyday of the seller is over. We have to meet more in the middle now and it is best to do it fully armed with pertinent information so we can make wise choices.
The Goal!
The tub!
The fun tub caddy
The shower faucetry for the tub
The fun stuff on the window sill
The sink~love it!
The sconces up close ~ They can point up or down!
The baffles for the can ceiling lights. There are five. Home Depot!!
More fun light catchers on the other window sill. 
Our garden boy from the nursery
My beloved funny angel with the glass eyes~Angelo~
Sunflowers snagged from our bedroom! 
Corner of the sink and window that faces
Outside view above the tub
On the shower wall behind the tub. The towels and little architectural element holding the place where Laura's La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) sign will go when she is done making it. Check out the glass rod on the chrome towel bar holders. Be still my beating heart!
The throne as I know the kids will want
Close-ups
Our cottage has lots of brick so love the glass
The shower 4x5 feet and no door..love that part!
Grohe Shower Fixtures
Another tub shot
The art work~ 2 etchings by a street artist
Our Italy trips have influenced our remodel of
Can't really capture these with a camera
Can I just tell you how happy we are to have this bathroom and to finally be done with the construction. Our contractor, Steve, and Jim worked themselves silly over it and it was a bit like giving birth. Now that the labor is over.. it is time to be thankful and to enjoy! I don't know what our favorite part is...it changes daily. What do you like best?
