Which Home Projects Were Most Popular During Quarantine?

Here’s a fun list of the home improvements that kept people busy this year!

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More than 75% of people surveyed said that they’d done at least one home improvement project since March. If you’ve been to Home Depot or Lowe’s recently, you’d probably say that number seems about right. So what were the typical updates that people made to their homes over the past six months?

1. Outdoor projects. Whether it was boosting the backyard aesthetic with a new fountain, putting in an outdoor dining area, adding fences, clearing debris, or redoing the deck, outdoor projects kept more people occupied than any other type of improvement. After all, who wasn’t craving some fresh air this year?

2. Repainting the interior. Why not? A lot of us had extra time on our hands, a good deal of which we spent staring at the same walls every day, wondering, “Is it time for a change?”

3. Switching internet plans. When you suddenly have to start working from home, you find out quickly whether or not the internet plan you’ve been paying for is actually any good. Out with the old routers, in with a new, higher speed connection!

Outdoor projects kept more people occupied than any other type of improvement.

4. Flooring updates. That could include removing old carpet or hardwood flooring and laying down some of those new composite floors.

5. Updating bathrooms. Adding new fixtures and cabinetry can go a long way.

6. Adding an office space. In many cases, homeowners created multiple workspaces. Don’t forget that the kids needed a designated spot for virtual learning, too!

7. Installing security cameras. Considering everything that transpired so far in 2020, it’s not surprising many folks wanted to beef up their home security.

If your quarantine has been less ambitious and you haven’t done any of these things, there’s no shame in that, either! However, if you’re thinking about selling soon, I’d implore you to look at that list again from a different angle: These are the things homebuyers want most! Consider making some of these simple improvements to maximize your sale. For those of you who have already done most, if not all, of these updates, then a home like yours is in extremely high demand.

For more information on selling in today’s market or home improvement tips, don’t hesitate to give me a call. I’d be happy to help you find out the current value of your home and get you started on the right path. I hope to hear from you soon!

Q: What Are Some Worthwhile Summer Projects?

Here are some summer projects every homeowner will be glad they tackled.

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Though we’re more than halfway through the year, we still have plenty of summer sun left to enjoy. The weather isn’t always on our side here in Tennessee, so I like to take advantage of this season by tackling some easy home maintenance projects. Here’s what I recommend for all homeowners:

1. Vacuum your vents. You might not like the sound of this, but it’s so important to keep vents like the one in your bathroom ceiling clean and functional. If the fans in there sound excessively loud, it’s likely because the vent is clogged up. 
2. Have your air conditioning inspected. Don’t wait until the late summer sun and relentless humidity force your unit to give out. You’ll never regret scheduling an appointment with a professional to service it and get it running optimally for the rest of the season.  
3. Inspect your roof. Whether it’s you climbing up there (please be careful) or a professional roofer, why not use this time to check out the health of your roof? You could even have someone fly a drone over your house for a hassle-free peek at its condition.  
4. Revive your deck and patio. Bust out the pressure washer, remove leftover debris from winter or spring, stain it, and rearrange/clean your outdoor furniture. Now’s your chance to take advantage of one of your home’s best features by relaxing under blue skies.  
5. Clean out your gutters. Failing to address any problems with how water flows through your gutters can lead to foundational issues in your home. Water that’s not properly draining through the downspouts can spell trouble for the fascia, soffits, and all of the siding on your home. While not the most exciting project to undertake, regular gutter maintenance will go a long way if you ever decide to sell your home.

These projects were just a starting point; we have a list of way more than five, and I’d be glad to send those over if you reach out to me via email. As always, give me a call if you have questions on this or any other real estate-related topics. I look forward to hearing from you, but until then, good luck with all your summer projects!

How to Keep Your Deck/Patio in Great Shape

It’s springtime—which means it’s time to think about home maintenance. How can you take care of your deck and patio in the best way?

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Anytime you own a home, you have to deal with home maintenance. If you have a deck and patio, you’ll know that those areas really take a lot of wear and tear. So what can you do to keep your deck in tiptop shape?

1. Seal your deck every few years. This will help maintain your deck’s good condition. With all the rain we’ve been having, there’s a good chance that there’s some mold and mildew building up.

2. Rearrange your furniture once a year. This will help keep the mildew growth down, and it allows the air and rain to travel in different areas on your deck, which can help reduce mold growth and other problems related to exposure.
 
3. Do not paint your wood deck. If you paint your wood deck, it’ll be pretty for a time, but it won’t be long before it becomes a maintenance nightmare.

Your deck and patio are great selling points for any home, so be sure to do what it takes to keep them in good shape.

4. Don’t overdo your power washing. Excessive power washing can really warp the boards on your deck and possibly tear up the siding, so be careful. If you’ve got a synthetic composite deck, it’s a little easier to power wash.

5. Don’t use chlorine bleach. To clean your deck, just use regular water, and also avoid using abrasive tools like wire brushes to clean. Just let the power washer do its work.
 
There are certain companies that will help you keep up with your deck and patio maintenance, and there are also ways that you can do it yourself. Regardless, your deck and patio are great selling points for any home, so be sure to do what it takes to keep them in good shape—that’ll bring you lots of good money when it comes time to sell your home. 

If you’ve got questions about buying, selling, or maintaining a home, feel free to reach out to me. I’d be glad to help you.

How Can You Add Value to Your Home Without Breaking the Bank?

If you want to add value to your home without spending a lot of money, I have some great tips to share with you.

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I have some great tips to share with you that will help you add value to your home without spending a boatload of money.

If you’re lucky enough to have an unfinished basement in your home, finishing it is a great way to add square footage to the home. You could add a den, a workout area, an office, or perhaps another bedroom and/or bathroom. If you have an attic, you can use the same idea.

If your home has just one bathroom but there’s an area you can squeeze another one in, try adding a bathroom there. There’s a big difference in value between a 3-bedroom/1-bathroom house and a 3-bedroom/2-bathroom house. While it is expensive to add a bathroom, it’s much less so if you already have the space for it.

There’s a big difference in value between a 3-bedroom/1-bathroom house and a 3-bedroom/2-bathroom house.

Next, try opening up your floor plan. If you have a traditional living room that’s somewhere near your formal kitchen, open those spaces up and connect them to one another. That’s the kind of spacing buyers are looking for these days.

If you can afford to put more money into your home, there are some other tips you can try as well.

One of these is replacing your old-fashioned windows with double-paned windows. You might spend a lot to do this, but you’d get almost a 100% return on your investment. You can also add a centralized heating and air conditioning system to your home if it doesn’t already have one.

These are just a few options that can add value to your home, but there are plenty more you can consider, and we have a whole list of them that we’d be glad to send to you. All you have to do is give us a call or send me an email.

As always, if you have any other real estate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me as well. I’d be happy to speak with you.

How to Pull Off a Successful House Flip

Flipping a house isn’t exactly easy, but if you watch your expenses and consider the home’s location, you can turn a good profit.

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If you’re thinking about flipping a house, how hard or easy can it be? 

While house flipping looks simple on TV, there are a couple things you need to keep in mind to do it successfully. 

First, remember that a successful house flip is one that makes money. You might not make a ton of money, but you do want to make sure you make some money. To accomplish this, remember that it’s not what you sell the property for—it’s what you buy it for on the front end. 

Here’s a great formula to make sure you don’t spend your way out of a profit. First, think about what you’ll sell the property for and multiply that sale price by 70%. If you plan on selling it for $100,000, for example, you’d multiply that by 0.7 and get $70,000. From that $70,000, subtract any expenses it will take to sell the property (the cost of rehabbing the property, commissions, etc.). If it will cost you $30,000 to fix the property up and sell it, you’d subtract that number from $70,000 and get $40,000. 

So, you shouldn’t pay more than $40,000 for a house that will ultimately be worth $100,000.

In today’s seller’s market, it’s difficult to buy a house like that. A lot of investors and house flippers are paying a little more for flip properties, which means they’re making a little less on the back end. 

A successful house flip is one that makes money.

You can also obtain financing to flip a house, but interest rates for home-occupant loans typically aren’t as favorable to investors, so it will cost you more. This is why it’s important that you’re in a position to pay cash. 

The No. 1 factor you need to consider when flipping a home (besides the price) is its location. You can always add a new door or repair a roof, but you can’t pick a home up and move it somewhere else. 

Lastly, remember that you’re an investor. You won’t own the home and live there, so be careful with how you spend money on that home. It might be fun to install a gold-plated kitchen, but you’ll probably be able to get away with a normal kitchen too. 

If you’d like to know more about home flipping or you have any other real estate questions I can answer for you, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I’d love to help you.

The Most Valuable Upgrades for Chattanooga Homes

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Which upgrades help you earn the best return on investment in Chattanooga? There have been quite a few surveys done out there, and there are three different ways to approach your renovations.

First, figure out what will get you the best bang for your buck. For example, putting on a new roof tends to be the number one item that earns your money back when you sell. Of course, that's an expensive item, but you are almost guaranteed a return on your investment.

Refinishing or installing hardwood floors both get you all your money back, too. In fact, you may even make some money on those renovations when you go to sell your home. Additionally, replacing your garage door is another repair that quickly gets you your money back.

While these items get you the most return on your money, what if you're not planning on moving for awhile? In that case, consider what renovations you will enjoy most as the homeowner.

According to surveys, bathroom and kitchen renovations typically bring the homeowner the most enjoyment. You may not get a full return on investment when you sell the property, but you will appreciate upgrading those rooms. New siding and replacing the front door are cheaper renovations that also spark happiness in homeowners.

Finally, if you're thinking of selling, consider what remodels the buyers might really want. The good news is that buyers are typically looking for bathroom and kitchen upgrades. For buyers, the kitchen takes top priority. So, if you renovate those rooms for your own enjoyment, your new bathrooms and kitchen will attract buyers in the future. Buyers also look for updated roofs, which will get you a high return on investment, and vinyl window upgrades.

If you're thinking of selling, or even just remodeling, now is a great time to start doing your research. The 50th Annual Tri-State Home Show will be here in Chattanooga from February 26th to February 28th. This is a great event to meet different vendors. They also offer some great deals and prices during the home show! Our team will be there this year with our own booth, so be sure to stop by.

As always, if you have any questions on today's video, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!