Best Improvements To Increase Your Home's Value
What gives a home it’s value? Is it the materials that make up it’s structure and foundation? Is it the amount of land that it sits on? Or, is it the rate given to it based on what people will pay? Technically speaking, it’s the latter of the three, but still a unique blend. If you’re getting ready to sell and want to make some improvements to get the most out of your house, keep reading to learn how. (Hint: it’s not adding a pool) 1. Kitchen The most efficient way to raise the current value of your home is to start where everyone gathers; the kitchen. Upgrading appliances will give your home a modern look. I know plenty of people that want to live in their childhood home, but would also enjoy the contemporary comforts of a silent, efficient, and fast dishwasher. I grew up in the 90’s and I can spot those brown kitchen cabinets a mile away. As nostalgic as they feel, a more modernized single color platform will garner you a few more dollars at the closing table. While you’re at it throw up some matching tiles for a seamless back splash behind that new range you just ordered. This will bring the kitchen into the 21st century. Photo by Sidekix Media 2. Bathroom These upgrades that just enhanced your kitchen can also be applied to all the restrooms and washrooms around your house. Maybe it’s time to replace that wobbly toilet with a low-flow state of the art throne. If your sink is built into a cabinet, go ahead and paint that as well, or convert it to a freestanding modern styled one. Any way you go, just make sure they all match. It may seem fun and creative to have different colors in each room of the house, but buyers don’t always share the same artistic gene you do. They prefer to look at your house as their own and a neutral color helps with this. Photo by Steven Ungermann 3. Paint Paint, paint, and more paint. As I just expressed, the potential buyer is imagining themselves living in your home. As uncomfortable as this seems, it’s a good thing and you want to help them with this. Create a neutral atmosphere starting with the walls and ceilings. Luckily for you this can be broken down into a few weekend projects. This is where a little effort goes a long way. 4. Curb Appeal Don’t forget this painting ideology can also be expressed on the exterior of your home. Every house is different and so are the exteriors. Does your house have siding that needs replacement, or bricks long overdue for a bath? Curb appeal is just as important to the buyer. Take care of your lawn, pull those weeds, throw down some grass seed and add some mulch to create boundaries appealing to the eye. Go ahead and hire your teenage neighbor to power wash your driveway. Trust me, it will do wonders for your curb appeal. Check out the photo below of the driveway I power washed for my client. This house sold before I finished the job from someone driving by. Photo by Phil T Realty / Facebook So, what improvements aren't worth the money? 1. Pool Everything above will help you create more value on the open market, but what is not worth the money? First and foremost; a pool. Pools cost a lot of money as well as time to build, not to mention the amount of upkeep needed to keep it up to standard. Pool pumps go out, concrete cracks, and chlorine is a hassle. Pools can turn into a money pit if not repaired in time or not maintained properly. Home buyers don’t want to inherit problems, so leave the yard un-dug and the pool out of your head. 2. Converted Garage I know it can be tempting to add another room to your house for whatever your needs may be, but don’t remove a most adored area for that. If you have a garage, leave it alone. You won’t need a 4th bedroom garage conversion and your buyer won’t either. People want a secure space for their cars, motorcycles or even a workshop. By converting the garage into a room you have taken that possibility away from your buyer and they may not be to happy about it. I don’t know about you, but I’d love to keep my car covered from the imminent spring hail storms, or the pollen that turns my car a dirty orange. 3. Windows Lastly, over the past decade we have come a long way in the window development. They have gas-filled double pane windows that are near soundproof and help with the retention of heating and cooling, but if you’re looking to recoup these costs from the buyer look else where. As practical as they are to install, buyers just don’t put that high of a value on them. Sure, they save you hundreds in heating and cooling, but people don’t buy houses just because they are energy efficient. Let’s leave it as icing on the cake for the potential buyer. Photo by Shutterstock Buyers in this current market are a different breed than 10 years ago and keep in mind that the market is always in flux. These are only a few items to consider when getting ready to sell. My only recommendation is to talk to a licensed REALTOR® about what your needs are. A good REALTOR® will help guide you through this process and hopefully help you cross over those all too common pitfalls of selling a house. I’ve heard they have some good ones over there at Adapt Realty. Article by: Phillip Taglieri, REALTOR®Contact: philliptaglieri@yahoo.com
The wait is over... Fiesta returns to San Antonio April 2022!
Whether you’re a just settled transplant or a Puro-San Antonian swaddled from birth in a Spurs jersey you must have seen the signs of something big coming. 2022 marks the return of a full fiesta season and if you haven’t seen this before get ready for San Antonio’s biggest party of the year. Fiesta San Antonio isn’t Mardi Gras, or some inflatable Thanksgiving parade, it’s a celebration as unique as the city itself. Photo by: Facebook / Fiesta San Antonio Fiesta was created by the women of San Antonio in 1891 to honor the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. They decorated their horse drawn carriages, bicycles, and children in fresh local flowers, then hurled the flowers at each other. This has since been renamed to the “Battle of Flowers Parade”, for obvious reasons. In the past 131 years it has evolved into an 11-day event spanning the entire city, including 3 large parades. (Battle of Flowers, Fiesta Flambeau, and Texas Cavaliers River Parade). Beyond the parades it also hosts multiple venues to taste true San Antonio flavors. NIOSA, or Night in Old San Antonio, is held at La Villita Historic Arts Village District and runs for 4 nights (April 5-8) and is home to the infamous chicken-on-a-stick. This is where you can taste, hear, and drink all that San Antonian culture has to offer. Photo by: sanantoniomag.com If music is more your thing then check out the Fiesta Oyster Bake (April 1-2). Headlining the event includes: Blue Öyster Cult, Stoney Larue, Little Joe Y La Familia, and Chingy on Friday and Pop Evil, Josh Abbott Band, Bobby Pulido, and Spin Doctors on Saturday. The music, oysters, and beer sales aren’t just for fun the proceeds go directly to help the students of St. Mary’s University. The children of the Alamo city even have their own opening parade at the Fiesta De Los Ninos on April 2nd at 102 Mabry Dr. (10AM-6PM) Following the Noon parade they have plenty of entertainment, food and STEM activities to enjoy. The United Way sponsored Kid’s Festival on April 9th runs from 11AM-2PM, incorporating games, books, and healthy snacks at this free event. Don’t forget, the Carnival running from March 31st to April 10th. Photo by: texashillcountry.com San Antonio Fiesta includes over 100 events packed into these 11 days, so check out the full list of events at Fiesta event calendar. You wouldn’t want to miss the Coronation of the Queen, Taste of New Orleans, Walk for Autism, Confetti Walk and Run, Inclusion 5K, Fiesta Women’s & Co-Ed Soccer Tournament, King William Fair, Taste of the North Side, Celebrations of Traditions Pow Wow, Army Marine & Navy days at the Alamo, JBSA-Lackland Fiesta Military Parade, Cornyation, or Fiesta Gartenfest just to name a few. Lastly we will close out the festivities with the UTSA Fiesta Spring Game. ‘Birds Up!’ The first one open to the public since 2019 due to the pandemic. It will be held at Dub Farris Stadium, 8400 N. Loop 1604 W from 7PM-9PM, parking and admission are both free. With San Antonio now the 8th fastest-growing metro in the nation according the US census bureau, I can only expect Fiesta to grow in response, so go out there and enjoy our ever loving, growing, and evolving city. Please enjoy Fiesta responsibly, plan ahead- Uber, Lyft, or call a ride. Viva San Antonio! For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://fiestasanantonio.org/ Article by: Phillip Taglieri, REALTOR®Contact: philliptaglieri@yahoo.com