Real Estate and *stuff *

Real Estate and *stuff *

A real person helping real people with real estate

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Oh just put it in the garage

August 13, 2011

On average, a garage addition recoups about 60% of the investment, with the highest rates of return on a basic rather than an upscale job.  It’s been my experience that in our area because of the snowy winters – houses with garages have a much higher appeal to buyers.  I have several that won’t even look at a house without a garage.

A garage addition makes especially good economic sense in the south-central portion of the country, where home owners can expect to get back almost 66% of the cost of a midrange project, while spending about 13% less than the national average. Returns tend to be lowest in the country’s midsection. In Cleveland, for example, the same garage recoups less than half its cost.

As a general rule, you’re likely to recover a higher percentage of your investment if you build a relatively basic garage–one with open walls, an unfinished concrete floor, and shelves for storage–rather than one with interior drywall and trim, an epoxy floor coating, and designer storage solutions. Such an upscale project runs a national average of more than $90,000 and returns around $48,300, or about 53.6%, of its cost.

But there are financial considerations to adding a garage that go beyond resale value. Protected from the elements, your vehicles will stay in top shape, which could make them more valuable when you sell them. If you include workshop space, you’ll be able to do many home repairs yourself, saving on the cost of pros. And if you outfit the garage so that it’s easy to access stored items, you can save leftover materials, reducing the cost of future projects.

National average cost, 26 x 26 ft. midrange garage addition:

Job cost: $60,600
Resale value: $35,900
Cost recoup: 59.2%

National average cost, 26 x 26 ft. upscale garage addition:

Job cost: $90,100
Resale value: $48,300
Cost recoup: 53.6%

Repair and Replace Kitchen Counters to Stay on Top of Scratches

February 19, 2011

The spring market is upon us!  It seems a tad early this year but with all the news articles about rising interest rates many buyers are making their choices now instead of waiting.  As a seller or soon-to-be-seller, don’t wait!  Get your home ready and on the market now to take full advantage of this early market.

This is the first in a small series of articles to help you get your home “sale ready”.  The kitchen is often the first room that a buyer will go to during a viewing and is vitally important to the overall impression of your home.

You can repair kitchen counter mishaps with only a little time and money. Big boo-boos, however, will need professional help.

Granite

Even granite counters suffer kitchen wear and tear. But you can make them shine with a little time and know-how. After you fix them, don’t forget to reseal them.

Cracks, chips, scratches: Fill nicks in granite by building up layers of epoxy resin colored to match the stone. Clean the area first with acetone, which breaks down grease. Be sure to open a window for ventilation.

Stains: The type of stain–wine or ink, oil or bleach–determines the type of poultice you’ll need to suck it out. A paste of flour and hydrogen peroxide pulls out grease, oil, bleach, and ink stains; a mix of flour and bleach cleans wine stains. If you want to go commercial, check out Alpha, Aqua Mix, and StoneTech stone cleaners. Cost: $6 to $20.

Solid surface counters

Solid surface countertops, such as Corian, are man-made from resin, acrylic, and other materials. They’re tough but not impervious to scratches and stains. To repair minor scratches, rub a white polishing compound on the area with a wool pad, then apply a countertop wax.

For deeper scratches or cuts, call a professional. Figure labor costs at about $15 to $35 an hour. If you need to replace portions of the counter, figure at least $35 to $65 per square foot.

Laminate

Fixing gouges or covering burns in laminate is tough for mortals, though repairing minor problems is doable.

  • Fix small chips with laminate repair paste that matches the color of the countertop.
  • Cover scratches with countertop polish or car wax.
  • Fix peeling laminate with contact cement applied to both surfaces and pressed back into place.
  • Remove coffee and tea stains with vinegar or a paste of baking soda and household cleaner.

Bigger problems will require replacing the damaged stretch. Laminate comes in a billion colors, but finding an exact match for an old counter could be difficult.

To get the look you want, replace the counter. Labor will cost $15 to $35 per hour; countertops range from $3/linear ft. for Plain Jane straight-edged laminates to $100/linear ft. for laminates with a beveled edge that look like granite.

Tile

If you’ve planned ahead and stockpiled old tiles, then grab a few and replace cracked or scratched areas. If you don’t have extra tile, then attempt the following first aid:

  • Wipe away scratches with a dab of toothpaste on a clean cloth.
  • Work epoxy glue into cracks with a toothpick, then color with matching oil-based artist paint.
  • Remove old grout with a utility knife, then replace with a rubber trowel.

Stainless steel

Stainless steel countertops become scratched, stained, and dull over time. While you’ll never completely remove scratches, you can buff them into a warm patina by massaging with vegetable oil.

Remove stains with a paste of baking soda and dish soap. A sprinkle of Barkeeper’s Friend will remove stains without scratching.

If you are getting ready to sell – call or email me.  I would be happy to provide you with a free market analysis of your home.  To get your home sold, you need a great marketing plan and accurate pricing.  I can give you both!