It is lovely to see yards that are beautifully landscaped with colorful plants, mini hills, and the little trickle of water flowing down amid the flowers. It’s just the kind of picturesque setting that both pleases the eye and relaxes the mind. However, while good landscaping is important for the general enjoyment of any home by its residents, there is no need for you to invest in extravagant creations in an attempt to bring up the home’s resale value. Instead, a sprinkler system is a practical investment of several thousand dollars. There is greater perceived and real value in this addition than in a miniature babbling brook that will attract birds and butterflies. If you are thinking of ways to upgrade your yard, the sprinkler system would be the wiser choice.
The lower level.
The question of the basement raises much conversation among flippers. There are cases in which finishing a basement has proved to be a great financial loss to the homeowner at the time of sale, and cases in which the appraisal value showed an increase, with buyers happily willing to pay the increased price. Finishing your basement as local code allows can be done in different ways, and if you can manage without completely altering the structure — such as adding walls or creating extra rooms — it is possible to come out the winner. Keep in mind that a nice big recreation room is certainly a draw, but often will not be counted as living space in an appraisal, nor in the square footage when the home is listed. People also tend to have their own ideas of exactly what a rec room should be. If your property doesn’t already have a finished basement, chances are you won’t get a good ROI by finishing it. You can either leave
68
Powered by FlippingBook