cracked threshold, green-and-blue vinyl flooring), fix it or remove it.
EXAMPLES OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT PAID OFF
“If the roof is leaking, buyers won’t get beyond that.” That is a piece of truth that sellers simply cannot get around. No matter what upgrades or improvements have been made to make a house more appealing, and thus costlier, if the fundamental systems (furnace, AC, plumbing, electric, foundation, and roof) are in bad shape, so is the chance of a sale. There are, though, examples of home improvements that you can almost bank on returning a good ROI on your investment outlays. According to Remodeling magazine, you are less likely to recoup your investment in a major kitchen or bathroom remodel than you are to get back what you spend on basic home maintenance such as new siding. Siding replacement recouped 92.8% of its cost, according to the study. The only home improvement likely to return more at resale was a minor (roughly $15,000) kitchen remodel, which returned 92.9%. Replacing roofs and windows was also high on the list, returning 80% or more at resale. In the hottest housing markets, investing in a kitchen or bath remodel is a wise investment, often returning more than 100% of the cost. Don’t spend money remodeling the bathroom if it’s the only one you’ve got — that money is better spent adding a second bath. Many people love the charm of older homes, but many older homes lack a sufficient number of bathrooms. So if you’ve got a four-bedroom, one-bath home, it’s certainly going to pay to add a second bathroom. A National Association of Realtors® study by Florida State University professors found that adding a bathroom 95
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