with other kinds of flooring with a reasonable ROI, although carpeting does make a room feel cozy. Laminate floors can be cosmetically fixed with repair kits found at home improvement stores. If you question the carpeting, it is best to remove it, most buyers find it less than desirable. Hardwood flooring can be easily refinished if the wood is worn or water damaged. Seek the advice of a flooring professional because real wood floors add a level of quality to a home that laminate floors cannot match. KITCHEN AND BATH When making upgrades to kitchen and bath, be aware of what constitutes a substantial investment. The kitchen usually makes up 5 percent to 15 percent of a home's value so limit your kitchen remodeling budget to that range, says John Bredemeyer with the Appraisal Institute. (National Association of Realtors: https://www.nar.realtor/blogs/styled-staged-sold/dont-do-these- at-home-3-big-remodeling-mistakes) The key is to consider the mass appeal for the sake of resale value. Let's say one homeowner decided to add a backsplash and more cabinet space in the kitchen and then updated the appliances and refinished the oak flooring. Total cost was $4,000. The seller kept the price comparable to sales in the area and ended up selling for $27,000 more than the asking price because interested buyers started a bidding war! The lesson here? You do not need to bust your budget to sell your home, but you do want to have mass appeal. Kitchens are the center of a home, today they hold many responsibilities, not only is it where the family gathers to eat but it is also the crafts table, game table and homework table. The kitchen is the heart of the home, make it special. Here are some suggestions of what you can do to your kitchen and bath to impress buyers without losing ROI: · Paint neutral colors. · Add a new backsplash in the kitchen. · Install new countertops if dated or if you need to bring the
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