NADINE PELLETIER - SELLING SECRETS YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS

TIPS FOR KITCHEN AND B CHEN AND BATH

When making upgrades to kitchen and bath, be aware of what constitutes a substantial investment. 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 pivotal in-home appeal. 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 home up to current area standards. • Add new, multifunctional kitchen faucets. • Add cabinet space or increase storage in the pantry. • Replace dated bathroom vanities. Pedestal sinks or trendy cabinet sinks have mass appeal. • Replace toilet seats — or the entire toilet, if necessary.

TWO ENERGY-SAVING UPGRADES TO LOWER UTILITY BILLS

More and more buyers are looking for homes that reduce consumption and save them money on utility expenses. Here are 38

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