Tuesday, November 25, 2008

How to Prepare Your House For Sale With Key Home Improvements

When the majority of homeowners purchase a home, they plan to live in it for a long period of time. A house is one the largest investments we make, so it is usually something we do not do until we are older, married, and ready to start a family. When we make this investment, we spend weeks looking at open houses, comparing costs, and trying to imagine what it will be like to hear little feet running down the hallway on a Sunday morning. Once we purchase the home, however, we do not always have the opportunity to stay there as long as we had planned. There might be a job transfer or the need to move closer to family and you will need to sell the house. In order to receive the best return on your investment, you need to follow these tips!

The most important areas and rooms to renovate are the entryway, the kitchen, and the bathrooms. These rooms often look the most outdated because new designs are always developed for these areas and the style of furniture changes as frequently as the seasons!

I recommend starting with the kitchen because it is very important to make sure that this room has the latest features and appliances. One of the hottest new elements in modern kitchens is a kitchen island or butcher block. These elegant features are wonderful for additional counter space, storage space, and dining space. Add a few barstools along one edge and you have the ideal place for breakfast and appetizers for dinner. You should also consider a stainless steel double door refrigerator. The shiny metal is an attractive and contemporary look.

The next feature that needs to be addressed is the flooring. In your entryway and your kitchen, you should consider putting in large tiles that are of a neutral tone, such as a tan, off-white, or a light gray color. Large tiles, approximately one foot by one foot, are very popular now because they provide a clean look that is elegant.

Large tiles also look wonderful in the bathroom because they make a small space look larger. However, if it is a bathroom that will be in constant use, you should consider slightly smaller tiles because the more grout, the material between the tiles, the more slip-resistant your floor will be.

Try updating your sinks and faucets in the bathrooms as well. Shiny, new hardware can do wonders for an older bathroom! A new kitchen island, new tiles, and new bathroom hardware are just a few great ideas to ready your home for sale. You will be impressed by how much you can increase your home's value with these few improvements.

If you would like more information on kitchen islands or butcher blocks, please visit the Kitchen Island Shop website.

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