Why Taking the Time to Improve Your Home Now Will Save You Time Later   by Adam Holberg

in Real Estate / Selling    (submitted 2012-01-19)

This is the most important advice I've heard in awhile:

"Update your house every five years."

I hear ya', but you'll find many reasons not to-

"It's expensive." Yet, if your refrigerator is 20 years old, now may well be a good time. Or in my case, a hot water heater that rusted out while we were on vacation… Homeowners insurance saved us, but we still had the deductible to be concerned about.

"It's annoying." Yes, moving furniture, toys, lamps and clothes out from a bedroom is a process I'll never enjoy either. We've redone all four bedrooms at my home the past five years. But it's now over.

"It's time consuming." I wish installing hardwood floors only took as long as a 30 minute tv show on HGTV… They always make it look so easy...and so quick. There's nothing quick about it. I have to thank my parents because of their help the couple different times I've replaced carpet with hardwood… But they were both all-day projects, and the first was an entire weekend.

But here's the great thing: Everything we've done would've needed to be done when we sell our home within the next 2 years. Purple paint. Stained off-white carpet. A beige refrigerator. None of it would have stayed. Or, shouldn't have stayed.

Everything that buyers in today's market aren't interested in.

By slowly, meticulously updating my house I'm saving myself from being forced to make NUMEROUS EXPENSIVE repairs in the future.

Plus, by making these upgrades I'm also increasing my home's value simultaneously. And since they've been done early, I get the advantages when grilling that adding a patio and deck off my kitchen get me during the summer. I used to have to walk through the garage to get to my backyard. Huge upside to any new potential home owner.

And hopefully I'm eliminating some stress when the time comes for the for sale sign to go in the ground.

In the end by being proactive while living in your home it can make it easier once the pull of your new home becomes substantial.

There's enough stress involved in putting your home on the market. Eliminating a few of the cosmetic issues before that time comes will only make your life that much more enjoyable.

What's your opinion? Have you been making ongoing improvements to your property? Do you know where you'd start?

About the Author

And finally, if you're interested in Lake Redstone waterfront vacation homes, please check out the place to go for Wisconsin waterfront homes for sale at adamholberg.com.