Synopses & Reviews
An easy-to-follow guide for home owners who want to maximize the value of their most important investmentWith anxiety over the stock market running high and home equity loan rates at an alltime low, Americans are investing in their homes like never before. Last year alone, consumers spent a record $123 billion on home building projects. How to Increase the Value of Your Home provides solid answers to questions such as: Is it better to build a downstairs bathroom or to remodel my kitchen? And it provides:
- Techniques for commanding higher prices and quicker sales--now and 10 years from now
- Guidance on which renovations to invest in and which ones to avoid
Synopsis
An easy-to-follow guide for home owners who want to maximize the value of their most important investment
With anxiety over the stock market running high and home equity loan rates at an alltime low, Americans are investing in their homes like never before. Last year alone, consumers spent a record $123 billion on home building projects. How to Increase the Value of Your Home provides solid answers to questions such as: Is it better to build a downstairs bathroom or to remodel my kitchen? And it provides: Techniques for commanding higher prices and quicker sales--now and 10 years from now Guidance on which renovations to invest in and which ones to avoid
About the Author
Vicki Lankarge (Hartford, CT) is an authority on protecting the value of houses. She writes on consumer issues for aol.com, CBS Marketwatch, and MSN.com.
Dan Nahorney (Hartford, CT) is a journalist, business writer, and magazine editor.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
LAY THE GROUNDWORK
1. Whats Your Remodeling Profile? 3
2. Repair Before You Remodel 7
3. Recoup Your Remodeling Costs 17
GET THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
4. Additions: Size Does Matter (But Flow Is 27More Important)
5. Interior Improvements: Cabinets, Countertops, 49and Status Symbols, Oh My!
6. Home Improvements You Shouldnt Bank On 73
7. Heating and Air Conditioning: Staying Warm and 83 Keeping Cool
8. Landscape and Hardscape: It Dont Mean a Thing 91If You Aint Got That Swing
STAY THE COURSE
9. Ready, Set, Spend! 105
10. Keep Your Home Improvement Project on Track 125
GIMME SHELTER: PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT
11. Proper Maintenance for a Safer,More Valuable Home 139
12. Insurance: Protect Your Investment 151
13. Selling Your Remodeled Home 165
HOME RESOURCES
14. The Experts 175
Index 183