• Making the decision to hire a home inspector before you perform any major remodeling or updating could be one of the most cost-effective things you could do before adding value to your home. The inspector may find a small problem that could morph into something much bigger (and more serious) down the line, such as a termite infestation or a water leak.
  
• Going green has been the latest buzz word lately – and it is not just for saving the environment, going green means you are also saving a lot of money on your household energy bills.  Energy efficient homes that have upgraded items such as special windows and/or programmable thermostats, save you money and are a marketable asset.  Even if you do not plan on placing your home on the market right away, the re-coup on your savings for the initial costs are usually recovered within a year – depending on what sort of systems you are installing.
• Curb appeal is also a big factor in determining your home’s value – if your home looks worn and weather beaten it will look less desirable in this competitive market.  Landscape improvements can range from lar shade trees (that also help to keep your home cooler and cut air conditioning costs up to 40%) to well manicured flower beds and programmable irrigation systems timed to the most efficient times of day for watering (and some even come equipped with “rain gauges” that keep your system off if there has been rain.  You will not only be adding attractive features to your home, but it will help keep you energy efficient.
  
• Surprisingly enough – your flooring may have a lot to do with your air quality.  Many homes are now moving towards solid flooring such as hardwood, tile, laminate and the many updated versions of new vinyl flooring available.  These items help keep dust and pet dander to a minimum that normally hides in carpeted floors.  Previous water damage can also wreak havoc in your home (and to your body) by harboring mold and mildew spores.  With so many different styles and types or flooring to choose from, any home can easily be upgraded to solid flooring.  So not only will you be improving your home’s air quality, you will also be adding a feature that requires less maintenance than carpeting.  Be sure to check under your old flooring in a test spot – you may just be lucky enough to have hardwood floors underneath!
• Its all about the extras… By adding a small luxury item such as a water filtration system, you are adding value to your home and saving yourself money since you will no longer need bottled water.  There are also tankless water heaters that require much less energy to keep than the ones that require over a hundred gallons of water to be hot 24 hours a day, you can also include instant hot water at water taps so you do not have to heat up plumbing pipes to put hot water out.
  
• A bright idea – Replace old electrical fixtures such as an old ceiling fan for a newer, more updated-looking model. You may purchase a simple model or a wide range of styles and features to upgraded models such as dimming capabilities, remote controls and even outdoor ceiling fans to keep your covered porches cool in the warm Florida summers.  Adding ceiling fans is a quick and inexpensive way to make your home more pleasant on hot days, and will appeal to buyers if you need to sell.  Something as easy as turning on a fan and not having to run the air conditioning system to cool the entire house is a lot better option for a homeowner!

If you are thinking about selling your home, or would just like to know what a buyer would be willing to pay for it in today’s market, feel free to get in touch with us to request a free market analysis, we are more than happy to assist you.

You can email us at Info@TheShultzTeam.com or call us direct at 352-291-1276.

Art & Brigitte Shultz
The Shultz Team
#1 Team at Re/Max Premier Realty
Ocala, FL
Toll Free: 800-243-4087
Direct: 352-291-1276
Info@OcalaVisualTours.com
www.OcalaVisualTours.com
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