How You Can Improve the Resale Value of Your Home

While there are never guarantees in selling your home, there are plenty of ways you can increase not only the likelihood of a sale, but the return you’ll see. These measures don’t have to break the bank, either. While many such tasks you can do yourself, sometimes it will be necessary to get outside help.

Clean, Clean, Clean

First and foremost, your home should be absolutely spotless. There should be no stray sweaters on couches, no dust lingering behind lampshades, nothing to make a prospective buyer say, “Ick.” A coat of varnish and polish on an old coffee table or chest of drawers can take it from shabby and drab to classic. You can clean yourself, or you can hire a company to do it for you. Whatever you choose, cleaning the inside and outside of your home can make an incredible difference.

Proper Staging

It can be hard to see past our own possessions, past our memories and the comforts of our life, but you do not want your home to feel cluttered. Whether it’s possible to move your possessions into clever hideaways or for you rent a storage space for a month, you should make your house feel airy and light to make potential buyers think of it as an open space they can stretch in. This includes your closet. If your closets are packed with clothes or boxes, it will give the impression there isn’t much storage space in the house, so don’t overlook closets when you stage your home. When staging, make sure to make any small touch-ups you need done. Has the paint been scraped off on a corner of the kitchen? Is there a chipped tile in the bathroom? Do you need new grout? Get these things fixed so your home looks positively pristine.

Tend to the Outdoors

People aren’t going to be seeing just how your home looks inside. The first thing a potential buyer is going to see is your home from the curb. People make snap judgments, and if your home looks a little run-down, or even if the lawn isn’t well-manicured, buyers may not see past that, even if your house is perfect inside. Tend to your garden if you have one, trim your grass, and get your trees shaped, whatever you need to do to make it look well cared for.

Lower Your Energy Costs

This doesn’t sound exciting, but it can be a draw for a buyer. Energy costs are rising all across the globe, and with income levels remaining somewhat stagnant, it can be hard to keep up. That’s why it’s important to find ways to keep energy costs lowered to best appeal to prospective buyers. Update your insulation, double-glaze your windows to keep temperatures stable, and consider getting energy-efficient appliances, such as a washer and dryer, as a bonus to leave behind for your buyer.

Remodel

You may not be able to get around a remodel to update your home and make it as attractive as possible. You won’t need to transform every single room, but there are a few rooms that can truly make a difference. Adding rooms is much more difficult to do than redesigning existing ones, so depending on your home, you may only need to make a few tweaks. The kitchen is one room that can really benefit from additional work. According to HomeAdvisor, the average price of remodeling a kitchen in Orlando, Florida is anywhere from $11,908-$22,556, with a timeline of four to five weeks for a co

 

Tend to the Outdoors

People aren’t going to be seeing just how your home looks inside. The first thing a potential buyer is going to see is your home from the curb. People make snap judgments, and if your home looks a little run-down, or even if the lawn isn’t well-manicured, buyers may not see past that, even if your house is perfect inside. Tend to your garden if you have one, trim your grass, and get your trees shaped, whatever you need to do to make it look well cared for.

Lower Your Energy Costs

This doesn’t sound exciting, but it can be a draw for a buyer. Energy costs are rising all across the globe, and with income levels remaining somewhat stagnant, it can be hard to keep up. That’s why it’s important to find ways to keep energy costs lowered to best appeal to prospective buyers. Update your insulation, double-glaze your windows to keep temperatures stable, and consider getting energy-efficient appliances, such as a washer and dryer, as a bonus to leave behind for your buyer.

Remodel

You may not be able to get around a remodel to update your home and make it as attractive as possible. You won’t need to transform every single room, but there are a few rooms that can truly make a difference. Adding rooms is much more difficult to do than redesigning existing ones, so depending on your home, you may only need to make a few tweaks. The kitchen is one room that can really benefit from additional work. According to HomeAdvisor, the average price of remodeling a kitchen in Orlando, Florida is anywhere from $11,908-$22,556, with a timeline of four to five weeks for a complete rehaul.

With just a number of adjustments, you can prepare your home for the big sale, and work toward getting the price all that effort can yield. Remodelling your home can seem daunting, but it has the potential to really increase the resale value of your property. If you keep your home looking clean, clear, and modern, with the amenities of energy efficiency, you can increase the probability of a sale.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

 

How to file Homestead Exception and Save on Property Taxes in Cenral Florida

red house money flying

If you just moved to Florida, you may not know about Homestead exemption and how it can save you money on taxes.

What is a Homestead Exemption in Florida?

Homestead Exemption is a tax reduction allowable to homeowners who make their property their permanent residence. If approved, this exemption could reduce the taxable value of your residence by up to $50,000. The first $25,000 of this exemption applies to all taxing authorities. The second $25,000 of exemption excludes School Board taxes and applies to properties with assessed values between $50,000 and $75,000. As a result, the homeowner would enjoy a substantial savings on the taxes levied on their property by the various taxing authorities.

How to file homestead exemption in Florida by County:

The deadline for filing Homestead Exemption is March 1st. Owner is responsible for filing on time and filing can be done online, in person, or via mail. I prefer to do it online because its quick and secure.

The deadline to file is Mar. 1

Orange County:

  • File Online – It’s Safe, Secure and Easy! In order to file on-line, you must have received a Homestead Letter from our office with your individually assigned User-Login and Password. You should receive this packet approximately 4 to 6 weeks following your real estate closing. If you misplaced it, you can request another one.
  • File by Mail/Fax – Download and file.
  • File in Person – Orange County has Satellite Offices which open Jan.11, 2016 and close Feb, 20, 2016? They are located conveniently across Orange County. Click here to see which location is near your home or workplace.

Seminole County Florida: