5
home spas are highly valued in Calgary's market, the 5 highest return renovations are ones that anyone can do. They are typically things that can be done for a few thousand dollars, or even a few hundred if you do them yourself, and will not only result in a quicker sale for your home but can also return every dime you spend and then some.
If you’re going to paint yourself, be sure to do the job right. A poor paint job can
While a fresh paint job may seem like an easy and
you don't have the me or ability to do these things,
cheap way to add value, it is absolutely essen al that
hire a professional. While the ra o of labor cost to
the job be done properly or it can substan ally
materials is very high when pain ng, a poor paint job
decrease the value of your home. Unless you’re very
sure of your decora ng skills, fresh paint inside in neutral colors is recommended. While that bright
If you're unsure of what colors are currently 'in', take
orange wall may appeal to you it will put off many
an a ernoon trip to a few showhomes. Builders keep
buyers. Also, paint on baseboards, door handles,
up to date on the colors that appeal to buyers so feel
electrical sockets and hinges looks sloppy and will
free to use their color choices for inspira on.
give buyers a very poor impression of your home.
While pain ng the outside of your home is unlikely to
If you're going to do the job yourself, be sure to get
be necessary, wooden window frames, decks and
ps from online videos on how to paint straight
fences may need a fresh coat of paint or stain if
edges. Take the me to remove light switch and
socket covers before pain ng walls and remove doors from their hinges before pain ng the frames. If
Written by Ken Dove, Calgary REALTOR since 2003 M A R K E T I N G T H A T M O V E S Y O U5
A deck is one of very few renova ons where you can expect to get back 100 percent of your investment to
build it, even if you hire someone else to do the work. Many new homes are built without decks so if yours is s ll without a deck building one before lis ng will
Fenced yards are highly desirable in any
help achieve a faster sale and a higher price.
neighborhood. From concerns over child or pet safety to a simple desire for privacy, homes with
As with fences, if you have a deck that's looking a li le
fenced back yards will sell quicker and for a higher
worn, refinishing the deck before lis ng is highly
O en a fence can be built or replaced for a few thousand dollars. This is money that will come back to you when you sell and while it may not add more
value than the cost of building it, you will likely sell
quicker with a fence than without and, as a general
rule, the fewer the days on the market, the higher the sale price.
Also, if you have a fence but it's in poor condi on, it will pay you to repair and refinish it.
Written by Ken Dove, Calgary REALTOR since 2003 M A R K E T I N G T H A T M O V E S Y O U5 Sod/Lawn Care
Many new homes are sold without sod as it must be watered twice a day for the first few weeks in order
Flooring
to establish itself, otherwise it will simply turn brown and die in short order. If your home s ll has no sod, or much more commonly, if your lawn has been
Whether you have hardwood, ceramic le, carpet or
damaged by pets or simply hasn't been a priority for
lino the impression that a buyer has of your home can
you fresh sod will return its cost and make your
be greatly improved by refinishing or replacing your
home much more appealing to buyers. Just be sure
flooring. Worn hardwood and dirty carpets can
devalue otherwise a rac ve homes by 10's of thousands. If your carpet is visibly worn, it should be
Also, if you have garden areas weed them
replaced, and steam cleaning exis ng carpets before
thoroughly before and throughout the dura on of
your lis ng, as well as removing weeds from cracks in sidewalks or other areas where a buyer would no ce
Hardwood floors can usually be refinished for a few
them. While curb appeal is not as important as it
dollars per square foot. Broken ceramic les should
used to be, a buyer's first impression of your home
be replaced and dirty grout scrubbed un l it looks
will be from the outside. It will pay you to make that a
new. Dated, yellowed lino should also be
replaced and if it is within your budget, replaced with ceramic le as linoleum is becomingly increasingly frowned upon by
need to be kept free of snow and ice.
Written by Ken Dove, Calgary REALTOR since 2003 M A R K E T I N G T H A T M O V E S Y O U
Independent.co.uk Soya products linked to low sperm count PA Too much tofu may affect a man's fertility, according to a study linking soya and low sperm count. Scientists found that even modest consumption of soya products, such as meat and dairy substitutes and bean curd, can have a significant impact on sperm count. Men who ate an average of half a serving of soya food a day had lower concen