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The Lyons Team
Phone: 317-216-3587
Fax: 317-846-5959
Email
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From
the inside out, your home is a direct reflection of your personal taste. When
you get ready to sell, you can reap the rewards with a few simple suggestions
from some of the nation's leading home improvement experts. Start on the
outside and work your way through.
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Make your terrain inviting. Remember that your landscape is often the first
thing a seller will notice. Proper maintenance of your yard and planting shrubs
and flowers can yield significant gains in your selling price. Doing nothing or
allowing your yard to become overrun with weeds can negatively impact the sale
of your property.
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Always keep your
bathroom neat and clean. It's true that your bathroom should be a comforting
place. Whether it's laying wallpaper, hanging pictures or laying out matching
towels like your mother did, bathrooms can bring an average increase of more
than 80 percent in the selling price. Beyond the obvious, your bathroom should
appear spotless and germ-free. If you notice any leaks, fix them and make all
necessary repairs to the floor.
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Give the buyer a
reason to spend time in the kitchen. Buyers like a lot of space in the kitchen.
Put away appliances under the sink to make room and ensure that the kitchen
sink doesn't carry everything, including a leaky faucet or stains on the
silver. Organize and clean the cabinets in case the seller is nosey and looks
inside. To achieve the ultimate good look on the outside, consider replacing
the cabinets and their accessories to achieve a natural balance that offsets
the countertops. Home improvement stores will often host how-to clinics that
offer innovative ideas.
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Set your home a
step ahead of the curb. In addition to landscaping, consider the little extras
like window treatments, blinds, drapes, or shutters. While these little extras
don't add much function to the home, when it comes time to sell the house, the
return on investment will become apparent. If you must replace the roof,
consider shingles that are artistic in design.
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Splash on the
Paint. To make your home look clean, fresh and like new, consider painting with
neutral colors like white, beige or cream.
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Construct an
attractive foyer. The entrance of your home sets the stage for the buyer. Make
it memorable and classy.
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Don't sink the
sinks. Throughout your home, make sure that your sinks are spotless. If you are
unable to remove stains, invest in a new sink and faucet. When it comes time
for the offer, you will be glad you did this.
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Liven up the
outside. Sun is nice, but it also shows a home's imperfections. Therefore,
investing in a professional power washer will add additional value to the
home's selling price. Slap on a fresh coat of paint to the door and add a
simple door decoration such as a wreath or doorknocker to add distinction. Take
time to also replace any broken locks, windows or storm doors.
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Conserve energy.
Energy efficiency adds overall value to the price of the home. With increased
costs in natural gas, a home that conserves energy will be a better buy in the
long run. Invest in heat pumps that can save money or make a call to the local
gas company to find out ways you can help to drive down the cost of energy for
your home.
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Be rational with
remodeling. Before you destruct in an effort to make your home more attractive,
do the research to learn how much your remodeling will increase the value of
your home. Sometimes it's possible to not recover the cost of the work
performed. Compare your home's value with your neighbor's before performing any
work and keep track of your totals. Do not remodel more than 10 to 20 percent
above the home's value and avoid projects that make your home the most
expensive home in the neighborhood. This is a costly mistake that homeowners
make and it's often the hardest one to overcome.
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