Home Upgrades That Are Worth Your Money

Many of our customers find themselves either about to put their home on the market, or looking at ways to fix up a new home before moving into it. If you are in this position, here are some home remodeling projects that are worth your time and money:

1.      Window replacement. Although it can be a little pricey up front, replacing your windows increases the energy efficiency of your home and yields high financial returns. For example, switching double hung windows with insulated wood replacement windows costs about $11,000, and returns about 80% of the money invested into this project. Insulated vinyl replacement windows are about $10,000 and return about 79% of the money put into them.

2.      Minor kitchen remodel. Initiating a minor kitchen remodel (new countertops, appliances, sink, faucet, cabinets, and hardware) is a good idea, especially if you are looking to sell your home. This is because potential homebuyers often overestimate what it would cost to update the kitchen, so are less likely to buy if they feel that the kitchen needs work. On average, a minor kitchen remodel costs about $19,000. Though this is a lot of money up front, the project returns an average of about 83% of its cost back into the value of the home, and makes your home more appealing to potential buyers.

3.      Garage door replacement. You can greatly enhance the curb appeal of your home by upgrading your garage door. On average, this costs about $1,500 and returns about 84% of the money spent on this project.

4.      Converting attic space to a bedroom. Renovating the space in your attic to create another bedroom is an excellent way to increase the value of your home. Renovating within the walls of your home allows you to create extra space without having to spend money on building an addition or expanding the roof and foundation of your home. Converting attic space to a bedroom typically yields about an 84% return of the amount spent on this project, so is well worth the expense.

5.      Adding a wood deck. This project costs about $9,500 and returns about 87% of the money spent on it. Adding a wood deck is an easy way to increase the value of your home without having to fork out too much money in the long run.

6.      Front door. If chosen carefully, a steel front door replacement can greatly enhance the curb appeal of your home and on average, adds about 97% of the amount you spent into the value of your home.

7.      Siding replacement. On average, it costs about $11,500 to replace 1250 square feet of siding with new, vinyl siding. In addition to making your home look more appealing from the outside, this project will return about 78% of the amount spent into the value of your home.

8.      Basement remodel. Finishing the lower level of your home to include an entertainment area and bathroom costs about $63,000. You can expect to get about 78% of the project’s cost back when you sell your home. In the meantime, you have the added enjoyment of extra living space.

There are lots of home improvement projects out there, and many of them can be quite expensive. If you are looking to sell your house or are in the process of remodeling a home to move into, these are just a few projects that will allow you to get the most bang out of your buck!

Checklist of Items to Take With You When You Move

Last time, we focused on important documents to keep with you during your move.  Now, let’s touch on some other items that you will want to make sure that you have on your person when moving.

1.      Packing supply kit: This includes a spare box, a marker, and packing tape. This will be handy if you forget to pack something and have to do it last minute.

 

2.      Paper products: Toilet paper, napkins, and paper towels. You don’t want to get to your new house and have to dig around for these items! 

3.      Plastic plates/ silverware: This way you don’t have to unpack all of your kitchen items before having a meal in your new home. 

4.      Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, shampoo, soap, and deodorant. You might also want to include a shower curtain and hooks if your new home does not have an enclosed shower. At the end of moving day, there is nothing like a hot shower to unwind. You don’t want to have to look through all of your boxes to be able to take one!

5.      Pet supplies: Leash, bed, food, and bowls. You want to make sure your pet is as comfortable as possible throughout your move.

6.      Medical needs: Prescriptions, over the counter meds, contact solution, etc. will all need to be easily accessible so bring it with you rather than packing it onto the truck. 

7.      Technology: Computers, phones, tablets, and their chargers. This way, you can stay plugged in and communicate with others throughout your move.  

8.      Healthy snacks: Moving is hard work, so snacks will give you the energy boost you need to get through the day. Easy snacks include nuts, peanut butter crackers, granola bars, and fruit.

9.      Sentimental items: Photographs, albums, letters, home videos and the like are all items that you will want to bring with you. This way they will not risk being damaged or lost.  

10.  Jewelry: Most moving companies require that you take your jewelry with you, so be prepared to do so.

We hope that this checklist makes your move a little easier! Until next time, have a great week!

Simplifying Your Move

Preparing for a move can definitely be chaotic at times.  There are so many arrangements to make and items to organize that it is pretty common to forget something. Probably one of the most inconvenient misfortunes is packing something onto the moving truck that you meant to hand carry or place in your luggage for security or convenience purposes.  Before the packers arrive, we recommend placing all of the items that you want to keep on your person during the move in a designated area. This way they don’t accidentally get placed on the moving truck.

Important Documents
Moving requires lots of paperwork, most of which you should keep with you in order to protect your identity, your assets, and to make the transition to your new home as smooth as possible. Today we will focus on the documents that you will want carry with you when you move:

-Identification for each family member. This includes driver licenses, social security cards, birth certificates, marriage certificates, naturalization certificates, passports, and military IDs. 

-Vehicle documentation. This includes your insurance, registration, title or lease information, and proof of vehicle inspection.

-Financial information. For security purposes, you will want to bring personal checks, bank statements, and any credit/ debit cards with you. It is also a good idea to travel with a little bit of cash on you, especially if are driving and will be passing through tolls.

-Housing documents. Bring your lease or mortgage paperwork with you, as well as the household inventory provided by your moving company.

-Legal paperwork. Carry any legal documents, such as wills, power of attorney, custody/ adoption paperwork, and divorce/ annulment paperwork with you. 

-School records. Bring transcripts, report cards, and any grade sheets that your child might need at his/ her new school with you so that school registration goes smoothly.

-Employment documents. Transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a current resume are all items that you will want to carry with you.

-Medical records. This includes dental records, treatment plans, vaccination records, and any prescription information that you may have. 

Are you wondering how you should transport all of these documents? A folder will definitely work, but a small safe might be even better. It is also a good idea to backup these documents by saving them on a hard drive or flash drive. 

Here at Sorensen Mayflower, we are all about making your move as easy as possible. We hope that these tips have helped to do just that. Stay posted for next time as we list other items that you will want to keep with you when you move.