the cityhammer blog

Last December, the world was a different place, and many people were concerned with doing the right home renovations that would pay off in resale value. Fast forward 12 months and now the bigger concern in December of 2008 is being able to afford the home, period!

Looking at the specific resale value resolutions from last year, we'd say that only 3 are still important for this environment...

Resale Resolutions for 2009

• I will revamp my wood or marble floors through screening and polishing, rather than tear them out to start over. While new floors are an important selling point, floors that look “as good as new” are equally coveted.

• I will not waste time with projects that do not add much value or are not necessities. I will heed the research that shows that new windows, while possibly more energy efficient, add very little to the price of my home. The same goes for central A/C, which while infinitely more convenient, is very rarely recouped in a sale. A new swimming pool may keep my friends around this summer, but will certainly not increase my home’s sale price, and may even be a liability.

• I will acknowledge that, in terms of resale value, nothing is more important than my kitchens and bathrooms. I will not ignore the power of adding new appliances to my kitchen and I will no longer put off that re-glazing and re-grouting project in the master bath.

Re-grouting a tile floor or spending a few hundred bucks to clean up a wood floor are jobs that are both practical in times like these, yet they also can may a big difference in both your own eyes and those of a prospective buyer.

Getting these little things done should be the priority if your home is on the market in New York or you plan to put it up in 2009. Find a cityhammer member to help with the job here:
New York Remodeling Companies

Labels: 10036, Kitchens and Baths New York, New Windows NY, NY Home Improvement, Re-Grouting Tile Floors, Resale Value, Wood Flooring NY

Heed the Stats, Avoid the Pit


Everyone loves statistics, so here are a handful from Remodeling Magazine.

A great deal of the money you invest in home improvements is added to the resale value of your home. According to Remodeling Magazine, the top remodeling investments are:

A minor kitchen remodel -- you can expect to recoup 94 percent of your investment when you sell your home

Bathroom remodeling -- resale value 77 percent

Deck addition -- resale value 73 percent

Siding replacement -- resale value 71 percent

Home-office addition -- resale value 69 percent

Window replacement -- resale value 68 percent

I know some Real Estate brokers will disagree with some of the percentages, but these numbers are an amalgam of stats from around the US...obviously, adding a deck on 77th and Columbus won't add value (but may get you committed), so New Yorkers should take this with a grain of salt.

Labels: Home Improvement Investments, Kitchen Remodel, Resale Value

Bathroom by The Argyle Group

Yep, it’s that time of year again! As we sit here with an extra 5 pounds-worth of holiday weight and look forward to the New Year, we’ve come up with the following Resale Value Resolutions. These resolutions are for those of us remodeling with the intention of selling our homes in the near future. There are many other options and cautions when it comes to a renovate-to-sell project and we will be bringing you more of these ideas in the future on cityhammer.com.


Resale Value Resolutions

Because “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”, I will put more thought into the exterior of my home. My lawn, my trees and shrubs, my siding and façade, and my exterior trim and paint job will all get more of my attention and budget this year.

I will revamp my wood or marble floors through screening and polishing, rather than tear them out to start over. While new floors are an important selling point, floors that look “as good as new” are equally coveted.

I will acknowledge that, in terms of resale value, nothing is more important than my kitchens and bathrooms. I will not ignore the power of adding new appliances to my kitchen and I will no longer put off that re-glazing and re-grouting project in the master bath.

I will consider moving the laundry room up from the basement if at all possible. The money spent on plumbing will be more than worthwhile both for the value this adds at resale time and the decreased strain on my back with every load of clothing carried.

I will not waste time with projects that do not add much value or are not necessities. I will heed the research that shows that new windows, while possibly more energy efficient, add very little to the price of my home. The same goes for central A/C, which while infinitely more convenient, is very rarely recouped in a sale. A new swimming pool may keep my friends around this summer, but will certainly not increase my home’s sale price, and may even be a liability.


Heeding these resolutions should give you a helpful basic idea of the types of home improvement projects that will and won’t benefit you in a sale of your home. As always, for the best Remodeling in New York, visit our Home Improvement Directory at cityhammer.com today!

-Mitch Mayer, cityhammer.com Staff Writer

Labels: Exterior Trim, Home Improvement Resolutions, Kitchen and Bath, Laundry Room, Resale Value