Improvement tips from real estate pros

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Elbow grease, the little things and attention to detail sum up what three local brokers say will boost your home’s value. Remember, some buyers may be turned off if they see too many projects that will take up their time and cost them additional money. Besides, these fixes enhance your own enjoyment, even if you don’t plan to sell.
    Andy Mooers shared his top six ways to increase a property’s worth and said it requires elbow grease, but it offers the best return without much of a financial investment. According to Mooers “sweat equity from the job jar gets the property shipshape and detailed.”
    And, he added, higher prices filter out buyers with smaller wallets. So, investing thousands in renovations in small, rural northern Maine towns is not necessarily the way to go. Instead, said Mooers, make your home attractive, clean and clutter free. He pointed out easy fixes like taking care of the little details when a door knob is missing, a cabinet handle is loose or a broken glass light shade should be replaced.
    Here are his top six tips: 1— Remove all the extra stuff you have collected over the years. It will make the place look larger, more spacious. 2 — Make sure the house and refrigerator smell clean. 3 — Trim back shrubs and cut the grass. Re-hang missing or angled shutters. Hose off road dust on the exterior. Clean all glass to make it shine and have curb appeal. 4 — Oil all inside wood surfaces that have dried out, are scratched or appear dull. A bit of lemon oil goes a long way and smells pleasant, too. 5 — Replace all the light bulbs that are burned out, especially in the attic and basement. And, have them on when showing your property. 6 — Use your leftover paint to touch up nicks in woodwork. And, glue down peeling wallpaper.
    According to RE/MAX Central’s Diane Hires, if more folks paid attention to details before listing their property, they would catch a buyer’s eye. Put yourself in their place. Would you buy your own property if you were house hunting?
    “Curb appeal is very important,” said Hires. “Clean up the yard, take care of any chipping or peeling paint and leaky faucets.  Just use common sense, and pretend you’re looking to buy it yourself. Change the things that will make a difference.  First impressions are lasting impressions.”
    Hires’ colleague Greg Miller is also a RE/MAX Central broker who shared his thoughts with the Pioneer Times. “It’s the little things that make a difference, when you can’t invest in major renovations such as a new kitchen or bath,” according to Miller.
    He cited tips he gleaned from the National Association of Realtors — his industry’s trade group: take care of any needed repairs and get your house looking its best.
    If you’ve been putting off getting the driveway fixed, repairing the roof or any other needed repairs, do it before you put your house on the market. Too many needed repairs will turn buyers off or even force you to bring down your asking price. By replacing broken roofing tiles, repairing loose gutters and fixing other unsightly problems, you make your house much more appealing and therefore, saleable.
    And, to get your house looking its best so you can get the best price, take a good, hard look inside and out. Whether it means planting a flower bed, power washing the exterior or shoveling the snow, heighten the curb appeal.
    Once the outside is inviting, make sure someone can see themselves living there. Whether, you are selling or making your home more livable for you and your family, think about little fixes like a fresh coat of paint, or just touching up the trim. Another great idea is simply cleaning or replacing old, worn carpet or flooring, especially in common areas like the kitchen or bathroom.
    Once the house is clean, neat and in good shape, take a deep breath, enjoy and relax.