Real estate agent and home tips provided as a service by Sandra Conley, Broker of HB Land and Homes, Palmdale, California.
Home buyers and sellers - please visit www.real-estate-palmdale.com or call 1-877-SCONLEY for more information on buying or selling a home ANYWHERE in the Antelope Valley and surrounding areas! 

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Home Improvements
It is a known fact that improving your residence for sale is a great way to boost your equity return in a good real estate market.  One of the drawbacks to home improvement however is that, if you don't do the work yourself and use a contractor, you may run into problems.  Home improvement is a huge industry with millions of homeowners looking to improve their home comfort levels and enhance their lifestyles through improving their existing residences.  If you are one of those homeowners who are hoping to make improvements to a property that you then plan to sell, you are going to be concerned with two main points: How much will the improvements cost and how do I find a contractor that will do the job right.  Which improvements pay back should give you some idea on the best general home improvement projects to embark on for a good return upon the sale of your property.

The average DIY minor bathroom remodeling in 2001 cost a little in excess of about $700. The average for a major do-it-yourself bathroom remodeling was over $5000. For those homeowners who relied on professional contractors to do the job, a minor bathroom remodel cost $2000, a major remodeling, over $13,000.  These are the lower end cost ranges - it is becoming increasingly common to see bathroom and kitchen remodels with costs in excess of $100K. The cost you can expect to pay for a remodeling job also seems to be dependent on where you live - San Francisco and Boston are among the most expensive markets for remodeling, while Detroit was among the least expensive.

Kitchen and bathroom remodeling continue to top the priority list for most homeowners. However, with more and more families choosing to stay close to home these days, the addition of a comfortable family room, incorporating the latest in audio and video technology, has become very popular.


Finding a dependable contractor
Ask neighbors, friends, and family members for referrals.
Get at least three estimates.
Ask for references from the contractor and follow-up by contacting the references to see if they were satisfied with their jobs.
Ask to see the contractor's insurance certificates, both general liability and workmen's compensation.
Check with suppliers to see if the contractor pays his bills on time.
Check with the building department in your community to see if there are any unresolved complaints about the contractor.

Make sure all details of the work are spelled out in a written contract, including specifics about material to be used and the time frame for starting and completing the work. And never, never give an advance deposit greater than one-third of the contract amount.


When something goes wrong
Even with your best efforts to choose the right contractor, everything may not go smoothly. That's why it's important to keep good records. From the initial estimate to a running journal of progress and problems, make sure it's in writing.  If you have a grievance, communicate it to the contractor in writing as soon as possible. Your letter should clearly spell out your concerns and include a reasonable timetable for the contractor to respond. Deliver your letters in person or send them certified mail, return receipt requested.

Laws in most communities allow contractors the right to make a reasonable effort to correct unsatisfactory work, and you should, too. Better Business Bureau files on complaint cases show that most contractor problems can be resolved through better communications between the parties. Sometimes the real issue has nothing to do with the quality of work but everything to do with the quality of the relationship between people.

If your good faith efforts to resolve things with the contractor prove unsuccessful, your next step should be to file a complaint with the local Better Business Bureau and the Department of Consumer Protection in your state.

When complaints don't help, small claims court may be an effective option. In most states, filing a small claims suit is a simple process that requires only the payment of a small filing fee. The services of a lawyer are not required.  The disadvantage of small claims judgments in many states is the lack of teeth in the enforcement procedures.   Even if you win, if the contractor does not voluntarily comply with the judgment, you may have to repossess property and auction it off through the court system to settle the claim.  Never make the final payment to your contractor until the work has been completed to your satisfaction.


Doing it yourself
Some homeowners are capable of producing beautiful work at minimum cost so it's important that you be honest with yourself about your level of skills. When homeowners attempt jobs beyond their abilities, the results can cause more problems than they're worth.

Even if you're handy with hammer and saw, you should consider the time that will be required to do the job, your own work schedule, and how it all will fit in with family commitments. If a kitchen remodeling that should take two weeks drags on for months, your family will have to find expensive alternatives for meals. And sometimes the cost of the tools or equipment you'll need to do the job will offset some, if not all, of the financial benefits of doing it yourself.

Partial upgrades are worthwhile - many times just changing a countertop, backsplash, and faucet in the kitchen will make it look and feel like a new room, and changing the vanity in a guest bath to a pedestal sink can make a small bathroom feel much more spacious and inviting to potential buyers.

SANDRA CONLEY, BROKER OF HB LAND AND HOMES, PALMDALE, CA.  PLEASE CALL 1-877-SCONLEY FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE.
Serving Palmdale - Rancho Vista - Quartz Hill - East Lancaster - West Lancaster - Ana Verde - Rosamond - Acton - Leona Valley - Littlerock - Canyon Country - Aqua Dulce - Sand Canyon - Antelope Acres - Antelope Valley - Bouquet Canyon - Green Valley - Lake Elizabeth - Lake Hughes - Santa Clarita and the surrounding communities of AV & Los Angeles County.

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