This is a tough housing market.  You need to do everything you can to compete with the foreclosures and short sales that are on the market today.  Regardless if you are in the market to sell your home or you just want to make sure you are keeping your home up with the neighborhood, there are a few projects that will boost your home’s value:

• Painting your home both inside and out will go a long way toward improving the look.  This will in turn increase the value of your home.  Buyers are interested in seeing a home that is well cared for and needs minimal work when they move in.  Fresh paint hides and dirt or grime of the past.  Also be sure to repaint using neutral colors to appeal to a larger group of people.  That 20 year old dark green paint has got to go!
• Older Lake Minnetonka homes can show their age even more when they still have the old appliances.  It is tough to sell your home with harvest gold and dark green appliances.  Update these for both improved aesthetics as well as energy efficiency.  Most buyers will expect it.
• If you can afford it, kitchens and bathrooms are the best return on your money in your home.  You do not need to spend a fortune, but even replacing the counter tops and updating the flooring will go a long way toward improving the value of your home.  You should expect to get every dollar back out that you invest in these two rooms when you go to sell.
• Does the front of your yard look like a jungle or maybe a desert?  Since the front of the house and the landscaping are the first impressions that someone has of your house, you need to keep this area updated and maintained.  Lake Minnetonka real estate is known for its landscaping, do not be the house without any.

Doing some simple and inexpensive improvements can go a long way to setting your home apart as improving its value.

There are many ways pool owners can save money when heating their swimming pools up for the summer months, or for simply maintaining the temperature of their pool when they have reached their desired warmth. With prices of many goods and services reaching an all time high, it is beneficial for any pool owner to not only reduce their energy and maintenance costs but to also find new ways to keep their pools warm without spending an arm and a leg. The good news is that there are many cost effective ways to maintain your pool and keep it in top condition during the months of its primary use. Read the rest of this entry »

Finding and buying cheap homes isn’t always difficult, especially with the current recession in the economy. Even so, buying a new home is a major investment and not something you should rush into lightly just because you think you’re getting a good deal. In this article we’ll be talking about how to make sure you get the right home for you as well as some places you may find cheap homes to buy or rent. Read the rest of this entry »