Plan for Success When Remodeling Your Millburn-Short Hills Home!

Ready to remodel your Millburn-Short Hills home? If you answered "yes", you're in good company! A recent survey by home remodeling site Houzz shows that 53% of homeowners agree that now is a good time to remodel. 

The most popular remodeling project involves kitchens, and Americans spend an average of $28,000 on this area of the home! But before you get out your checkbook, you will need to have a plan in mind. Here are some planning tips to help you!

Identify the main goals. Are new kitchen cabinets a must? Do high-end appliances make sense? Your wish list might be bigger than your budget, so start by deciding the priorities. List everything else to the side.

Decide your timeline for completion. Are you selling your home in the near future? Are you expecting to entertain guests? Have a realistic timeline for completion. Make sure to factor in some cushion for unexpected delays. 

Determine your budget. Do you have the financing available or funds set aside to comfortably tackle your project? Estimates, after all, are only estimates!

Interview contractors and obtain several estimates. Beware of bids that are too cheap compared to the running norms. The contractor may be cutting some serious corners to make that bid possible, or he may plan to “surprise” you with extra charges along the way.

Compare the estimates to your budget. Are you still in business? Can you afford the little extras? Do you need to finance more of the project than expected? 

Revisit your list of contractors and make an informed choice. Ask for referrals, and check them out against the Better Business Bureau. Also, personality counts! Don’t hire someone that rubs you the wrong way, no matter how good their prices are. It will only add stress to your experience.

One more tip - before you commit dollars to your project, be sure to have realistic expectations about what you may recover when you sell your home. See my blog post from January 30 that talks about the average return on investment for home improvements. 

If you are preparing to sell your Millburn-Short Hills home, start with a comparative market analysis to find out your home's price range in today's market before you remodel. I will also provide you with a net sheet to show your estimated proceeds after the home sale. I will counsel you on what improvements are most likely to benefit your home sale and your bottom line!

As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate professional, I will provide the expert guidance you need for a successful home sale! Contact me today, and let my 18 years of experience be your market advantage!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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6 Tips for Selling Your Vintage Millburn-Short Hills Home!

Selling an older home is sometimes challenging, but vintage homes in good condition can be among the most sought-after properties by home buyers.

One reason? Location. Vintage homes can offer great neighborhoods and excellent "walkability" to schools, public transportation and local amenities.

Vintage homes also offer a sense of history and architectural charm not found in newly-built homes. Some would argue that vintage homes were built with hardier materials and a better eye for craftsmanship than the newer homes today. This, however, is a debate based on personal preference only. Each Millburn-Short Hills home is unique and can have its' own host of issues. And because vintage homes can have issues, I have helpful tips from Money Magazine to share with you, with some thoughts of my own added:

1. Don't try to make your vintage home something it isn't. Remodeling too much could destroy the very charm and features home buyers are hoping to find. In your zeal to freshen up the walls, don't paint over the original wood trim, baseboards, ect.

2. If you are putting repair money into your vintage home, focus on the major areas that concern home buyers. Things like the roof, the foundation, the electrical system and the furnace should be in good condition.

3. If there is an area of concern, don't spend money you don't have, on the blind expectation you'll recover it from the sale. Talk to me first to find out the current market value of your vintage home. It may be more feasible to place it on the market as-is, with disclosures, and let the right buyer find a diamond in the rough.

4. If you have some cracks and chips in your plaster walls, a home restoration contractor can usually repair these using special washers and a plaster-like trim coat. Pre-fab wallboard is another option, but it is more expensive and can mean the loss of the original wood trim.

5. Wood floors can be less charming when they're squeaky! Fortunately, an experienced woodworker can usually fix this by installing micro-head screws to stop the boards from rubbing together.

6. If your vintage home has old, drafty windows, have a restoration carpenter examine them before you replace them. It's sometimes possible to clean and seal old windows and install new hardware, to give them good-as-new performance at a fraction of the replacement cost.

Preserving the character and charm of your vintage Millburn-Short Hills home can help you find the right buyer! If you need help finding reputable contractors, let me know. I have a wide network of home service professionals in the area and I may know just the person!

Before you begin repairs, start with a comparative market analysis to find out your home's price range in today's market. My 18 years of experience will give you the professional guidance you can trust!

Contact me today!


Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
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