'MO - September 2008 - (Page 21)

5 WHY NOT DO (PART OF) IT YOURSELF? If you do decide to do some more intensive remodeling, Kevin Nixon, professional project manager, and author of the new book Contract It Yourself (www. contractityourself.com) offers ﬁve tips to make remodeling or rebuilding a home costeffective. • Be the contractor/ supervisor yourself rather than hiring a supervisor • Ask the local Building Department for advice, reviews and approvals • Use only licensed, bonded and insured sub-contractors • Work out a timeline and budget in advance • Purchase your own materials REPLACE YOUR HOME HARDWARE Another thing that our panel was unanimous on was replacing the hardware in your home: cupboard handles, doorknobs, light fixtures and even the electrical plates around the outlets. “Take a look around your home.” Mark told us, “If you have dated fixtures, and I’m not talking about historically significant, then it’s time to go out and get some new fixtures. Bathrooms should not have the Hollywood bulb track lighting above or beside the mirror. Go out shopping, there’s a lot to choose from. Your dining room and living room, even the office or bedroom, should have lighting that compliments the age of your home but looks sharp. This is yet another investment that will more than pay for itself in the sale and will instantly make you feel better about your place.” “Nothing says out of style like brass and glass fixtures or filthy plugs and switches,” James concurred. Even small pieces such as knobs and switches can slow selling your home. Mark also emphasized this. “Replace your door hardware. People often don’t think of this, but it can make a huge difference. If you have loads of brass door hardware throughout your home, make the change. PHOTO COURTESY KWANCHAI Oil-rubbed bronze (or bronze-like imitation) Unique lighting ﬁxtures add lots of or brushed chrome is considered ‘in.’ From character to a room. the front door to the closets in the basement, go through and get them all changed over, your home will instantly feel newer. The heavier the feel of the hardware, the more expensive your home will feel.” THE LONG TERM If you have the money, more substantial renovations will yield an even higher home value. You won’t get back what you put in on price-heavy remodels, at least not immediately, but some improvements yield enticing short-term returns-on-investment and big gains as time passes. The number one remodel if you have some dough? A wood deck. According to the 2007 Cost vs. Value Report (a combined effort by Remodeling magazine and REALTOR magazine) a wood deck has an 85% return. If you’re up for replacing the siding on your house you could see as high as an 83% ROI. Forbes picked “finishing the basement,” especially in homes under 4000 square feet. Basement refinishing can double the size of a single story home and provide a venue for additional bedrooms, recreation areas and storage. As with any investment, whether it’s on Wall Street or in a retail business, long-term planning can take the panic out of the roller coaster of rising and falling prices. Buy low, sell high. If you bought high, now is the time to maximize the potential of your home investment. These tips can act as armor against price leeching, in a marshy market but they also improve the experience of owning a home. Even if you don’t plan to sell soon, put up some fresh paint, replace some of that brass-n-glass hardware, tidy up your garden and then settle back to ride out the current economic doldrums in style and comfort. moseattle.com 21 issue 19 | september 2008 http://www.contractityourself.com http://www.contractityourself.com http://www.moseattle.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of 'MO - September 2008

'MO - September 2008 Contents Letter From The Editor Voices Instant Activist Pet Project Legally Speaking: Starting Your Own Business EarthTalkTM: Soak Up the Sun ’mo-BIZ: Sternola-Brown Interiors HRC President Hails Biden as V.P. Pick Governor to Attend Annual GSBA Candidate Forum Form & Function: Cable Exercises Build Definition Gay City Health Project Makes a SHIFT Throw a Lifejacket Around Your Home’s Value Feature Film Review: A Jihad for Love Feature Film Review: Ghost Town, starring Ricky Gervais The Return of The Puyallup Fair Book Review: Life with My Sister Madonna by Christopher Ciccone Live Event Preview: Shrek The Musical at The 5th Avenue Feature Film Preview: Trumbo Now on DVD: Itty Bitty Titty Committee SceneOut: People@Places Capitol Hill Guide

'MO - September 2008

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