How to Avoid Common Do-It-Yourself Mistakes
Ask yourself these questions before you heft that hammer. Want to make sure your do-it-yourself project doesn’t turn into a screw-it-up-yourself project? Increase your chances of success by asking yourself these questions before you start, courtesy of Abby Buford, a spokeswoman for Lowe’s® home improvement stores.

Is your DIY project cosmetic, structural or a system change?
If it’s cosmetic, like painting, you’re probably safe tackling it on your own, Buford says. If it’s structural (involving changes to the foundation, walls or home exterior) or a system change (affecting the plumbing or heating and air conditioning), Buford suggests setting up a mock area where you practice using materials such as cardboard and masking tape.

Have you done your research?
Do you know what tools and material you will need and how much they will cost? Will you need permits from county or city government? There’s a good chance you will if the project is structural or involves a system change, Buford says. Research the project by reading books and magazines, talking to friends and family, comparing Internet sites and using tools such as the Lowes.com library. Hardware stores also may have experts on hand to guide you.

Have you created a realistic budget?
Determine how much the project will cost, then add at least 20 percent, Buford says. Be sure you account for materials and tools you will need to buy or rent, the fees for any necessary permits, the possibility of needing additional materials, and “any unforeseen hiccup,” she says.

How will you pay for the project?
Some people set aside cash ahead of time. Other options include home equity loans or home equity lines of credit. Hardware stores usually offer financing through store cards. The interest rate is likely higher than for a home equity loan. If you decide to finance your project with a store credit card, look for deals where you can pay off the amount in a certain number of months without incurring interest.

Can you complete the project safely?
Will you be working on an older home that might have hazards such as asbestos or lead-based paint? Have you familiarized yourself with any power tools you might need to use? Do you have stepladders, safety goggles, gloves and other supplies?

Do you have time to complete the project?
Just as they often cost more than expected, DIY projects often take longer than expected. “Allow for extra time and a learning curve,” Buford says.

Can you complete the job by yourself? If not, who will help?
“If you make that decision ahead of time, you won’t have to stop to train a person in the middle of the project,” Buford notes.

Do you have the patience to do the project?
Be honest with yourself. Many people end up with half-finished projects around the house because they don’t have the patience to see them through.

“If you research ahead of time and plan on the front end, you can really create a successful project,” Buford says, turning do-it-yourself into I-did-it-myself.

When a Home Renovation Digs Up Buried Treasure
Found an arrowhead in your garden or a cache of letters in your attic? Learn what you should do if you find buried treasure or historic artifacts on your property. If these walls could talk…

In April 2005, Andrew Mayes was renovating a home he’d bought in Lockport Township, near Chicago. While knocking out a wall in a closet, he discovered several unusual antiques: Several boxes of ammunition with a receipt dated 1940 and a mint-condition 1928 A1 Thompson submachine gun, a favorite of 1930s Chicago gangsters.

Surprised by his unusual find, Mayes immediately contacted the police, who quickly confiscated the weapon and ammunition. A sheriff’s spokesman, who estimated the gun’s value at around $10,000, praised Mayes for his honesty and noted that since Illinois state law prohibits civilians from owning automatic weapons, Mayes would not have been able to sell the gun if he had kept it to himself. He could have even faced up to 10 years in prison for possessing or selling an illegal and unregistered weapon.

While Mayes was unlucky in that he discovered something he wasn’t allowed to keep, don’t assume that what you find will automatically be taken away from you. In March 2006, for example, a demolition crew uncovered a stack of bills worth over $30,000 hidden in the walls of a flood-ravaged home in New Orleans. The surprised homeowner, a woman in her 50s who opted to remain anonymous, believed the money had been stashed away by her father, who grew up during the Depression and was wary of banks. And, once the woman’s identity was confirmed, she was allowed to keep every cent.

Finding items of significance -- historical or otherwise -- during home renovation projects is rare, but it does happen. Here’s what to do if you uncover something of interest:

Notify the proper authorities
You should always notify the proper authorities if you discover something out of the ordinary. State laws vary in regards to the legal ownership of artifacts found on private property, but generally speaking, all items (with the exception of things that are illegal to own) belong to the person who holds title to the land from which they were retrieved. Items found on federal or state land, or with federal or state money, however, become the property of the respective governments. You must obtain written permission from the landowner before you can legally remove items from property you don’t own.

Consider the historical value
If you come across something that may have historical or archaeological significance, you should report it to your state archaeological society (The Archaeological Institute of America has contact information for most state boards). The society will most likely dispatch an investigator to examine your item in person and determine its validity. Don’t worry, he or she can’t and won’t take it from you, or excavate your property, without your permission.

Look, don’t touch
If at all possible, don’t move an item that may have historical significance. It helps archaeologists to see the item in the condition it was discovered to determine its use or function. Take a picture of the site and protect the item from the elements. Some metal and wooden artifacts that have been buried in soil or under water may be damaged when they come into contact with the surface atmosphere again, so it’s always best to leave them where they lay.

Don’t commit grave errors
In the event that you should uncover human remains on your property, contact the police and the county coroner immediately. Do not touch or move them if you can help it. Accidentally disturbing graves or human remains is not a crime, but intentionally doing so or not reporting their discovery to the relevant authorities is a violation of state and federal laws.

Get it in writing
While you are allowed to sell artifacts that are legally yours to museums or private collectors, it’s always wise to get an accredited archaeologist involved first. Unless an item is officially documented as ‘historic’ and appraised, it will likely be significantly harder to sell or sell for a reduced price.

Remodeling Can Pay Off
Smart home improvements can make your home more valuable. A major home remodeling project can be a great investment. In fact, some types of projects in certain regions of the country can recapture more than 100 percent of the cost by making your home more valuable.

A recent report in Remodeling magazine revealed the national and regional average costs and percentage returns of popular home remodeling projects. The averages, which are given for upscale and mid-priced projects, are good relative indicators of which home improvements may be good choices for homeowners who want to recoup their costs. These figures shouldn’t be taken as a guarantee of a specific return on an individual project, however.

Top payoffs vary among U.S. regions
Four mid-priced remodeling projects returned more than 100 percent of the cost, on average, in the Pacific region. Those projects were a minor kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, wood window replacement and addition of a second story. Remodeling was a very good investment in the Pacific region, where every upscale and mid-priced project on the list recouped a higher return on average than the national average for the same project.

The top mid-priced remodeling project in the New England region was the replacement of vinyl siding, which returned more than 94 percent of the cost through a higher home valuation. The same project topped the list in the Mid-Atlantic region as well with an average return of 92 percent of the cost.

Three mid-priced projects recaptured slightly more than 90 percent of the cost in the South Atlantic region. Those projects were an attic bedroom remodel, basement remodel and the addition of a second story.

Vinyl siding replacement also topped the list of returns on mid-priced remodeling projects in the East North Central region and the East South Central region, with a return of 81% for the former and 105% for the later.

Home offices offer least return on average
A remodeled home office might be a great boost for a home-based business, but this project offered the least attractive average return of any remodeling project on a national basis. The average cost of a mid-priced home office remodel was $20,057 and the average return on that cost was $12,707, or only 63 percent. The home office was the lowest-ranked project on this scale nationally in 2005.

Lifestyle should trump investment potential
Regardless of the return on investment, a home remodeling project should be a personal choice that is unique to you and your home. While the likely increase in the value of your home as a result of improvements is worth consideration, remodeling should suit your needs as well as your lifestyle.

Real-Life Contracting Disasters and How to Avoid Them
Thinking about renovating your home? Learn from the mistakes of others before you run out and hire a contractor. A home renovation can transform a tired house into a dream home. But unless you choose your contractor carefully, your dream can turn into a nightmare. Here are some disasters drawn from real life, as well as advice on how to make sure they don’t happen to you.

The grab-and-run
Patrick and Michelle wanted to build an addition on their home. The builder gave them a price of $105,000 and asked for $30,000 up front for lumber, drywall, plumbing and electrical supplies. The couple wrote the contractor a check -- and never saw him again.

As home improvement nightmares go, this is about as bad as it gets. Unfortunately, Patrick and Michelle made two big mistakes that left them vulnerable to this scam artist. Their first was failing to check whether the contractor was legitimate. Every state has different laws governing which contractors need a license. Check to see what your state requires and then contact the relevant authority to make sure your contractor is properly licensed.

Your next step should be contacting the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints against your contractor. You should also ask for references and follow these up with a phone call, or even a visit to see the work first hand. Ask the reference how the contractor dealt with problems, whether there were long delays, and whether the person would hire the company again.

Patrick and Michelle’s second mistake was paying far too much up front. You should not have to advance a builder for materials, since professional contractors should have credit with their suppliers. A small deposit is reasonable as it assures the contractor that you’re not wasting his time while you continue shopping around. But you shouldn’t pay more than about 10 percent, or up to a couple of thousand dollars.

The job juggler
Isabelle and Marc bought an older home and decided to upgrade the plumbing and electrical before they moved in. The contractor estimated the job would take 90 days, but it took almost a year, forcing the couple to put their furniture in storage and live with Isabelle’s parents for months.

Sometimes a contractor takes on more work than he can handle. That’s why it’s important to sign a contract that outlines when the work is to begin and the estimated time it will take to complete. If Isabelle and Marc had included their move-in date in the contract, they might have been able to sue to recover some of the expenses they incurred from the contractor’s incompetence.

One way to avoid delays is to put a payment schedule in the contract. Never agree to pay installments on a weekly or monthly basis -- only pay for work after it is completed. Contractors usually juggle several jobs, so if you pay them up front they may have less incentive to give your project priority.

Not all delays are foreseeable. An electrician or plumber working on an old home may not discover a major problem until after the wall has been opened or the fixtures removed. Remember, renovations sometimes bring unexpected surprises that can’t be blamed on the contractor.

The bait-and-switch
Bryan was invited to a barbecue by a neighbor who had just had a beautiful new deck installed. He hired the same company to build him a similar deck, but the contractor sent a couple of younger, less experienced workers who did only a mediocre job.

This can occur when a contractor gets busy and subcontracts some of his jobs. In other cases, a contractor may simply have several workers on the payroll, not all of whom are equally skilled. If you’re hiring a company based on a specific job that impressed you, make sure you let the contractor know. In this case, Bryan could have mentioned his neighbor’s deck and requested that the same crew build his own.

If you believe that a contractor’s employees did a substandard job on your project, call and voice your complaint. You can even hold back partial payment until the issue is resolved. Reputable contractors know how important it can be to get new business through word of mouth and should be motivated to ensure you’re pleased with their work.

A Green Home Is Within Your Reach
Even a few changes can help you save energy and protect the environment. It isn’t easy being green, a famous frog once lamented, but when it comes to your home it’s getting easier and easier to go green.

You can go big or you can go small when you go green, but even small changes can help you reduce your carbon footprint – your personal impact on global warming based on the amount of carbon-based energy you use.

About 80 percent of consumers say they want a green home -- but less than 50 percent said they were willing to pay more money to get one, said Stephen Melman, director of economic surveys for the National Association of Home Builders, or NAHB.

The NAHB recently approved green-building guidelines that are adjustable for different parts of the country. The organization argues green homes don’t have to cost more than other homes, or look like an experiment in alternative living.

“When a house is green but looks like other houses in the neighborhood – and can be replicated by large-scale building companies – then we know green is mainstream,” NAHB President Kevin Pressly said in a release. “We’re seeing that happen right now.”

The more popular green building becomes, the more companies will manufacture green products, and the less they will cost, Melman said.

Here are some ways suggested by the NAHB to make your home more green:

• Install energy-efficient windows that use technologies including low-emittance (low-E) glass coatings, gas filler between layers and composite framing materials.

• Use recycled plastic lumber and wood composite materials instead of hardwood for decks, porches, trim and fencing.

• Install more efficient heating and cooling systems that are properly sized based on your home’s square footage, and consider a tankless water heater. A geothermal heating and cooling system uses renewable energy to provide heating, cooling and even hot water at little monthly cost.

• Increase the amount and quality (based on R-value) of insulation to reduce heating and cooling losses. (Heating and cooling represent at least half of the energy used by a home.) Some newer types of insulation can be healthier, with little or no emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and more efficient.

• Don’t stop at the attic and walls when it comes to insulation. Foundations and crawl spaces can be insulated, too.

• Install low-VOC carpets to improve indoor air quality. Other environmentally friendly flooring choices include linoleum, a natural product, and laminates that look like hardwood.

• Buy more-efficient appliances. ENERGY STAR-rated appliances use an average of 30 percent less energy than standard models. Front-loading washers use 40 percent less water and 50 percent less energy than top-loading washers.

• Install plumbing fixtures that use less water. Early low-flow toilets didn’t flush very well, and old low-flow showerheads didn’t provide much water pressure. New technology has solved those problems.

Find more tips on how easy it is going green at the NAHB’s Web site, www.nahb.org. You can read up on ENERGY STAR homes and appliances at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site, www.energystar.gov. The EPA offers additional green-building tips for homes at http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding.

Luxe Laundry Rooms
Pamper yourself with your own luxe laundry room. Gone are the days of trekking down to the dark, dank basement with your overloaded laundry basket. Today, luxe laundry rooms liven up the drudgery of washing clothes. What better way to improve this monotonous chore than to add some luxury to your home’s laundry room?

What exactly is a luxe laundry room?
A luxe laundry room brings a little lavishness to the arduous job of doing the laundry. Imagine energy-efficient as well as attractive appliances. Cabinetry to hide the detergent. Islands on which to fold laundry. Even ergonomically correct ironing boards. With features like these it’s easy to see why more and more homeowner’s are demanding upscale laundry rooms for their homes.

Take the humble washing machine, for example. Today’s washing machines are not only front-loading, but are much gentler on clothes because they do not have an agitator. Many new machines are energy-efficient, thus saving you money on your utility bill. Clothes come out of the washer practically dry. And oh, the color choices … stainless steel, blue, even red. Forget about the old white clunker that shook your house like an earthquake when you washed a load of jeans. Today’s high-end washing machines take laundry to a whole new level.

How to create one of your own.
Creating your own luxe laundry room can be as expensive as you want it to be. You can make this a do-it-yourself project, or hire an interior designer to make some dramatic changes.

Whether a DIY project or a professional job, there are still some basics to creating a luxe laundry room. First, start with the appliances and build around them. Go to the local home improvement store and peruse the washer/dryer section. Find the washer and dryer with the features you need to clean your clothes, but also the look you want. Choose great cabinetry that can do everything from hiding the detergent and fabric softener to even concealing clothes that need to air dry.

Next, have some fun. Paint the walls an eye-catching color. Choose flooring that is unique – an unusual tile selection, for example. And, don’t forget the lighting. Instead of the standard fluorescent lighting, find some fun fixtures to add pizzazz to your laundry room.

Something else to consider with a luxe laundry room is location. Most laundry rooms today are near the master bedroom, close to the kitchen, or double as a mudroom. An attractive laundry room blends in with the house, especially in those high-traffic areas. If money is no object, consider changing the location of your laundry room or even adding an additional laundry station. (One on the first floor and one on the second, perhaps?) A change like this may be expensive but it can certainly make doing the laundry luxurious.

Buying a home with hazards
Before you make an offer on that home of your dreams, it's important to protect yourself. Most homes in the U.S. are safe. Some, however, can be hazardous to your health. The house you have your eye on may have dangerous levels of radon, lead dust or mold. It could be infested with vermin, or pose other environmental or health hazards. If you’re considering the purchase of a home, you’d be wise to take some precautions:

Hire a real estate lawyer
Hiring a lawyer could be the smartest investment you make. For around $500 to $1,500, a lawyer can insert clauses in your purchase agreement requiring a seller to confirm that the house has passed muster with a licensed termite or vermin inspector and is free of dangerous levels of radon, toxic mold, asbestos fibers, lead-based paint or other hazards. Your purchase agreement can also require a seller to provide you with the results of tests that confirm such things as a home’s well water being healthy and its septic system working properly. It can also require a seller to make appropriate repairs. And it can authorize you to hire your own home inspector to confirm that everything meets your requirements for environmental and health safety.

Get pre-approved for a mortgage
Homeowners who disclose their home’s hazards are often highly motivated to sell quickly at a rock-bottom price. By getting pre-approved for a mortgage, you’ll be able to act quickly and take advantage of a potential bargain. Just make sure your purchase price includes the cost of eliminating all the hazards.

Have the home inspected
For around $200 to $400, an insured and licensed home inspector can alert you to environmental or structural and mechanical problems. Armed with this information, you can decide whether or not you want to shoulder the cost of eliminating the hazards. Your inspector will be on the lookout for:

• Unsafe drinking water. Industrial pollutants can get into a home’s water supply. Old plumbing may contain lead, which can leach into drinking water. An underground fuel storage tank near a home could be leaking. Or a private well may contain harmful bacteria. What to do? If hazardous wastes are entering water that comes from an outside water supplier such as a federal agency, you’ll have to work with that agency to make sure it corrects the problem once you take over the house. If the problem is lead pipes, and you go through with the deal, you’ll have to replace the plumbing yourself. In the case of polluted well water or a nearby leaking storage tank, you may be better off to walk away from the deal -- the financial cost of remedying such problems can be prohibitively high.

• Radon gas. This invisible, odorless gas, created by the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil, is a carcinogen. To see if a home has unacceptably high levels, ask the homeowners to provide you with test results (make sure they are recent) or ask your home inspector to test the air. If radon is present, it will likely cost $800 to $2,500 to install exhaust fans or a ventilation system or undertake other renovations to reduce this radioactive gas to safe levels.

• Lead paint. Lead was only banned for use in paint in 1978. As a result, many homes built before then may have walls or ceilings covered in lead-based paint. Left undisturbed, this paint is not a hazard. But it’s a toxin that can cause permanent damage to the nervous system of children who chew on peeling paint chips or to anyone who breathes in the lead dust that can get into the air when walls are sanded or knocked down. A home inspector can test for lead particles in the air. If this test is positive, you will have to hire a company to professionally vacuum up all the lead dust (an ordinary vacuum cleaner won’t do). You may also want to repaint or wallpaper any home built before 1978.

• Infestation. Termites and carpenter ants can enter a home wherever soil meets wood. Damp wood exposed to wet masonry or brick may also be infested with a fungus called dry rot that eats away at wood. If a home inspector discovers a minor infestation without extensive damage, it may be worth buying the property anyway. Before you move in, you can pay a pest-control company and/or building contractor to eliminate the problem. In the case of an extensive infestation, you may be better off not to buy the home.

• Out-of-date or aluminum wiring. A home inspector or licensed electrician should be able to check a home’s wiring. Old-fashioned knob and tube wiring (ceramic “knobs” and wiring sheathed in plastic “tubes”) can be a fire hazard and even make a home ineligible for house insurance. So too can aluminum wiring that predates today’s copper wiring and carries the risk of breaking or bursting into sparks or flames. In either case, the remedy is to upgrade the wiring at a cost of up to several thousand dollars.

• Asbestos. Found in some insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, exterior siding, roofing products, shingles and other building materials, asbestos shouldn’t cause harm if it’s in good condition and located where it won’t be disturbed. But there’s the risk that it can cause lung disease if its fibers break down into particles tiny enough to be inhaled. If you want to renovate the portion of a home that has asbestos, you should hire specialized asbestos removal workers. References are available through local, state, or federal health or consumer-product agencies.

• Toxic mold. Some species of this microscopic fungus can cause serious illness if allowed to multiply in moist areas of a home such as where there has been flooding, a leaky roof or an improperly serviced air humidifier. The mold’s spores can continue to spread even after the area has dried. While it may be easy to clean up toxic mold that’s in just one small area, the price of getting rid of it once it has affected the structure, furnishings and carpets of a home can run into the thousands of dollars.

Go Green at Home and Save
Making your home more environmentally friendly can save you money and boost your resale value. It’s no wonder more Americans are going green at home. It can help protect the environment and leave more money in your pocket. Plus, you may be able to get tax credits for adding insulation, energy-efficient windows and certain heating and cooling equipment (check with your financial advisor for more details).

Going green may also boost the value of your property:

A 2006 survey by the American Institute of Architects found that about 90 percent of those surveyed would pay an extra $5,000 to buy or build a more eco-friendly home.

Since most green homes are virtually indistinguishable from standard homes, it may be worth your while to tout your energy-saving investments when listing your home on the market. Mention any appliances or improvements you’ve made to your agent and factor them in to your asking price. With today’s high fuel costs, an energy-efficient home’s lower heating and cooling bills are an obvious selling point.

Steps you can take to create a green home:

• Heat and cool efficiently

• Up to half the energy you use in your home is for heating and cooling. Here’s how to cut down on your usage, and your costs:

• Service your heating and air conditioning systems every year to keep them running efficiently and prevent small damages from turning into major costs down the road.

• Regularly change the air filters in your air conditioner and furnace. A clean filter lets through more air, prevents dirt build up in the system and helps equipment work more efficiently. You get more bang for your buck and save on maintenance costs.

• Install a programmable thermostat. You can then set it to keep the temperature lower in winter or higher in summer during the times when you’re not at home.

• Install a high-efficiency furnace and/or central air conditioner. Furnaces and air conditioners that qualify for the government’s ENERGY STAR® certification use electricity, gas or fuel oil more efficiently and can save you up to 20 percent of your heating and cooling costs. For maximum savings, make sure the units are the recommended size for your house and installed correctly.

• Cool your rooms with ceiling fans. They cost less to run than an air conditioner.

• Open the windows and curtains to let the sun warm your home during the day; close them to keep the heat in at night.

Seal your home

• Seal joints in the ducts that carry hot or cold air to and from your forced air furnace, central air conditioning or heat pump. Use duct sealant (also called duct mastic) or metal-backed tape (with UL-181 label) on all seams and connections, then wrap them with insulation. You’ll improve your heating and cooling system’s efficiency by up to 20 percent.

• Seal your home from drafts and moisture leakage. Close all holes, cracks and openings by adding weather stripping or caulking to window and door frames. Spray foam or install foam board or caulking where pipes, wires and vents leave your house.

• Add insulation to walls and ceilings to help retain heat in winter and cool air in summer.

Use efficient lighting
Did you know the cost of lighting your home accounts for up to a quarter of your electricity bill? You can slash this expense by using ENERGY STAR® compact fluorescent bulbs. They’re 75 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last 13 times longer. Replacing just five frequently used incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR® bulbs can save you more than $60 in energy costs annually. You can also install dimmer switches that will enable you to reduce lighting when you don’t need it.

Buy energy-efficient appliances
Upgrade your refrigerator and/or clothes washer. An ENERGY STAR® refrigerator uses about half the energy of most 10-year old models, while ENERGY STAR® clothes washers use half the water and 70 percent less energy per load.

Remodel Your Home for Maximum Wow
Some home renovations increase the value of your home more than others. Here's how to get the biggest bang for your buck. Americans spend billions of dollars a year remodeling their homes. But real estate agents caution that not all projects deliver the same resale payback. So which of the trendy ideas showcased in glossy decorating magazines are the most likely to create an envy-inspiring dream home? The following tips can help you sort through the hype and make the best remodeling choices.

Contact a real estate agent
If you’re thinking about selling your home, do your homework first. A real estate agent can tell you what home buyers in your community desire most. For instance, while gourmet kitchens may be highly coveted, a hot-tub room may not. As a rule of thumb, consider renovations that keep your home current with -- but not exceeding -- the features of competing properties.

Create a budget
Start by estimating your remodeling costs and the percentage you can expect to recoup on resale. In order to reap the greatest reward, it’s important not to go overboard on price. Home improvements that can go a long way in enhancing the appearance of your home (and generally recover most of their costs) include mid-range kitchen or bathroom renovations and exterior home improvements like new siding and landscaping. Durable hardwood flooring also continues to dominate home buyer wish lists and typically achieves full return at resale.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t indulge in your own dream home upgrades, especially if you plan to stay put for a while. If you crave a movie screening room or a customized hobby station, go for it! Just remember that your tastes may not align with those of potential home buyers.

Focus on what’s hot:

1. Contemporary kitchens
There’s no other room that has the potential to dazzle potential buyers more than the kitchen. It’s not surprising. After all, no matter how beautifully you decorate your living room, dining room or bedroom, savvy buyers will realize that when you move out these rooms will be nothing more than empty boxes. The kitchen, however, is most likely to remain looking pretty much the same. You’re not going to be taking the built-in cabinets, sinks and countertops with you. And, in most cases, the kitchen appliances are also going to be thrown into the deal.

Prospective buyers who see a gleaming new kitchen are bound to be impressed. So if your kitchen is looking a little tired, consider upgrading it with new flooring and appliances or re-facing the cabinets with new doors and drawers. While stainless steel appliances remain big sellers, it’s popular to conceal new counter-depth appliances behind homey wood paneling. Design experts recommend light, blond or honey-colored woods that create warmth and will outlast some of today’s fickle trends.

Slab countertops without seams or grout lines, in granite, concrete, marble or soapstone continue to be hot -- a top choice over tile or laminate. Quartz countertops are also becoming increasingly popular and, available in a wide range of colors, can easily complement any style from homey to ultra-modern.

To move your kitchen further up-market, choose gourmet, commercial-style stoves and hoods or exaggerated sinks with professional taps and hoses. Stylish appliance options include pull-out refrigerator drawers, oven warming drawers to keep prepared food hot and wine fridges, often hidden below customized islands, eating stations or coffee bars. Current kitchen trends favor sleek, artistic lines, computerized modern appliances in retro styles and colors and Italian cooking accessories like espresso machines.

2. Beautiful bathrooms
After kitchens, the next rooms most likely to create the “wow” factor are bathrooms. Sprucing up your main bathroom, or adding a second or master bath, is bound to add sure-fire appeal. Installing quality light fixtures and updated sink basins and toilets can make a dramatic difference. For added pizzazz, install elegant mirrors and glass shower enclosures with the latest rain showerheads. His and her vanities with personal drawers for beauty and grooming products are also popular.

Create the illusion of a personal spa by installing a soaking tub or trendy new infinity tub that provides water overflow channels. Two person steam showers, heated floors, towel bars and mood lighting are also in vogue, as are low-voltage accent lights, mirrored cabinets and pedestal sinks

3. Finishing touches
You can refresh the rest of your home for added appeal with trendy, low-cost decorating tricks. Add crown molding, cornice and window trim, booster baseboards (at least double the height of the old classic), plantation style window shutters and upgraded door handles. Recessed lighting or new fixtures in streamlined contemporary styles make a big difference in any room, as can enlarging existing windows to draw in more natural light. For extra luxury, add a fireplace or a customized designer walk-in closet large enough for a celebrity-size wardrobe.

The end result will be a home you can enjoy and one potential future buyers are bound to admire.

Great garage makeovers
Garages today are being transformed into spaces far more versatile than mere parking stalls. Garage makeovers are hot. An increasing number of the 65 million garages across the nation are undergoing some sort of renovation or upgrade. In 2005, Americans spent $800 million on garage-organizing products -- double what they spent in 2000.

Some go small, spending a few hundred dollars to install hangers for skis, bicycles and other sports equipment, plus modest shelving to get lawn furniture off the ground and hazardous chemicals out of the house. But others go big, paying tens of thousands of dollars to create fully equipped lounges, home offices, gyms and even working spas, complete with new windows, flooring and appliances.

Before you start:

• Check local bylaws

• Check to make sure the renovations you’re planning meet your city’s building code and zoning requirements.

Consider resale value
You’ll usually recoup your investment if you clean up a messy area or add living space to your home. And you’re more likely to get your money back in resale value if you stick to classic materials such as stainless steel appliances and simple cabinets in neutral colors. But remember, the next owner of your home may just want a parking space. An elaborate renovation won’t always pay off in increased real estate value.

Tips and tricks:

Storage
You can spend $100 to $500 on do-it-yourself cabinets, shelving, pegs and hooks, or drop thousands of dollars on top-of-the-line systems. A few tips:

• Store items to be used inside the house, such as cleaning supplies, in locked storage spaces close to the door to the house.

• Store items to be used outside, such as fertilizer, rakes and lawn furniture, by the garage door.

• Use open shelves for kitchen and hobby supplies.

• Use closed, lockable door storage for hazardous items such as gasoline and solvents.

• Hang gardening and sports equipment on sturdy pegs.

Sinks and washer/driers
Moving large appliances like a washer and dryer to the garage can free up in-home space. However, carefully weigh the costs and potential inconveniences before you start. Installing a sink or any appliance that requires a drain can be time consuming and expensive. You could spend up to $10,000 on a drainage system -- and that’s before you buy appliances. You also have to make sure your area is zoned to permit a drain in your garage.

Electricity
If you want more than just a basic light bulb in the ceiling, you will need to hire an electrician to run and install proper insulated wiring starting at around $1,000. If you have tools that run off compressed air, you can purchase a compressor for $500 to $2,000. Most compressors will run off of a standard 120v outlet, but larger compressors for major auto repairs may require an upgrade to a 240v connection.

Appliances
Need an extra cooler for your drinks? Consider installing a refrigerator in your garage. A trash compactor, air conditioner, humidifier and/or dehumidifier might also come in handy.

Walls and flooring
New floors and wall coverings can make your garage feel more like an actual room instead of just a drab storage area or workspace. You can install drywall yourself for about $2 per square foot and increase the space’s aesthetic value tenfold. Tile or granite walls and floors are considerably more expensive: $10 to $15 per square foot, plus the cost of installation. For a workshop area, you might opt for a $6-per-square-foot tough epoxy floor finish. Epoxy floors are durable, resistant to water, oil and grease and significantly easier to clean than porous concrete.

Lighting
Sunlight can fade car paint, leather and fabrics, so you may want to forgo windows in your garage if you’re using it to store a vintage sports car. To highlight a work area, you may want to install fluorescent or track lighting.

Entertainment room or office
Want a home away from home that’s actually attached to your house? Consider insulating your garage and installing proper walls and flooring. You can then transform it into your own private lounge or bar area, complete with flat-screen TV, stereo system, sofa, desk and computer. For an extensive renovation like this, expect to spend tens of thousands of dollars.

Home Renovations That Pay
So you've decided to brave the dust and dirt and inconvenience — not to mention the expense — of a renovation project. If it’s because you’ve always wanted a basement family room or extra bath and it will enhance your quality of life, go right ahead. But if you are planning to sell soon and think the renovation will increase the resale value of your home, hold on.

Studies suggest that most renovation projects do in fact increase the price of the home at resale. However, the increase is typically less than the cost of the project.

According to Hanley-Wood LLC’s 2004 Cost vs. Value Report, homeowners recouped:

• 85 percent of the cost of an upscale bathroom addition when they sold their homes, and 90 percent of a more modest one.

• 80 percent of the cost of an upscale kitchen renovation, and almost 79 percent of a more modest one.

• 76 percent of the cost of a basement remodel (including large entertainment area, full bath and one additional bedroom-sized room).

• About 77 percent of an upscale master bedroom suite, and 80 of a more modest one

• 86 percent of a deck addition.

This report contradicts the common wisdom that kitchen and bathroom renovations pay for themselves, while basement renovations don’t. It also suggests that you should renovate primarily for your own enjoyment and accept that your project will pay for itself only partially when you sell.

One thing the report doesn’t take into account is how renovations affect the marketability of your home. Real estate agents say that a gleaming kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances, cork or hardwood flooring, stone countertop and lots of cupboard space can sell a house the instant a prospective buyer sees it. Conversely, a cramped, ill-lit kitchen with outdated linoleum and harvest gold appliances might actually scare buyers away. It screams money pit.

Bathrooms are another big draw. Both quantity and quality count. A house with two or three baths with quality fixtures and finishes will sell much faster than the same house with one bathroom with moldy grouting and ancient fixtures.

If you can’t afford to renovate, update and refresh key rooms instead. Replacing an old countertop, repainting cupboards and walls and installing new door pulls and lighting can make a big improvement in your kitchen for a very modest price. Similar touches increase the appeal of older bathrooms, too.

Fresh paint throughout your home is another low-cost, high-return project — it makes everything look cleaner and brighter, and buyers love a house they won’t have to redecorate immediately.

Tips to add value to your home
Hint: Start with the kitchen, master bath and the siding, and forget about the satellite dish. Granite countertops will add value to your home. So will a deck. Brushed-nickel fixtures won’t. Neither will wiring the den for Surround Sound.

Confused? You have plenty of company – namely a few million other homeowners.

“It’s extremely difficult for sellers to put a certain value on their house,” says Shirley Smith, broker-in-charge of the RealEstate.com brokerage in Charlotte, N.C. Real estate professionals, on the other hand, generally base the value on square footage and comparable sales of nearby homes with similar features, she says.

That’s not to say that nickel fixtures, Surround Sound wiring or a security system won’t attract some buyers, she says: “People might like that better, but that doesn’t mean it adds value.” In other words, you’re making your home more appealing, which is good, but you’re not adding features that allow you to increase the asking price.

Take a swimming pool – please. Although some buyers won’t even look at homes without pools, many more see themselves being drowned in upkeep costs. Swimming pools can even reduce the value of a home, especially if they’re in poor good condition. And Smith says satellite dishes are only attractive to buyers who specifically want a home with a dish.

Projects that add square footage generally add value. So do kitchen renovations; a major renovation adds the most value, but Smith says shiny new, upgraded appliances alone can add value. Bathroom upgrades and extras, especially in the master bath, also add value, Smith says. And guess what? Regular preventive maintenance also adds value to a home, she says.

But don’t overestimate the value added by home improvements. The bible on this topic is Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report, which looks at the average cost of popular renovations and upgrades in 60 cities across the country and the return for the dollar on each.

The magazine notes that the return on investment varies from market to market, but it does break out national averages. In its 2006 report, Remodeling says that the cost of renovations has steadily increased nationwide, while the value added fell to 2002 levels. Basically, you’ll pay more for remodeling but get less back on resale these days.

It’s rare that a remodeling project returns 100 percent or more of the cost at resale, the magazine says – although it can happen in certain markets. In today’s more steady market, a typical project normally returns 75 percent to 80 percent on the dollar at resale, the report says.

Nationwide, on average, putting up vinyl siding is the most cost-effective renovation, returning 87 percent of the investment at resale. Major kitchen renovations, bathroom remodeling projects and replacement of wood windows are close behind, at 85 percent, according to the report.

The least cost-effective renovations at resale? Remodeling a home office, with a 63 percent return, and sunroom additions, at 66 percent.

Smith says it also makes a difference how long ago the renovation was completed. In general, you shouldn’t expect to get full value at resale three years later, she says.

Staging a home on a budget
You don't have to shell out a lot of cash to make your home more inviting to buyers. Staging a home is always a big help, but it can be especially important during a weaker housing market when there are many homes for sale and you want yours to stand out.

You can spend thousands of dollars staging a home if a professional company brings in furniture, artwork and decorative pieces for every room, as well as outdoor items such as nice patio furniture. But staging a home is also possible on a budget, whether you come up with ideas yourself or get advice from a professional stager or real estate agent and do the work yourself.

Home staging basics
The most basic element of staging a home is to get it sparkling clean and clear of clutter -- both things you can do yourself for little or no cost. If you’re lucky, you can haul away the extra items in a friend’s pickup truck and store them in a relative’s garage while you’re showing the home. You can often get free boxes at grocery or liquor stores.

A fresh coat of neutral paint is another inexpensive way to stage a home. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, you can make new, light window treatments to replace heavy, outdated draperies that overwhelm a room or block a great view. If sewing isn’t your strength, you may be able to find someone who can do the work inexpensively.

When you’re staging a home, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on decorative items, either. Home stagers often move items from one room to another; you can do the same. Place a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter or table. Stage the dining room by pulling out your nice silverware and setting the table for a party. You don’t need linen napkins and a silver tea service. Simple but nice pieces will look just fine for your staging.

Remember to consider curb appeal
Outdoors, staging a home is all about enhancing the curb appeal. The first step is to make sure the house and yard are clean and well-maintained. Staging the yard is as simple as trimming the bushes, putting down mulch, keeping the leaves raked and potting a few flowering plants to add color or interest in key areas. A new, traditional-looking doormat can’t hurt, either.

Finally, since staging a home can make it easier to sell, your real estate agent may be willing to spend some of the marketing budget on professional staging.

Home Improvement: Adding value to your house before you sell
Consider simple home improvement ideas if you are planning to sell your house. A little home improvement before listing your house can help you make more money. By updating your home, you can increase its resale potential and add to its value.

Think simple. If a sale is in the imminent future, stick to simple changes. You obviously don’t want construction crews working in your house for several months prior to listing. Instead, look around your house for what can be most easily updated through simple home improvement.

Avoid accruing debt. Again, if you plan to list soon, it is not wise to acquire debt to make your home improvement updates. A home improvement that requires financing may make a big difference in your home, but it can be very difficult to recoup the cost of the home improvement loan when you sell.

Make cosmetic changes. The easiest and simplest home improvements are cosmetic changes. Painting, changing hardware, and replacing faucets are all examples of economical updates you can do yourself. Painting is, perhaps, the best choice. It can brighten a room immensely, but doesn’t cost much.

Update your furniture. If you plan to move soon, it can be painful to make several home improvements for the next owners of your house. Instead, a great way to update your home is to get new furniture. That way, you can improve the look of your home, but you also get to take the furniture with you when you move. New furniture is a home improvement that travels.

Consider big changes to the kitchen or bath. If, however, you want to update your home but are not considering moving for a few years, then home improvements to the kitchen or bath make the most sense. Renovating these two areas pays off the most at resale. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t want to overextend yourself if you know that moving is inevitable.

When considering home improvements, be aware of your timeline for selling your house. The closer your listing date, the less money you may want to put into home improvements. You want home improvements to be cost effective.

Home staging -- easy ideas to do it yourself
Follow these easy ideas to make your home look like you had a professional home stager. Home staging involves preparing a home for sale through cleaning, de-cluttering, updating the décor, and making repairs. You can hire a professional home stager. Or, at great savings to you, you can do the home staging yourself.

Remember, when you are preparing your house to sell, you want to make the right first impression. That is where home staging comes in. At the front door, you want to capture the potential buyer’s attention and draw out a “Wow!” This requires some change in perspective on your part. No longer can you primarily think of the house as your home – it is now something that you want to sell and you need to present it as such. The following tips should help you to do that.

1. Make necessary repairs
Look around your house. Are there obvious flaws that need to be fixed? You can be sure any potential buyer will notice them. In order to allow your home to make its best impression, have the repair work all finished as the first part of your home staging.

2. Clean thoroughly
This may seem obvious, but it must be done. Clean everything: the blinds, baseboards and the fronts of the appliances. It may be worth it to hire some to do this. That can free up your time for other aspects of the home staging.

3. De-clutter
Home staging is much more successful if you do not have clutter throughout your house. Take the time to conquer those piles of clutter and also to prevent them from creeping back.

4. De-personalize
The goal of home staging is to sell your home. If you have too many family photos around the house, it may be harder for potential buyers to picture themselves living there. You want to leave room for them to imagine where their own family photos may hang.

5. Update your décor
Make sure your décor is updated and attractive. Try a slipcover for your couch or new decorative pillows to spruce up your look. Also, make sure that the furniture is arranged in the best way. Be sure that traffic can move through the house easily and that each room’s layout maximizes its space.

Home staging is a great way to get your house ready to sell. It is definitely something that you can do yourself, instead of hiring a professional. For added help, bring in an honest friend to give you feedback on what should be changed for your home staging. Use his/her advice to help you to get your house to shine.

Renovate to enhance resale value
Planning to renovate your home? Here's the lowdown on what's trendy and what will always sell. Your home is more than a place to live; it can be a lucrative investment. Whether you’ve owned it for a number of years, or recently purchased an older property, putting money into renovations and upgrades can significantly increase its value. What’s more, updating your home is likely to make it more appealing to a wider range of buyers and therefore make it easier to sell.

However, it’s important to note that not every renovation pays back so handsomely. Very trendy or low-quality finishes can turn off potential buyers. Use these tips to help ensure you get the biggest bang for your renovating buck:

• Kitchens
  Even if they aren’t gourmet cooks, today’s homebuyers are looking for a home with an up-to-date kitchen -- one that’s large and attractive enough to live and entertain in. Recent trends in kitchen design have favored stainless steel for cabinets and appliances, but some experts say it may be on its way out because of the perception that it’s a high-maintenance finish. You’ll likely get more for your money going with plain white, which looks clean and is practically impervious to trends. But make room in your remodeling budget for solid-wood cabinets, quality appliances and recessed task lighting. The cost of a minor kitchen remodel rings in at just under $15,000 -- but you can expect to recoup an average of 98.5 percent* of that investment in pumped-up resale value.

• Bathrooms
  If your home has only one bathroom, adding a second will add around $20,000 to its resale value and allow you to recoup an average of 86.4 percent of the cost of remodeling. Many buyers want both a soaker tub and a shower stall in the master suite. Spring for the clean look of a frameless glass enclosure and avoid colored sinks, tubs and toilets. Again, the watchword is white.

• Bedrooms
  Adding additional sleeping quarters will usually increase the resale value of your home by more than the cost of the renovation (unless your home already boasts four or five bedrooms). On the west coast converting a two- or three-bedroom house into a three- or four-bedroom house costs an average of $41,244, but adds $43,357 to its resale value. Across the country, expect to recoup an average of 93.5 percent of your remodeling costs.

• Flooring
  Hardwood reigns supreme. Installing new hardwood floors can increase a home’s value by up to 10 percent according to a recent survey of real estate agents across the country. But opt for mid- or light-colored oak or maple over dark and moody tones. And though wood-look floating laminate floors are somewhat cheaper, it pays to spring for the real thing.

• Painting
  A fresh coat of paint is among the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make your home more appealing. A recent REALTOR® report says it will typically give you around a 29 percent return on your investment dollar. But avoid picking vibrant, trendy colors. You may think a bright purple dining room looks stunning on the pages of your favorite home decor magazine, but it won’t suit many buyers’ tastes. It’s best to choose neutral colors that will have a wider appeal to potential future home buyers. Like an uncluttered home, a neutral backdrop makes it easier for house hunters to imagine moving in and decorating with their own possessions.

• Backyard deck
  Buyers want outdoor living space, not just an expanse of grass or a few flowers. Putting in a large, well-planned deck is a project with good payback, adding an average of 90 percent of its cost to your home’s resale value.

Before you undertake any home renovation, it’s a good idea to talk to a local REALTOR® or appraiser, even if you aren’t yet ready to sell. These professionals can advise you on whether the improvement you’re planning is likely to appeal to future home buyers -- and whether the potential payoff makes it a smart investment.

* Unless otherwise stated, all statistics used in this article were taken from the 2005 Cost vs. Value Report published by the National Association of REALTORS® in conjunction with Remodeling Magazine.

The laundry room: What to consider when buying a home
Use our tips to make sure the washer and dryer in the house you’re thinking of buying are in good repair. You’re in negotiations to buy an older home and the seller offers to throw in the washer and dryer to persuade you to notch up your offer. Before you jump at the deal, ask the owner about the appliances and carefully inspect them.

You can also ask your home inspector to evaluate the appliances’ age and serviceability, but first find out what appliances your state requires the inspector to check and whether he or she must gauge their efficiency or estimate their life span. Your best bet is to take it upon yourself to be thorough and know what you’re getting.

Your real estate agent can ask the seller for the purchase, warranty and repair receipts. This will tell you the age and reliability of the appliances. Older appliances typically demand more energy so assume the higher the energy bills, the older the appliance.

When taking stock of the appliances, the laundry room is particularly important because problems with washers and dryers are costly to repair. Most laundry appliances will last about 12 to 14 years. To test them, turn them on and note whether all the cycles work; whether there’s adequate water pressure as the washer fills and whether the dryer gets warm; and whether there are any leaks or squeaks – signs of worn belts. If the dryer vent is vinyl, it will have to be replaced as vinyl ducts are flammable and are now in violation of safety codes. Next, check the washer hose for cracks, corrosion or blisters, which are signs the inner hose lining has deteriorated and could rupture. Positive features to look for include delicate or hand-wash settings, larger load capacities, low noise level while running and conservation functions, as these indicate newer models.

If you have children, an older washer or dryer could pose another danger. The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that small children can climb in, become trapped and possibly suffocate. The CPSC has guidelines for childproofing your working appliances and those you are discarding.

Even if the appliances work perfectly, replacing them when you can afford to do so will likely save money on your energy bills. In 2003, Americans saved $9 billion by installing ENERGY STAR®-rated appliances, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Should you buy and renovate a home?
It's important to weigh the advantages and the disadvantages before deciding whether to take on a home renovation. The option to buy and renovate an older home can be very appealing. However, you need to consider carefully to be sure it’s the right decision for you.

Advantages

• Buying a home in need of repair can be an opportunity to save money.

• It might be easier to afford to buy into a certain neighborhood if you purchase a home that needs some work as opposed to one that is already renovated.

• When you buy and renovate a home, you can put your own personal stamp on it and make the home distinctly yours.

• If you are handy, there can be a lot of personal satisfaction -- and extra savings -- in doing much of the work yourself.

Disadvantages

• Even though the initial price of a home in need of repair may be cheaper than that of other houses in the neighborhood, once you factor in the cost of the renovations, it could end up being even more expensive.

• You may need to arrange additional financing in order to pay for the improvements.

• If the home is priced extremely low, it may have major problems. You need to be careful you aren’t taking on too much. Do you really want to deal with major plumbing or electrical issues?

Financial issues

• Find out what the difference in price is between a house in the neighborhood that is already renovated and one that still needs renovation.

• Calculate the estimated total cost of the necessary renovations.

• Discuss with an agent what you plan to do with the house and see what the agent estimates the house could be worth once those renovations are completed. You don’t want to price your renovated home out of the neighborhood.

• Finally, be realistic about what you are able to do and what you are willing to put up with. In order to buy and renovate a home, you need to have the time, money and patience to complete it. For some people, it can make the home buying experience more fun and fulfilling. For others, the added stress may not be worth it.

Making Your Home Energy Efficient
An energy-efficient home is not only more economical, it's also healthier. Poor air quality can be caused by humidity, drafts, cold windows in the winter or hot windows in the summer. Energy efficiency improvements reduce these problems. Here are some tips on keeping your home efficient and healthy.

Kitchen

• Defrost your freezer if the ice is 5mm thick.

• Vacuum the refrigerator condenser coil frequently.

• Make sure the magnetic door seal on the refrigerator closes tightly.

• Make sure the on/off cycle of your refrigerator works properly.

• Check the oven seal for heat leaks.

• Run only full loads in the dishwasher.

Bathroom/laundry room

• Set the hot-water heater thermostat to no more than 65 degrees Celsius or 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Insulate hot-water pipes.

• Repair leaking taps.

• Don’t overload the clothes dryer.

• Clean dryer lint filter after each use.

Living areas

• Install ceiling insulation.

• Keep curtains closed to prevent heat loss in winter and overheating in summer.

• Close off unheated areas.

• Clean the heating filter regularly.

• Use compact, high-efficiency fluorescent lighting in areas where it is appropriate -- it can save you up to 80 percent in costs.