The Lowdown on the Top 5 Home Improvements that Increase Resale Value

FSBO website Fizber.com lists top 5 best home improvement projects by resale value.

Miami Beach, FL (PRWEB) August 20, 2008 -- Before launching into any home improvement project homeowners should carefully consider their motivations and goals. Thanks to a recent research from a popular FSBO website Fizber.com, homeowners can take some of the guesswork out of project decision-making. According to Fizber.com, exterior siding replacement, wood window replacement and minor kitchen and bathroom remodels are tops in the national average of job cost recouped.

Fizber.com top 5 home improvement projects, with the national average for cost, resale value and the percentage of the cost that was recouped, are:

1) Siding Replacement (fiber cement, vinyl).

The value of this project is in its immediate curb appeal: new siding cleans up a house quickly. Homeowners can expect to recoup 100 percent or more of job cost.

2) Kitchen Remodeling.

Average payback is 98.5 percent of cost. "Home buyers seem to gravitate to the kitchen first when they're looking at a house," says Julia Foster of Fizber.com. "In a neighborhood where most homes have an updated kitchen, remodeling a kitchen may well increase the resale value of the home beyond the cost of construction."

3) Window Replacement (wood).

New wood windows, nationally, will return 95.3 percent of an $11,040 project.

4) Bathroom remodel

An up-to-date bathroom makes your home look like it's been kept in good repair, and that's what all prospective homeowners are looking for. Average payback is 92.2 percent of cost.

5) Landscaping

First impressions go a long way and landscaping is part of the first impression. Average returns can be upward of 100 to 200 percent -- if you invest $1,000 in landscaping, you can get double back.

"If the goal of your project is to increase the value of your home for resale, your project needs to reflect the neighborhood," comments Julia Foster. "The number of bedrooms and bathrooms is the perfect example. If your neighborhood is chockfull of three-bedroom, two-bath houses and your house only has one bathroom, you're at a serious disadvantage on the resale market. Adding on a bathroom would make a big difference."

About Fizber.com

Headquartered in Miami Beach, Fizber.com is the largest for-sale-by-owner website dedicated to providing efficient, cutting-edge tools and services to homeowners who prefer to advertise without the assistance of a real estate agent. With home listings throughout the United States, Fizber.com strives to connect buyers and sellers more effectively. View Latham NY homes for sale.

For more information, visit www.fizber.com.

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