Elkhart County, Indiana, Increase Your Homes Value Before Selling

If you are planning to sell your home in Elkhart County, Indiana, which renovations will increase the value of your house the most?
Assuming the house has no major weaknesses, remodeling the kitchen or bathroom is usually a good bet.
Making improvements in a home can boost the selling price of the property substantially beyond the cost of the renovation and even mean the difference in whether or not the house sells at all. When contemplating an upgrade, a homeowner is wise to consider not only renovations that are needed, but those that will most enhance the value - and selling appearance - of the home.
Evaluate the home from the buyer's point of view. Your local Elkhart County Expert, Evelyn Johnston, Real Estate Agent with Prudential One Realty will be able to offer an objective view and will also know what buyers are looking - and asking - for. Renovations accomplish one of two things; they improve or update the condition of the home, or they actually add features to it. (A small renovation might be a skylight, a larger one - an extra bedroom and bath.) Before embarking on any ambitious projects, sellers should first confirm that their money wouldn't be better spent with more basic work, like replacing drafty old windows, adding insulation or installing an attic fan.

Assuming the house is otherwise appealing, modernizing the kitchen is usually a worthwhile investment. Not only is it the "heart" of the home, the kitchen is also the main workplace, where modern convenience is expected. Buyers are attracted to a bright, cheerful, convenient kitchen. This means that as a minimum, floors and counters should be in good condition; cabinetry should be freshly painted or natural; appliances should look good and operate well; window coverings should be tasteful and feature light paint; and there should be lots of sunlight or at least pleasant artificial lighting. Cabinet space, also an important feature in a kitchen, can be maximized by inexpensive organizing and space-saving devices that are available. For older kitchens, replacement of countertops, floors, cabinet doors or appliances can freshen the look and improve the utility of the kitchen without disturbing the character of the room - and with less expense than a complete rebuild.
Bathrooms are another good candidate for refurbishment. Buyers are fussy about cleanliness, and a sparkling clean, looking-like-new bathroom is an excellent sale feature. And bathroom renovations are not as expensive as you might think, even for a complete remodeling.
Many of the refurbishments can be done in a weekend without hiring a contractor. But, if you do need the services of a contractor, ask friends or your local Elkhart County Expert, Evelyn Johnston, REALTOR with Prudential One Realty at 574-304-7148 for referrals of companies that provide quality service.

How is Your Elkhart Indiana Home's "Pink Slip"?

When consumers purchase automobiles and they are paid in "pink slips" to indicate they own the vehicles. And when Home Buyers purchase real estate (or real property) "titles" are transferred.

But what happens if the Seller does not have a "clear title" to convey? Perhaps there was an irregularity in one of the past transactions involving the property. Suddenly, the home buyer may find himself or herself out thousands of dollars 0 and not owning any property.

Today, that does not happen - if a title company is involved. As title company's job is to search out every past transaction involving the property to ensure that clear title passed from owner to owner, and that the current seller does hold clear title to the property. Title company examiners trace the ownership of the property through its entire history. They make sure the title is clear. In the past, this was done manually, however, today computerized records make the task easier...and more reliable.

Besides uncovering title defects (called "clouds") relating to a property's ownership, the title searches also detect liens. For instance, suppose a contractor built a room addition to a home and was not fully paid for his work. If he filed a lien against the property, it would be on record with the county recorder - and should be discovered by the title examiner during the search. The title company would then notify the escrow company of the problem, and the seller would resolve the lien or risk losing the buyer.

Title insurance is the best way to fully protect against possible title defects. Lenders who provide financing require that buyers buy title insurance. This fully protects lenders up to the amount of the loan balance in the event title problems surface in the future. Some buyers assume that this policy protects them too - but this is not the case! Buyers must also buy a homeowners title insurance policy, and smart buyers will do so, to protect their own investment in the property. If a problem with title is discovered at a later day, it becomes the problem of the insurer, not the buyer. Title insurance is a one-time, low-cost expense that provides full protection for the buyer against future title claims for as long as he or she owns the property.

Here in Elkhart County, Indiana we have several Title Companies to choose from, and it is traditionally the choice of the Home Seller as to which one is chosen. Elkhart County, Indiana, Real Estate Agent Evelyn Johnston lets her Home Sellers know the local ones available to choose from. For more information about the process of buying or selling your home, Evelyn can be reached at Prudential One Realty or 574-304-7148.