London Home Seller’s Guide to Moneymaking Fix-Ups

An informative guide to help you increase the value of your home and perhaps avoid costly repair rip-offs when getting estimates & quotes!

Each year thousands of homeowners needlessly lose thousands of dollars when selling their homes.  But they don’t lose the money for reasons you might think. They lose money because they unknowingly left it on the table, for the buyer to pocket, by failing to recognize their home’s hidden profit potential.

Those hidden profits exist in two areas. 

First, most homeowners never discover that specific minor, even inexpensive repairs to their existing home could generate many times their cost in additional home value.  But on the other hand, other repairs and improvements can cost you dearly.  It’s critical to know what repairs and improvements to spend money on and which ones to leave alone.

Second, when many savvy homeowners decide to make profitable repairs before selling, they expose themselves to some contractors’ ruthless world and potentially deceptive schemes that drive up home repair costs.

It’s easy to understand how you might become overwhelmed with the whole process between not knowing what to repair for maximum profit and dealing with the world of contractor schemes.  But don’t despair.

That’s Why I Created This Helpful Report

In the following pages, I will reveal precisely what areas make sense to fix and what areas to leave alone and not using “opinion,” but real-world facts.  Then, I’m going to give you a “behind the scenes tour” of the games some contractors play when fixing your home (by the way, not all contractors are sinister – I know many with stellar reputations).

This way, you’ll be armed to the teeth with knowledge and strategies to stay one step ahead of the game and maximize the value of your home when you sell.

So let’s get going:

How to Select Home Improvements That Pay Dividends

Generally speaking, there are two ways to go about home improvements.  You’re either going to splurge on your home because it’s your palace and you simply want a beautiful place to live OR, you’re going to take a more logical, pragmatic approach designed to increase your home’s value.

The problem is, you’ll never achieve both.   Many homeowners expose themselves to the very problems they’re trying to avoid in the process of home fix-ups.

Take Carol and Tom Jenkins, who four years ago purchased a home for $390,000.  Since buying their home, they’ve spent over $60,000, fixing it up and making it the “perfect” place to live.  A few months ago, they put the home on the market at $535,000.   The best offer they received was only $499,000.

Their mistake?  Spending money on amenities and features that was ancillary to the value of the home.

Just because you spend $30,000 on the fix-up of your home doesn’t mean you’re going to get it out when you sell.  It doesn’t automatically make your home worth $30,000 more.  And that’s precisely why you need to know which fix-ups pay off big and which ones will cost you potentially thousands of dollars.

Let’s take a look at the most common area of fix-ups.

Painting Your Home

Time and again, painting is one of the most basic yet most profitable home fix-ups.  There’s virtually nothing a coat of paint won’t fix, especially if you plan to sell your home within a few years.

Professionally painting the home’s exterior costs an average of $5,250 and recoups nearly 100% of its price.  But that’s not the good part of the painting.

Studies also show that painting the exterior has a meaningful effect on reducing the time to sell.  And reducing time to market means you’re potentially saving thousands in interest, taxes, and other overhead costs required to maintain your home and mortgage during the “for sale” period.

Rather than spending money on less visible “infrastructure” issues of your home, you’re frequently better off fixing the cracked front steps and painting the entry and front door.

Kitchen Fix-Ups

Here’s an area that can mean serious profit when selling your home.  Even minor, fundamental improvements to your kitchen can pay big dividends.  For most buyers, the kitchen is the heart of the house.  And that means it has the most significant profit potential.  Here are a few suggestions for improving your kitchen without investing tens of thousands in remodelling costs.

In the short term, consider changing floors, cabinets, and fixtures.  Consider sanding, staining, or painting dingy-looking cabinets.  Replacing old cabinet hardware (a low-cost improvement) can make a massive difference in appearance.

Look at your countertops and other surface areas that draw the eye.  Also, look at the kitchen sink and fixtures.  If they’re old and worn, replacing them with contemporary fixtures and a new sink can make a world of difference in aesthetics and hard dollars.

In some cases, spending $6,000 on a cosmetically outdated kitchen can add as much as $15,000 in extra value to the home.

Adding New Space

Generally, improvements that increase the functional space of the home are good profit centers.  For example, one homeowner had a storage area accessed from the outside and bordered the laundry room.  The homeowner knocked out the laundry room wall to the storage area, eliminated the outside door to the storage area, and added over 100 more square feet in storage and useable space, which is now accessed from the inside, not the outside.

The repair, which cost only about $2,000, increased the home value an estimated five times the cost to perform.

Converting an attic into a bedroom suite can instantly make your four-bedroom home a five-bedroom home and a much greater value.  Waterproofing and improving a basement for additional storage (a job that costs about $5,000) can recoup well over its cost once the house goes on the market.

Look around your home for areas that can easily be expanded, refurbished, and functionally added to increase the number of bedrooms, baths or useable square footage. You’ve found a significant profit center.

Enclosed are Decks and Patios

Most outside improvements don’t fare well from a profit standpoint, but here’s a great way to increase the overall square footage of your home and its value.  Consider installing a deck or enclosed patio.

This not only increases the aesthetics of your home but its usability.

Decks and patios can range in cost between $6,000 to over $12,000, and in most cases, recoup at least 90% of their price in extra home value – especially if you’re going to be living in the home for a few years.

Adding an Extra Bathroom

According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2020 surveys, adding an extra bathroom will pay for itself in most cases.  The average cost of a bathroom addition is about $16,000, including all the trimmings – marble vanity top, sink, ceramic bathtub and commode, and custom tiled shower.

Here’s another profit-pointer:  a second bath will add more value to a home than a third bath.  And when adding baths, make sure you use skylights, windows, and other ways to bring in the natural light.

Now, here are a few areas you want to avoid.

Replacing Windows and Doors

Even replacing windows and doors with energy-efficient models is generally a bad idea.  Investments in windows and doors will return only about 36% to 53% of their cost, while $1,280 worth of caulking and insulation can yield over 71%.

If your windows are old and leaking, however, you should replace them.  Consider using standard size windows rather than custom cut models.  The savings in your utility bill might pay for them alone.  “The minute you get into customizing windows, with fancy shapes, bays and bows you can’t see from the street, you’re throwing your money down the drain.”

Standard, lower-priced, double-hung windows are usually your best bet.  But all that depends on the neighbourhood in which the home is located.  In more pricey areas, buyers may spot windows and doors replaced “on the cheap.”

Swimming Pools

Swimming pools have different value levels depending on what part of the country they’re located in.  The warmer climates tend to place a more considerable value on pools simply because of the number of days they can be used out of the year.

But in either case, there’s generally little resale value.  Pools turn off more buyers than they attract because they require expensive, time-consuming upkeep.  Running a close second is the fear of liability by having a pool.  Pool accidents are a quick way to wind up in court as the subject of a negligence suit.

The verdict?  Be very careful before you go spending money on a new pool.

Gardens, Walls, and Fences

Fancy gardens and extensive landscaping are generally other big losers.  The same goes for big walls and fancy fences.  Homeowners can spend tens of thousands on making the grounds of a home beautiful but rarely get their money out.  Why?

Because unless you’ve got a horticultural buyer looking at your home, most buyers look at the required time and money to maintain lavish landscaping.  However, that’s not to say that your home shouldn’t have lovely grounds.  The same situation can work against you if your home is perceived as the “weak link” of the neighbourhood because of its landscaping.

The secret is to make your landscaping compatible with other homes in your area.  If that requires spending a little money, so be it.  But don’t expect to get it out from the sale price.

Functional and Structural Improvements

Here’s a sad paradox:  Many of the improvements that have the most value for you as a homeowner end up being the worst-performers as far as resale value is concerned.  And usually, those improvements are from a functional or structural standpoint.

For example, adding a new plumbing system or putting in a new air conditioning system or furnace will make your life in your home more comfortable. Still, they’ll fail to recoup their costs in added home value – again, unless you live there for some time.

Unfortunately, when certain functional items fail, you have no choice but to fix them.  This includes water heaters, HVAC units, plumbing, and foundational problems.  But be careful where you spend your hard-earned dollars.  As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

How to Avoid Repair Rip-Offs When Improving Your Home

Now, by this point, you’ve probably identified several areas you could improve on your home and start reaping extra dollars in value.  But there’s still another hurdle to overcome.  And it’s an important one.

Each year hundreds of thousands of consumers complain to the Better Business Bureau about home repair rip-offs.  Home repairs are second only to car repairs on the “rip-off” list.

Here’s the inside story on the most common games played, plus several tips to help you avoid becoming another contractor victim.

Selecting Painters      

The key to a great paint job isn’t necessarily in the painting but in the prep work.  And this is the area where you’re going to either get “taken” or get a great job.  If you own a two or three-story home, it’s difficult to climb up a ladder to make sure every inch has adequately been scrapped, sanded, patched, and primed.

But taking the time and effort may pay off big dividends.   Here are a few tips to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth out of your painter:

1. Verify that all priming and preparation have been done. Ask your painter to use a different colour of primer paint than the current or finish paint colour.  For example, if your existing colour is white, ask them to use a light-gray primer.
2. Get a detailed on-site estimate to avoid unpleasant surprises. You don’t need to go through three estimates for the same job.  Just get two estimates if they’re in the same ballpark.  But make sure they’re detailed, so you know what you’re paying for.
3. Don’t scrimp on paint. Get good quality paint, even if you can only afford a single coat. But don’t buy the top of the line either.  Your best bet?  Select a colour that’s one step down from the top-of-the-line premium paint.
4. Remember that painters do better on paint prices than you will. Frequently called a “contractors price,” your painter can, for example, buy paint at $32 a gallon and resell it to you for $35.  Even with the mark-up, that’s still a better deal than if you bought it for retail at $38.   Make sure to ask your painter how their paint pricing works.
5. When evaluating exterior painters, ask for addresses of homes they painted about five years ago. Then look at them.  A good paint job should last about seven years.  At five years, you’ll see just the beginning of paint wear around the eaves and gutters.
6. Remember, no matter how much you haggle with potential contractors to lower their bids, they still need to make a living. You can push too hard.  If you pressure painters into lower prices, this only means they have to find cheaper labour to do the job.  And affordable labour means a shoddier job.  Either way, you generally get what you pay for.

Selecting Plumbers

Here’s the “inside scoop” on plumbers: you won’t pay much for the “parts” they use; they make their money on labour and “mobilization charges.”  Frequently plumbers will charge you a minimum of one hour regardless of how much time they spend doing the work.

So if you’re paying a plumber a minimum fee just to show up anyhow, why not ask him to do other work involving plumbing:  fixing disposals, pool or lawn sprinkler work, leaky faucets, or washers that need replacing.  Use up the minimum he is going to charge you anyhow with fix-up projects.

Plumbing problems are challenging to estimate.  To help you in the process, here are several tips to consider:

1. Explain your job or problem over the phone, then ask how they will fix it, how much it will cost, and when the work will start and be complete. And here’s an important tip:  if you live in an affluent neighbourhood, do NOT give your phone number or address until AFTER you’ve been quoted a price.  Some plumbers mark up prices to 50% more when they learn you live in an affluent neighbourhood.
2. Seek out “border bids” from tradesmen from not-so affluent neighbourhoods nearby. Frequently you’ll find plumbers in a neighbouring town may charge less than the tradesmen nearby.
3. If a highly recommended plumber has no idea about a job’s cost, negotiate a flat rate for him to inspect the problem and give you a quality bid.
4. When dealing with tradespeople who charge by the hour, ask if travel time is also included on the clock.
5. Check for shoddy work or ways in which your plumber will try to boost their profit margins at your expense. For example, some will use a ½-inch pipe instead of ¾-inch, which means that your toilet may not flush correctly in bathrooms where there’s a shower.  Or, if a plumber uses L or K-grade copper piping, you can expect a five to 10-year life instead of M-grade piping, which lasts 15 to 20 years.  And some plumbers use plastic pipe, which is inexpensive but noisier and less durable than metal.  Make sure to ask your plumber what he’s using before he starts his work.
6. If you suspect your plumber is overcharging you for materials, go out to Home Depot or a plumbing supply house and get a price on the same materials. Even if they don’t sell directly to consumers, you can still check the price tags.

Selecting Electricians

Electricians register the fewest complaints from consumers, probably because they have the most stringent national standards to meet.  Before hiring an electrician, make sure they are licensed.

You should also check (along with all tradesmen you consider) that:  1) he’s licensed and insured; 2) he has no complaints with the Better Business Bureau in your area; 3) he’s driving a truck or van with a painted-on sign and logo; and 4) he’s willing to write you an estimate on his own printed invoice, which should reveal a street address rather than a post office box.

If you’re looking for an affordable electrician, consider checking your local Kijiji.  You can also drive by new housing developments since builders find the best deal when building their homes.

But electricians can easily rip you off on parts.  A cheap electrical switch costs your electrician 29 cents compared to $2 for a longer-lasting one.  When getting parts from your electrician, make sure he’s using “specification grade or better” products – a standard set by the CSA.

Selecting Roofers

Better Business Bureaus have their files stuffed with stories of roofers who ripped off consumers and skipped town.

If you’ve got a leaky roof, chances are it’s a flashing problem.  This is the material, usually copper or galvanized steel or aluminum, that joins your roof to the chimney with a black sticky substance called asphalt cement.  If you need flashing fixed, plan on spending about $30 to $50 per hour to have it set correctly.

Be wary of the roofer who gazes up at your roof and announces, “your roof is 15 years old, and it’s gonna leak soon if you don’t replace those shingles.”  The only way to determine whether or not you need a new roof is to get up there and look.  Worn out shingles, which have lost their oil and thus water repellency, look brittle, curl up at the edges, and often crumble into powder when broken.

A new asphalt shingle roof should cost $50 to $70 per “square” (a roofer’s square is 100 square feet), depending on the shingles’ quality and the slope of your roof.  A shingle roof should last 15 to 20 years.

If you plan to move out of your home soon, you might want to consider a “second coat” of shingles.  This will avoid having to strip off the first layer and save you about 20% in labour.

Selecting HVAC Specialists  

The most common rip-offs with HVAC (an acronym for “Heating, Ventilation, Air conditioning, and Cooling”) include substituting used parts for new ones and replacing components that don’t need replacement.

The solution?  Always ask to see the old or broken parts before they’re replaced and examine the packaging and documentation of any new features used.

And here’s another tip: try to have any HVAC repairs performed off-season.  Air conditioning and heating work are up to 10% less expensive during the off-season.

Also, stay away from extended payment plans.  There’s no free lunch, and it’s assumed you’re paying for the costs of money somewhere in the job.   And if you buy a service contract, make sure your contractor details everything that will be performed under the agreement, and he has the most up-to-date equipment to do the job.

And if you need to replace an air conditioner or furnace, eliminate the bidder who estimates the job off-the-cuff, without measuring your windows, asking what type of insulation you have, looking at the direction your home faces, and then plugging all this information into a form or computer called Manual J.  This calculates your home’s heat loss and gain and ensures the correct size air conditioner or furnace.

Should You Get A Written Contract?

Written agreements certainly help keep a tradesperson to his word, so long as they’re detailed enough.  But a piece of paper doesn’t protect you from getting ripped off.

If you get “duped” by a licensed contractor, you can complain directly to your local Better Business Bureau or other local agencies and request a hearing or arbitration.  Suppose you’re dealing with an unlicensed tradesperson. In that case, your regional Better Business Bureau may help arbitrate the situation, but if the contract was large enough, you might be forced into the courts for satisfaction.

Whether or not you get a contract, make sure after work you receive a written statement stating all work performed has been paid in full.  Or, better yet, when you submit your final payment, write that statement in yourself and ask the tradesman to sign it as well.

Get Expert Advice and “Hand Holding” Guidance In Getting the Most Value Out Of Your Home

There’s no question about it; getting top dollar out of your home can be tricky.  One false move can cost you thousands. That’s why we have created a proprietary program explicitly meant for homeowners looking for a fast, top-dollar sale.  We call it our :

Maximum Home Value Audit

And it’s completely different from what any other Realtor can provide for you. If you’re considering selling soon, here’s what I’ll provide for you, absolutely FREE, and without obligation whatsoever:

• I’ll conduct a careful, thorough valuation of your home, based on real-world facts, in an EASY to understand format. You won’t get any inflated values just to pressure you into listing with us.

And you won’t get anything like, “I have a buyer right now who’s interested in your specific home, and if you list with me, I’ll bring him by right now.”  With Envelope Real Estate Brokerage Inc., you’ll get NO pressure.  No arm-twisting.  Just a real-world, honest, fact-filled analysis.

• I will tour your home to identify items that could negatively affect your selling price. As was mentioned earlier, some of our findings could bring as much as $10 in extra sales price for every $1 you invest.  By the end of my tour, you’ll have a checklist of strategies designed to “position” your home to sell for the most money possible.
• I’ll share with you our [128 Step Top Dollar Marketing Plan.]  This plan will give you insider secrets on how to promote your home properly, how to handle buyers, how to handle other Realtors, lawyers, mortgage people and packing up to move.
• PLUS, we guarantee everything we do. If any other Realtor doesn’t ensure their services, ask them why?  You’re staking the successful sale of your home on their abilities; why shouldn’t they stake their commission the very same way?  We place our priorities in the same place as yours.  We’re in this together!

When selling your home, the LAST thing you need is added pressure.  That’s why we’ll answer all of your questions.  And give you one less thing to worry about during these hectic times.

WHY Sutton Group Envelope Real Estate Brokerage Inc.?

I am not telling you these things to impress you, but to impress UPON YOU, the difference between Realtors who simply “sell” real estate and those who COMMIT to whatever it takes to serve a client beyond their expectations! 

• We are full-time Realtors. We make it a priority to educate & guide YOU on every aspect of your transaction.
• We have a list of references, past clients, and professional associations whom you can call at any time to discuss the quality of service we have provided to other people just like YOU.
• We have developed an EXCLUSIVE [128 Step] marketing plan unequalled by anyone in the business. We do this because our dedication to selling your home is also unsurpassed.  There’s no other way we can live up to that expectation without extraordinary marketing capabilities.
• We have specifically designed marketing tracking systems for every home we sell. We also have specific techniques to fully know ALL activity and progress updates on your home every week.  You will NEVER feel out of touch with us!
• We guarantee everything we do! If you’re not happy with us, fire us! This places the burden of risk to perform on us, not you.
• We have references for reliable financing sources many Realtors are clueless about, insurance companies, inspectors, lawyers, and others directly relating to your transaction. If you choose to use any of them, you won’t be dealing with arbitrary people.  These are professionals we have worked with personally in other transactions.
• We schedule showings around your schedule and respect your personal and family time. This requires special planning and forethought most Realtors do not consider.
• Each day, we speak with people directly related to real estate buying or selling. This allows us to create a communication link of properties to people.
• Most importantly: We generate over 80% of our clients through referrals alone. We focus 110% of our efforts on providing such outstanding service; our clients are inclined to refer our services to family, friends, and acquaintances.

On the surface, it may seem there are many Realtors from which to choose.  But just because there are lots of Realtors out there doesn’t mean they can all do the same job for you.

All Realtors Are NOT The Same!

I know there’s a natural tendency to procrastinate and put off important decisions.  But the more you procrastinate, the more pressure ultimately rests with you.

So call now at 519-435-1600, and we’ll immediately arrange a convenient time to meet and share with you our [Maximum Home Value Audit.]  It’s Free.  It’s FAST.  There’s no obligation whatsoever.  And it could save you thousands on your home sale.  So before you get distracted, call now!

Congratulations

You have read this far! Very few people will take time to plan; they go Willy nilly allowing their emotions to make decisions. You would be surprised how few people will take the time to do some fix-ups on their homes or do them correctly.

My experience tells me that those who prepare before selling a home do their ‘homework’ are much more likely to sell their home quicker and for more money!