Category Archives: Fixer Upper

Having Difficulty Choosing Paint Colors ?

How Do I Choose a Wall Color?

FAHQS: FREQUENTLY ASKED HOME QUESTIONS

Making design decisions for your home doesn’t have to be a hand-wringing experience. But there’s something about choosing paint colors for your walls that can seem impossible. With so many options out there, it can make you want to turn to someone else to make the final choice. Today’s Frequently Asked Home question: Which color should I paint my walls?

Consider neutrals: One easy way to go with is a with a neutral color like white, beige or gray to give your room a clean canvas.

If you want color, narrow to cool or warm colors; you’ll cut your color choices in half. If you’re going to go with a bold color, I suggest going all the way. (In other words, if you want bold, go for that bold shade that’s dark and dramatic; don’t wimp out and pick a paint chip a few shades lighter.)

Remember that the sheen of a wall can have a huge effect on how a color is perceived in a room, so know the finishes available and how they might transform your room.

Finally, don’t paint an entire room before stepping back to see if you like a color: Use paint swatches to test small areas of the color in all different types of light. And be sure to seek out color suggestions by finding out the colors used in your favorite house tours.

Some great paint color choices to start with:

Remodeling ? Good ROI Ideas

These projects are the best long-term remodeling investments you can make:

1.  Replacing Your Front Door

Your faithful front door works tirelessly — day in and day out — to usher in you and your guests, and to seal your house up tight. But when Old Faithful gets tired and worn out, don’t hesitate to call in a replacement. Year in and year out, replacing your old front door with a new steel door is a project that kicks up curb appeal and yields the best payback.

“It gives you the best bang for your buck in terms of transforming the look and feel of your home,” says Brandon Erdmann, president of the remodeling firm HomeSealed Exteriors in Milwaukee. “Plus, old exterior doors can be a huge source of energy loss. So you’re improving the look of your house, improving energy efficiency, and you’re able to do it without breaking the bank.”

It’s also a relatively low-cost project. According to the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report,” a new steel front entry door has a national median cost of $2,000 installed, and can recover 75% of that cost at resale.

2.  New Siding

Old, worn siding, along with generally sad curb appeal, can contribute to a loss of up to 10% of your home’s value, according to some appraisers. New siding, on the other hand, practically screams “my owner takes care of me.”What to choose? Both vinyl and fiber-cement siding are good replacement options.

Vinyl siding is low-cost, durable, and easy to install, and it hits all the right notes when it comes to getting a return on your home improvement dollars. Best of all: It’s a low-maintenance feature that frees up your time.

Today’s vinyl siding includes fade-resistant finishes and transferrable lifetime warranties that are much better than the 10-year guarantees of just two decades ago. There’s good payback, too. According to the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report,” the $12,000 national median cost of a vinyl siding replacement job returns a solid 83% if you should decide to sell your home.

Fiber-cement siding also shows a strong payback of 79% in the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report.” Although its national median cost of $19,100 makes it the pricier option, it has one thing vinyl still lacks — the perception of quality.

And quality matters. In a survey from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), “quality” was the one of the most important traits that home buyers focused on when shopping for a house. A final word: 100% of homeowners responding to the “Report” said they were happy or satisfied with the result of their fiber-cement siding replacement project.

3.  Kitchen Upgrade

We’re not talking about the dream kitchen remodels that are plastered on Pinterest and Houzz. But a minor kitchen remodel — one that keeps a lid on costs by refacing instead of replacing cabinets, and includes new flooring, countertops, and modestly priced appliances — is an ever-popular project.“People are always willing to update their kitchens,” says Dale Contant, 2016 president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and owner of Atlanta Build and Design. “It’s the hub of the home.”

Although the ROI on a kitchen update is relatively modest — the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report” says you can expect a return of 67% on the $30,000 national median cost of a kitchen upgrade — you’ll get lasting satisfaction. Eighty-two percent of homeowners said their updated kitchen gave them a greater desire to be at home, and 95% were happy or satisfied with the result.

4.  Deck and Patio Additions

Like alfresco living? You’re in good company. According to a 2014 Home Trends Survey from the American Institute of Architects, our love of outdoor living spaces — especially decks and patios — is on the rise.One big reason is that decks and patios are a sweet way to expand living space at a low cost of $8 to $35 per square foot — a bargain compared to the $150-and-up per-square-foot cost of a new addition.


5.  Turning an Attic into a Bedroom

When it comes to romantic rooms, a bedroom retreat is hard to beat. But a treetop boudoir is much more than a daydream — it’s a good investment. You’ll gain living space without having to add on to your home’s footprint — the walls, floor, and ceiling already exist. That helps keep remodeling costs under control.There are code restrictions you’ll have to navigate when converting an attic to a bedroom, but if your house qualifies and you can cover the cost (about $65,000 says the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report”), chances are you won’t regret your decision. Some 94% of homeowners responding to the “Report” said they were happy or satisfied with their new attic space.

6.  New Garage Door

Steel

No surprise that a garage door replacement project made it onto our list of all-time winners — a new garage door provides a big boost for your home’s curb appeal at a relatively modest cost. That’s especially good news if you’re thinking about selling your house.

A project that replaces an older, two-car, embossed steel door has a current cost of about $2,300, according to the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report.” If you sell, you can expect a healthy ROI of 87% on your investment.

There are options galore, too. A host of factory-finish colors, wood-look embossed steel, and glass window insets are just some of the possibilities that’ll give your doors bankable personality.

Spiffying Up The Bathroom

Spiffying Up The Bathroom

Spiffying Up The Bathroom | MyBlessedLife.net

I scored a few new things for this space from Walmart.

I love the shimmery shower curtain from the Better Homes and Gardens Glimmer collection. It is so light and airy. And the elegant stripes are on point.

Spiffying Up The Bathroom | MyBlessedLife.net

New towels and a new rug really liven up the bathroom too. You can’t see it super well in the photo, but the white stripes have glimmery, silver threads running through them. I love the sparkle that the rug adds to the rustic bathroom floor.

Spiffying Up The Bathroom | MyBlessedLife.net

Organizing and tidying is in my blood, so I love these cute containers to help keep things where they belong!
Spiffying Up The Bathroom | MyBlessedLife.net

Cute!

Spiffying Up The Bathroom | MyBlessedLife.net

The grey and aqua color scheme is carried over from the shower curtain and rug to the hand towel as well.
Spiffying Up The Bathroom | MyBlessedLife.net

The toothbrush holder is only 8.97 and the covered jar is 12.97 – perfect for holding q-tips or cotton balls!

Spiffying Up The Bathroom | MyBlessedLife.net

I appreciate how affordable these new things were from Walmart. You don’t need to break the bank to give a room a little spiffying up just in time for Spring! I’m ready for some warm weather and beautiful sunshine, aren’t you?

What room would you like to “refresh” for Spring?

What to Look Out For When Buying a Fixer Upper in Maryland

With home prices beginning to rebound, more and more people are beginning to take the plunge into homeownership. In order to keep upfront costs low, many folks are realizing the benefits of purchasing a fixer-upper for their first home. While there are many benefits to buying a fixer upper, there are also some warning signs to watch out for to ensure you don’t get in over your head. Learn more about the red flags that you should avoid when purchasing your home.

fixer-upper-maryland

Buying a fixer upper can either be a great investment or a total flop. Learn the red flags to look out for.

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We Buy Ugly Homes that Need TLC in West Virginia

Do you own an ugly, rundown home in West Virginia? Is your home in need of repairs that you’re unable to make? Are you wanting to sell your home, but doubtful that anyone would buy it in the condition it’s in? While it’s true that a lot of people won’t buy a damaged or ugly home, we’re not just any home buyer. Learn more about how to sell your ugly home that needs TLC in West Virginia in our blog.

buy-home-repairs

 

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What to Do Before You Buy an Investment Property

Are you thinking about buying a property to invest in and flip for a sale? There is a lot of potential in low-cost investment properties, and if you go about the process right you can walk away with a nice profit. It’s important to do your homework before you make your final decision, so make sure you’ve taken care of the following before you buy an investment property.

investment property

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Maryland 3rd Best State For Home Flipping

Maryland is the 3rd best state in the country for buying and flipping homes, according to 24/7 Wall St. and USA Today. So what makes Maryland a great place for investing in and flipping real estate? It has a lot to do with the state’s foreclosure rate. Maryland has ranked in the top 5 states with the highest foreclosure rate for many consecutive months now. Just two months ago in February there were 2,210 foreclosure starts in the state, and in March the state ranked as the second highest in the nation for foreclosure rates behind Florida. In March, 1 in every 527 units received a foreclosure filing in Maryland compared to 1 in every 1,121 nationally.

At Grays Home Solutions, our goal is to provide solutions for those on both sides of the foreclosure coin. If you’re facing foreclosure, we offer a fast solution that provides an alternative to foreclosure and some of the consequences associated with foreclosure. If you’re a real estate investor, we offer these homes as an opportunity for you to use affordable real estate as a means for wealth-building and earning potential.

So what kind of earning potential is there in Maryland? According to 24/7 Wall St. the average gross profit for a flipped property in 2013 in Maryland was $98,122. Home flipping has significantly increased in popularity over the past few years as well, with 3,522 homes flipped in 2013 compared to about 1,000 in 2011. Maryland’s proximity to the highly desirable D.C. metro area also bodes well for flippers. “On average, flipped homes in the D.C. metro area were sold for $372,792 at a profit of more than $112,000 last year, more than in most other metro areas.”

Maryland home flipping

If you’re looking to invest in low-cost properties with lots of earning potential, we can help. Gray’s Home Solutions has properties of all types across the Tri-state area. Click here for a full list of properties, and contact us for more detailed information. Even if you’re not looking to buy right now, you can participate in our sellers referral program. Here’s how it works. Send us the phone number and property address for a For Sale By Owner or vacant property. We’ll take a look, and if we buy the property we’ll pay you $250 as a thank you for providing the lead.

Are you interested in learning more about selling your home fast? Our ebook has a ton of great information for you. We also have an ebook with information on how to avoid foreclosure, available for download here. They’re both free, so give them a look. You can also connect with Grays Home Solutions on FacebookTwitterGoogle+, and LinkedIn for more real estate made simple.

Sources

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/02/02/6-best-states-to-flip-a-house/5115321/

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/real-estate/state-foreclosures-maryland/

How To Sell Your Home When It Needs Repairs

Homes require maintenance to keep them in good shape. However, home maintenance isn’t always a quick or easy job, and without regular upkeep wear and tear can start to show. Things can fall by the wayside, and if you need to sell your home fast you might not have the time or the money to put into repairs. This is where we come in.

Grays Home Solutions is a home buyer in the Tri-state area who recognizes that just because a home needs repairs, does not mean that it has no value or is unsellable. We buy homes in all conditions, including those which have become run-down, damaged, or are in need of repairs. When you work with us, you don’t have to do any repairs before selling your home. Not even light repair work. We take on this work so you can sell your home fast. And when we say fast, we don’t mean in a month, we mean in a week.

So if you’re a homeowner in the Tri-state area, and your home is in need of repairs, don’t let this keep you from selling. Grays Home Solutions can work with you to sell your home fast and relieve you of the burden of repairs. Contact us today for more information.

fixer upper

Finding a buyer for your home doesn’t have to be a difficult process. Gray’s Home Solutions will buy your home quickly. We’re looking for properties of all types across the state of Maryland. Whether you’ve got a townhouse in Frederick, a rowhome in Baltimore, a rancher in Carroll County or a duplex in Rockville, we’d like to make you an offer. It doesn’t matter if your house is in pristine condition or if it has seen better days, we buy it all. Best of all, in addition to our speed, you pay no fees or commissions when we buy your home. Now there’s an offer that you can’t refuse.

Even if you’re not looking for a buyer, you can participate in our sellers referral program. Here’s how it works. Send us the phone number and property address for a For Sale By Owner or vacant property. We’ll take a look, and if we buy the property we’ll pay you $250 as a thank you for providing the lead.

Are you interested in learning more about selling your home fast? Our ebook has a ton of great information for you. We also have an ebook with information on how to avoid foreclosure, available for download here. They’re both free, so give them a look. You can also connect with Grays Home Solutions on FacebookTwitterGoogle+, and LinkedIn for more real estate made simple.

 

What to do with Your Fixer Upper

What are your options when it comes to fixer uppers? The low price entry point makes it easy to do almost anything you want with your fixer upper. Here are a few of your options.

Move In

Home sweet home. It might need some work, but you can afford it having saved on the purchase price. You can give your new house a new life with some time and work, and the next thing you know your house will feel like more of a home than the other one you were looking at. It’s very satisfying to see your vision for your home come to fruition, and with a fixer upper you can start from the bottom and create the home you always wanted.

Rent

Another option you have is to rent the house for positive cash flow. Spend some time getting everything ship shape and then find a tenant. If you put the effort in, people are going to want to live in your house, and once you get a tenant, you start making back the money you invested.

Sell

The economy and housing market are starting to pick back up, so now is a great time to get in. Get the house in good shape and put it on the market. Not only will the work you put in increase the property’s value, it will attract potential buyers. The potential for gain from selling a fixer upper is very high, which makes it an attractive investment option.

 

fixer upper

 

If you’re looking to invest in low-cost properties with lots of earning potential, we can help. Gray’s Home Solutions has properties of all types across the state of Maryland. Contact us for a full list of properties. Even if you’re not looking to buy right now, you can participate in our sellers referral program. Here’s how it works. Send us the phone number and property address for a For Sale By Owner or vacant property. We’ll take a look, and if we buy the property we’ll pay you $250 as a thank you for providing the lead.

Are you interested in learning more about selling your home fast? Our ebook has a ton of great information for you. We also have an ebook with information on how to avoid foreclosure, available for download here. They’re both free, so give them a look. You can also connect with Grays Home Solutions on FacebookTwitterGoogle+, and LinkedIn for more real estate made simple.