Borrowed from Iyna Bort Caruso and Insight’s / Sotheby’s International Realty and the Wall Street Journal

The decision to put your house on the market is often the easy one. The hard part is deciding which, if any, home improvements to make before hanging the For Sale sign. Whether you leave the home “as is” or upgrade for a higher sale price, the answer depends on the category of home.

“In the half-million-dollar category, expectations are lower,” says Tracy Bacigalupi of Harbor Sotheby’s International Realty in Bay Harbor, Mich. “Buyers reason that if the home isn’t fixed up, they’ll do the work.” But in the $1 million-plus range, they “expect the home to be in really good condition, needing only minor cosmetic changes.”

Bacigalupi recalls one home that sat on the market for two years before the owner finally invested in improvements. Immediately after the overhaul, the home sold.

Home improvement expert and host of DIY Network’s “Money Hunters,” Matt Blashaw, says one of the easiest ways to increase the value of a house is to beef up its curb appeal. “This will increase the value of your home as well as your neighborhood.”

Remodeling Magazine’s 2010 Cost vs. Value report supports that suggestion. Something as simple as an entry-door replacement gets a big bang for the buck. In fact, this fix tops the magazine’s list of home improvements, with a 102.1% return in the midrange project category. Replacement projects historically perform better in resale value than remodeling. They are less expensive, for one thing, and contribute to curb appeal, which strongly influences homebuyers.

Big-ticket projects, of course, require both a budget and due diligence. “The kitchen is king,” says Blashaw. “Unless your home is falling down around you, the smartest place to put your hard-earned dough is in the kitchen. That’s where all the magic happens. If you have the means, make sure to place all your new toys into a nice flowing workspace. This will pack a lot more value into your home renovation,” he says.

A major upscale kitchen remodel averages $113,164 according to the Remodeling Magazine survey and returns 59.7%. A midlevel kitchen averages $58,367 with a 68.7% return. Blashaw recommends stylish choices but nothing too lavish. In high-end homes, he suggests quality stainless-steel appliances, gas stove, stone countertops and tile floors. “You don’t have to go with professional-grade appliances or blow your budget on Travertine.”

Bacigalupi agrees on the role a kitchen plays in a home’s salability. “I’ve watched buyers fall in love with the house, but if the kitchen isn’t where it needs to be, they walk away. It’s such an emotional aspect of the home. They want it to be amazing.”

The master bathroom is another important area that can prompt an offer. “A sanctuary, it truly needs to feel special, like a mini spa,” says Bacigalupi.

Sellers should think like buyers and ask themselves, what aspects of the home detract from the experience of living there? Weigh the quality and condition of the countertops, cabinetry, flooring and fixtures against their age and style, recommends architect David Ellison of The D. H. Ellison Co. in Cleveland, Ohio. Old doesn’t always mean less marketable. “A vintage kitchen or bathroom in good condition is often of equal or better value – and more attractive – than a brand-new kitchen. Never replace a high-quality vintage item with a low-quality new item as this degrades value,” he says.

Most remodeling projects with the best returns are practical, such as siding and window replacements. The average cost of fiber-cement siding is more than $13,000, but it returns 80%, second in the Cost vs. Value survey.

Another factor to consider is whether the home is a primary or secondary residence. Vacation homebuyers just want to show up and enjoy. They may be willing to rip up a carpet, but they’re generally not interested in ripping out a kitchen. In Mallorca, Spain, about 70% of properties are holiday homes, with many owners hailing from Germany and Great Britain, says Stephen Dight of Mallorca Sotheby’s International Realty. Easy fixes that won’t interfere with the enjoyment of the house get buyers’ attention. “The majority of people like to have something ready as they have neither the time nor the inclination to source furniture, decorators or building contractors. This is especially true with first-time buyers who know fewer people and are daunted by such a project,” Dight says.

Whether primary or a vacation home, renovating up to buyers expectations is always a sound investment. A home’s appearance should measure up to the best property in the neighborhood. Anything that might raise questions should be repaired, restored or replaced. “Don’t give buyers a reason not to buy. Give them a why,” says Blashaw. “If there’s one thing out of order, that’s when a potential buyer starts focusing on the negative.”

Thanks for reading today,
Channing Boucher
Benson Sotheby’s International Realty
Crested Butte CO
970-596-3228
View ChanningBoucher.com

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Stallion Park Condos

Estonian Building Unit 202
25 Elk Valley Road
Buckhorn Ranch

Tired of paying rent? 

Do you want to benefit from home ownership?

Consider this highly affordable home located only 5 minutes from downtown Crested Butte.

Stallion Park Condos are located at beautiful Buckhorn Ranch. 

Estonian Unit 202 is a top floor condo offering 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom.

Enjoy an open floor plan with a generous living area and kitchen, a big wood deck and a heated garage with an attached storage room.

The mountain views from this home are incredible! 

Inquire today to learn how FHA-approved financing will put you into this home at very attainable terms. 

Details:

EUGENE, OR – June 14, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Crested Butte, Colorado real estate broker Channing Boucher has teamed with IDX, Inc. to create an easy-to-use professional website, changing the way he conducts business online. The efficient IDX Broker software syncs Boucher’s website directly with Gunnison Country MLS (GCMLS) listings, to display a comprehensive real estate listings database from the convenience of the Benson Sotheby’s International website. Combining GCMLS listings with the properties Boucher represents gives home seekers in and around Crested Butte the most in depth and reliable online property search around.

With the revolutionary technology IDX Broker software brings to Boucher’s site, the entire online home search has changed. Potential buyers can scan thousands of listings to find their dream home, or they can create and save a customized search to display homes with certain features and traits. Boucher’s clients have the advantage of utilizing the Advanced search tool, which lets them enact parameters to find properties of certain sizes, with particular zoning regulations and in specific subdivisions. Finding the perfect home online has never been easier for Crested Butte home seekers!

Boucher himself gains vast control over the design and functionality of his website through a personalized administrative login page. Here, he can edit CSS and global wrappers to develop a signature look and professional branding throughout each page of his website. Managing clients, analyzing market trends and receiving updates from the GCMLS all come automatically to Boucher’s personal page, which he can check at home or from his iPhone or iPad. IDXBroker software has forever changed the way this Colorado broker does business by making him more accessible to clients and potential buyers around Crested Butte.

About Channing Boucher
“Today, I consider myself very fortunate to be in the real estate business in Crested Butte. Working with people that share a similar affinity for this place gives me tremendous satisfaction. I like to think I specialize in helping folks with the process of investing in their Crested Butte lifestyles. The real estate transaction is only part of it.” Boucher graduated from the University of Washington and is currently a Broker Associate for Benson Sotheby’s International Realty.

About IDX, Inc. 
Based in Eugene, Oregon, IDX Inc. is nationally known as a leading provider of real estate search applications. IDX, Inc. actively manages over $1 trillion worth of active listings data from over 350 Multiple Listings Services (MLS). IDX Broker is IDX, Inc.’s principle real estate software utility and myAgent IDX is its principle mobile application available for the iPhone. The easy to manage and customizable software helps real estate professionals display home listing data from their multiple listing service (MLS) on their individual and/or office websites. For more information on all the services provided by IDX, Inc. please visit www.idxbroker.com.

View 360 Tour

Located just 4 Blocks from Downtown Crested Butte, at the end of 2nd Avenue, the views from every room at 127 Butte Avenue are stunning.

Featuring 2nd story living, 127 Butte Avenue offers the perfect floor plan for this location and lifestyle.

Enjoy 5 bedrooms, 3 full and 1 1/2 bathrooms and a detached accessory set up as a back office/studio with a 1/2 bath.

There are gorgeous vaulted ceilings in the main living room feature hand-hewn, custom scissor trusses, a rock fireplace, a wrought iron chandelier and French doors that lead to the large second story deck.

The second living room at the southern end of the home is perfect for an office, beds or a study.

Both the main living room and deck showcase stunning, protected views of Mt. Crested Butte and the Slate River Wetlands open space, Teocalli, Whiterock, and Gothic Mountains.

The home’s master bedroom includes tall ceilings, dramatic views, double doors to the awesome flagstone patio and backyard that includes a garden and a back gate to a nordic ski trail that wraps itself around Crested Butte’s coveted Kapushion Annexation.

The kitchen features alder cabinets, concrete counter tops, a apron sink, Wolfe range & Bosch appliances & a beautiful custom wood bar.

The large dining area features a copper sink, a wet bar, glass uppers, and a wine rack & mini-Fridge.

Offered for $1,995,000

The Details:
2944 Sq. Ft
5 Bedroom
3 Full, 2 Half Baths
252 Sq. Ft., 1 Car Attached/heated garage & heated driveway
Detached guest house
Flagstone patio
Chocolate glazed alder doors
Antique oak flooring
Honed absolute granite slab countertops, slate & custom tile baths.
Radiant in-floor heat
Reclaimed wood and Artisan detail throughout.
Central vacuum

Exclusively Marketed by Channing Boucher of Benson Sotheby’s International Realty in Crested Butte.

View 360 Virtual Tour

Here it is. Brand new construction, high-end luxury and one incredible location on Coal Creek. This 2000 sft. luxury condo comes fully furnished and features mountain views and a sweet creek side lifestyle! Enjoy a primo Coal Creek location, luxurious appointments, a gourmet chef’s kitchen, beautiful furnishings, protected mountain views, 2 master suites, a big office or 3^rd bedroom, 3.5 bathrooms, and a big 2 car-heated garage with private alley access!

Channing’s TV Ad Spot Link – 30 Seconds 

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Channing in Crested Butte

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