Top 12 Home Improvements

A survey done by HomeGain shows this list of the top 12 home improvements that will help your house sell quicker. It also gives the average cost of that repair and its return on investment.

1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($200 cost/$1,700 price increase)


2. Home Staging ($300 cost/$1,780 price increase)


3. Lightening and brightening ($230 cost/$1,300 price increase)


4. Landscaping ($320 cost/$1,500 price increase)


5. Repair Plumbing ($385 cost/$1,250 price increase)


6. Update electrical ($400 cost/$1,225 price increase)


7. Replacing or shampooing carpets ($300 cost/$1,420 price increase)


8. Painting interior walls ($700 cost/$1,770 price increase)


9. Repair damaged floors ($650 cost/ $1,600 price increase)


10. Update kitchen ($1,200 cost/$2,850 price increase)


11. Paint outside of home ($900 cost/$1,815 price increase)


12. Update bathrooms ($830 cost/$1430 price increase)

If you have questions about which improvement you should make on your house to get it ready to sell, please pick up the phone and schedule a time with either Realtor on the Eisenlauer Team. Their experience will help give you direction on your to-do list. We also have a list of contractors that we have worked with that we'd be glad to refer to you.

BOB 979-2883 BILL 770-2455

The Year of the Icicle

Have you ever seen so many glorious icicles? It just makes me want to break one off to lick (like you did as a kid when you believed they were pure) and just knock the rest of them down. Why so many icicles? They are caused from heat escaping thru the roof and/or insufficient venting out of the attic. If you have had an unusual amount of icicles this year, you might want to have a contrator check your attic insulation and your roof vents this spring. What to do with them? According to the experts quoted in this Mason City news article, if there are no leaks, leave them alone. As tempting as it can be to knock them all off, this could put you in danger as well your gutters. And if you think icicles can't be dangerous... read this article from West Virginia. Man killed by falling icicle. And he was wearing a hard hat! So Beware. Enjoy the icicles while they're sparkling and let them melt away.

For all your real estate needs or for the name of a reliable contractor give us a call. Bill Eisenlauer at 770-2455 or Bob Eisenlauer 979-2883.