Real Estate Information Page

Did you know that homes within Meadowbrook Glens are the most affordable within Novi? It's true!  If you are like me, you want to see the value of your home increase (dramatically). In order to do that, we as a subdivision need to work together, by updating and maintaining our own homes. When a person shops for a home, the first thing they consider (before they even enter the house) are the homes around their home. Here are some tips to help improve the value of homes within Meadowbrook Glens.

You might want to take a look around your house and make sure it’s up-to-date. Nothing turns off potential buyers more than knowing they’ll have to sink a lot of money into their new home just to modernize it. But let’s say you don’t have a lot of cash—and who does? -You need to know what to remodel in your home that will add the most value to your home.

Outside
Create a good first impression. Mow the lawn, rake leaves, trim trees and shrubs that keep light out of the house, and remove dead plants. After all, you can't sell a house if a buyer can't see it. Store tools, garbage cans, hoses, toys, and building materials neatly in a storage area. Replace broken or missing roof shingles, and straighten and clean the gutters and down spouts. Clean all windows and mend torn screens. Paint your house if necessary. This can probably do more for sales appeal than any other factor. If you decide against painting the entire house, at least consider painting the front door, window frames, and shutters. Seal or resurface driveway and repair broken steps and walkways. Paint or replace your mailbox and post. Dress up the front yard by placing quartz stones or pine barks around shrubs, lamp post, and mailbox post.

Clean, Clean, Clean
Look at your home as though you are seeing it for the first time. Is every room neat, spotlessly clean, dusted and uncluttered? Steam clean carpets and wax floors. Wash walls, windows and light fixtures. Liquid Gold all trim and wood surfaces. Tighten loose stair railings.

Foyer
Use bright light bulbs in the foyer and throughout the house. Fill the house with the pleasant aroma of cinnamon, or other fresh scent.

Living Room
Clean woodwork, shampoo carpet, and wash all the windows. Replace the carpet if it's worn or old. I know it costs money, but you will get it back PLUS more. Patch cracks, nail holes, and repaint walls in neutral colors such as "Antique White." Nail down creaking boards and stair treads. Lubricate any sticking or squeaking doors. Discard worn furniture and move the extras to a storage unit. Remember, too much furniture makes rooms look cluttered and small. Visit model homes to get decorating ideas. Open all curtains. Replace if they're old. Add lamps and lighting if dark. Set out some fresh flowers.

Furniture
Rearrange or remove furniture to make your rooms look more spacious. Pack away knick-knacks from end and coffee tables-- one or two items per surface is plenty.

Kitchen and Baths
These rooms should gleam! Clear off counters. Clean all appliances and fixtures. Replace chrome burner plates on the range. Scrub floors and walls-- repaint if necessary. Caulk tubs and showers. Clean thoroughly and be sure these rooms smell fresh.

Your next step should be to refinish the existing cabinetry. If you want to replace what you’ve already got, you’re looking at several thousand dollars, so consider painting the cabinets you already have. Use high-gloss enamel for durability easier cleaning. White is a good choice, especially if the walls are a color. Or if you have nice wood cabinets, consider refinishing then yourself. Take them outside, sand, and varnish, and you’ve got nice, new-looking cabinets. And don’t forget the hardware. You can get new handle and drawer pulls ranging anywhere from a few cents to several dollars; the choice depends upon how much you want to spend and the look you are after.

A new countertop is also a good idea, and you can get an inexpensive laminate one that will look much better than that ‘70s avocado green or baby blue one you have now. Technology has come along way, and the newest laminate countertops look almost as nice as granite or Corian. They’re even relatively easy to install yourself. The average do-it-yourselfer can put a new laminate cover on an existing countertop. The avid do-it-yourselfer can construct a completely new laminate countertop. Any good home improvement book can tell you how.

Another way to inexpensively update your kitchen or bath is new flooring. If you have wood under whatever your floor covering is now, consider refinishing it yourself. Most homebuyers love wood floors. The least expensive flooring is vinyl sheet flooring and vinyl tiles. Sheet flooring is usually the least expensive and it is fairly easy to install yourself, but vinyl tiles are only a bit more expensive (about $0.50-$2.00 per square foot) and they are a snap for anyone to install. In a Saturday, you can have a whole new kitchen floor.

Closets
Remove out-of-season clothing. Take those things to Goodwill that you'll have to discard anyway when you move. Organize shelves, straighten shoes. Be sure sliding doors operate smoothly in their tracks and knobs on drawers are secure.

Utility Room
Dust and wash off lint from washer and dryer. Dust and wash off hot water heater.

Light and Bright
Do everything you can to brighten the interior. Replace dim bulbs with bright ones, replace wallpaper with off-white paint, repaint shabby or dark walls. Open the blinds, replace broken windows and window seals. During winter, maintain a comfortable temperature even if you are away for extended time. There is no music that soothes all beasts, so play it safe by turning your stereo off.

Don’t forget your window treatments. Clean or get rid of dusty old blinds and invest in some sharp new mini-blinds. If you can sew, you already know that there are an almost limitless number of ideas out there for curtains and valances. You probably don’t want long curtains in your kitchen; they can be a fire hazard. So some short curtains or valances will only need a couple of yards of material each. Get it on sale and you save even more money. Spend a weekend whipping up some new valances and you’ve got a great new look without spending a lot of money.