Prepare your home for earthquake dangers
The recent Seattle earthquake is another reminder for homeowners to protect themselves and their property during an earthquake. The Institute for Business and Home Safety offers the following tips:
- Anchor bookcases and filing cabinets to nearby walls
- Install latches on drawers and cabinet doors to keep contents from falling out.
- Install ledge barriers on shelves, place heavy items on lower shelves and secure large, heavy items to shelves.
- Use closed screw eyes and wire to attach items to the walls.
- Secure ceiling lights, suspended ceilings and hanging items, such as chandeliers.
- Fit all gas appliances with flexible connections and/or a breakaway gas shut-off device, or install a main gas shut-off device.
The booklet “Protect Your Home Against Earthquake Damage” is available by calling (888) 286-2624.
Does it pay to fix your home?
The best reason to fix your home up is for personal enjoyment. But if you do a nice job, you can realize some of your investment back when you sell.
On average, you can expect to get back about 1/3 of what you paid for an upgrade in a normal real estate market. However, some upgrades pay off better than others. In general, the more personal the choice – i.e., strong colors, loud prints, or unusual fixtures – the less likely prospective buyers are to appreciate it.
Below is a list of upgrades that go over and how well they are appreciated:
| BUYERS LOVE IT: Nice, subtle paint jobs & wallpaper Crown mouldings Bigger baseboards Hardwood or stone floors Recessed and area lighting Upgraded kitchen Customized driveway Built-in barbeque Mature trees & landscaping |
BUYERS LIKE IT: Built-ins depending on function Upgraded fireplaces Upgraded light fixtures Outdoor trelisses Granite countertops Faux finishes Raised panel doors instead of flat ones Framed mirrors Decorative tiles |
Remember to consider the age and character of your home when making these kinds of upgrades. People looking for older or historic homes prefer upgrades that keep the original character and charm of these homes in tact.
Many buyers are looking for a home with a timeless feeling and character. Adding some of the features buyers love can get your home sold faster and possibly at a higher price.
Case Study: Home Maintenance
In March of this year, an agent in my office took a listing for a 1910 Craftsman bungalow on North Canyon Boulevard in Monrovia. The home is a two-bedroom, one bath structure with the original woodwork, hardwood floors, high ceilings and wainscoting, situated on a large 9,374 square foot lot. It is 1,245 square feet of living space with a bonus room that could be used for a third bedroom and a two-car detached garage. The house was listed for $375,000, which was lower than most other vintage homes of this kind at the time it hit the market. The agent priced it there to take into consideration the condition of the home.
Unfortunately, this wonderful bungalow had been a rental for over twenty years. Because the owner did not live locally, he chose to defer maintenance for all that time and let the renters be responsible for its care. In addition, he never bothered to ask about the condition of the house, nor was he aware that termites had infested it for who knows how long.