Category Archives: Uncategorized

Boost your home’s value by painting the interior and exterior prior to listing

Here’s something you might not know: both interior and exterior painting can add significant value to your home. On average, homeowners who do both see about a $4,000 lift in value with a 55%-107% return-on-investment.

Another benefit is that your home will look fantastic, especially at first glance. In real estate, first impressions matter. Especially in a world dominated by online listings, you may only have seconds to catch the attention of a prospective buyer. New exterior and interior paint is your home putting its best foot forward. That’s why 66% of realtors in a recent survey recommended that the current homeowner repaint the interior and exterior prior to listing.

Interior painting

Painting the interior of the home before listing is a project that most homeowners, no matter how handy, can tackle at a relatively low cost. Even if you use the same colors that your house has now—if you’re unsure what exact shades were used, talk to your local hardware store for paint matching services—a fresh coat of paint will add vibrancy and life back into the home. Again, you want to make a good impression on a prospective buyer. New paint sends a subliminal message: “This house was well-cared for by the current owner.”

Of course, interior painting is also a chance to revisit some of your past color choices and make positive changes. While you shouldn’t go too wild with color, the right accent wall in the right space can really influence the mood of your kitchen, living room, or bedroom. Don’t underestimate the power of color to transform a space from bland to exciting.

Exterior painting

Your home’s exterior paint is especially important to its curb appeal—after all, the front of the house is typically the first thing a prospective buyer sees, whether they are pulling up to the curb or scrolling through homes online. However, to maximize the value you get out of exterior home painting, you’ll need to make the right decisions in a few key areas:

  • Quality: Shoddy paint work makes your home look old and cheap—probably not what you’re looking to get out of your exterior painting project! Use high-quality paint that is formulated specifically for your home’s exterior. Take the time to prepare the surface for painting so that the paint adheres and dries correctly. When in doubt, hire an exterior painting contractor.
  • Color: If your home is in a homeowner’s association (HOA), chances are that your color palette is already limited to a predetermined selection. However, even if you live in an HOA-free neighborhood, go with what the neighbors are generally doing. You don’t want your home to stick out like a sore thumb!

Paint your home and see the results for yourself

For even more interior and exterior painting tips—including a breakdown of color options—check out this incredible infographic below:.

Save money on your kitchen remodel without compromising value

A new kitchen is not only something you get to enjoy in the present, but it also can boost the long-term value of your home and make it more attractive to prospective buyers. But, just how do you go about completing a kitchen remodel without breaking the bank? In this article, we’ll review a few tips for saving on your kitchen project.

Set a kitchen remodeling budget

The average cost of a kitchen remodel in the United States is about $22,000. That might seem like a lot of money, but there are ways to cut costs and get the project done for less. Here’s just a few:

  • Skip major renovations: An open kitchen concept might seem like it has value-boosting potential, but it also could balloon your remodeling costs.
  • Handle what you can: While there are some things that require the help of a professional (such as new counter top installation), other projects can be completed by the homeowner, reducing installation costs.

Invest in new counter tops and cabinets
Combined, new counter tops and cabinets will likely be the most expensive part of your kitchen remodel. Many homeowners looking to complete their remodel on a tight budget are tempted to cut corners in this area. We don’t recommend it. They may be expensive, but new counter tops and cabinets are vital to boosting your home’s value. Most prospective home buyers have come to associate “remodeled kitchen” with “new counter tops and cabinets.” If you either pass on replacing your counters or cabinets or invest in low-quality materials, the decision could come back to bite you when you list your home.

Add value through small, inexpensive upgrades
Not every aspect of your kitchen remodel needs to be a “big ticket” item. While new counter tops and cabinets are at the heart of the project, there are many small, DIY projects homeowners can complete to finish the remodel and enhance the value of their new kitchen:
● Lighting: Never underestimate the power of light. The right lighting—whether it’s pendant lighting over a kitchen island or under cabinet lighting showing off your beautiful new quartz counter tops—can bring new life to a space, especially in contrast to the harsh brightness of fluorescent lights.
● Paint: One of the least expensive tasks in a kitchen remodel, finish things off with a fresh coat of paint to make the space feel new and vibrant.
● Accessories: Pick handles and pulls for your cabinets and drawers that match the overall aesthetic of your new kitchen. Choose a back splash that complements your counter tops and cabinets—if you have selected white quartz and white cabinets, a splash of color in the back splash might not be a bad idea.

Get more out of your kitchen remodel
For an exact cost breakdown and more tips for saving money on your kitchen remodel, take a look at this infographic below:

Pitfalls When Selling Your Home

Pitfalls? “But I just want to move up/ pare down and I KNOW my home is worth XXXX amount after all the upgrades we have put into it over the years!” Sound familiar?

Every real estate agent has heard this a time or two. Yes, we get it. You have a beautiful home, made fabulous memories and saw a home similar that went for tons of money. But, as real estate agents we are here to guide you to what the current market can bear. And, unfortunately that may be nowhere near what you have in your mind.

But you must also ask yourself, how fast do you want it sold? We ran into a graphic from realtor.com that pretty well explains the need for pricing your home correctly and RISMedia wrote a short post on it as well located at http://rismedia.com/2016/08/09/perils-of-overpricing/). You see, in the first few weeks your home is on the market, you may receive your asking price – even better. But as time goes on, the likely hood of you receiving your asking price dwindles. Take a look at real numbers:

Also remember how you felt when you bought your home many years ago. You loved it, right? But still you wanted to pay a fair price. Did you go see homes that were overpriced? I’ll bet not – and neither will buyers for your home come to see your home if it is not priced right.

But then again, you are a smart seller – otherwise you would not have a realtor to guide you in the current market, the proper price and even a price reduction if we ever need to. We are here to get the best price on your home the market will allow and help you in all the process along the way until your home is sold!

Knock Knock Children Museum

KNOCK KNOCK ……

Knock Knock Children’s Museum is a community spark for engaging, playful learning experiences that inspire and support lifelong learning.

Knock Knock MuseumKnock Knock Children’s Museum is expertly designed to provide learning zones (exhibits) and programs to stimulate informal learning experiences for young children. Knock Knock Children’s Museum is under construction in City-Brooks Community Park on Dalrymple Drive in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and will serve the families of the Capital Region.

Knock Knock is the result of the work of dedicated volunteers and advocates for early education, a pivotal partnership with The Recreation and Parks Commission for the Parish of East Baton Rouge (BREC), and the generous philanthropic support of our community.

When its doors open, Knock Knock Children’s Museum will be a destination for the exciting world of learning through play, discovery and hands-on exploration for young children (ages 0-8 years old) and their families.

Watch the video below to learn more:

Learning Zones

Knock Knock’s Learning Zones are hands-on, interactive exhibits creating “teachable moments” that connect children’s every day experiences to learning. These Learning Zones are anchored in research and evidence-based practices and translate these best practices into informal learning opportunities.

More information on Learning Zones: http://www.knockknockmuseum.org/learning-zones.php

For more information about the Knock Knock Children’s Museum and how you can get involved, check our frequently asked questions, submit an inquiry, or contact us.

Knock Knock Children’s Museum

Melissa A. Bell
2561 Citiplace Ct., Ste. 750-260
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: 225-388-3090

Email: mbell.kkcm@gmail.com