Enclose A Patio

[Sandra Colby]

I plan to sell my house in about 12 months and would like to add some value to it. Most people have told me about the only way to do that is to add a room. I have an 11 X 16 screened in patio on the back of my house. If I were to have it enclosed with glass and my AC/Heat piped out there would that add much value? I know your first comment may be that the AC/Heat may not be ample but I had that checked and was told it wouldn't be a problem. I have a professionally landscaped yard so I don't think I can add value that way, what else might help?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Sandra

 

[Walter Kirk]

The answer to your question is it depends. Do other houses like yours in your neighborhood have similar enclosed patios? If they do will the cost of enclosing and adding heat and AC to your patio equal the increased sales price? In most cases the cost of an improvement exceeds its value upon resale. If you want to maximise the value of your house make sure that it is in good repair and looks good. Pay attention to the landscaping, paint and clutter.

 

[Thomas Fiehler]

Sandra-The question is will the addition of a room add value, then the answer is probably yes. Next though, why spend $10,000 to recoup $5,000 (for example only). In my area-SW Ohio, the most expensive and wasteful thing to do to a property is put on an addition. Since you mentioned you will be selling soon, just make sure the house is neutral in decoration and all materials and finish are in good condition. When you interview Realtors, ask for their advice if they would recommend any improvement that you should make. B)

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

It still would not be included in the GLA, Gross Living Area, of your house unless the walls, roof, windows, interior and exterior finish isn't at least equal to that of your house.

You probably would not be able to recover the cost of doing this. Paint and good floor coverings help as long as they are neutral enough.

I've seen very few instances where an addition or enclosed porch helps as much as it costs to do it. The next buyer might want something different.

Walter gave you your homework. Please, don't simply believe what Realtors and remodel magazines tell you. Find out for yourself first. Each area can be different and the various subdivisions in that area could show different answers to your question.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

I really have to agree with the prior posters....at this point in time remodeling most likely will not return the investment. Much, of course, depends on your location. Fresh interior paint in a neutral color, clean floor coverings, and getting rid of unnecessary clutter will do more than almost anything else in prepping a property for sale.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

Have any of you every watched a program called Sell this house? Gets very interesting sometimes. But basically all they do is clean the house, pack away all the clutter and personal items in storage, maybe paint some items, rearrange the furniture, etc. They usually end up spending only a few hundred dollars. Of course all the hard work of cleaning, painting and packing is being done by lots of people in the background--but they do come up with some amazing simple transformations.

 

[Sandra Colby]

You all have been very helpful. We have already started removing the clutter around the house. Purchased several storage containers and started painting and clean up. My husband built the patio himself and it is very professional looking. You can't even tell it was an add on. He made sure that the siding, roofing and everything else matched the house. He is planning to do all the work himself. That includes insulating and sheetrocking as well as building the windows. He's a network technician but can build just about anything. Since he built the screened in patio himself it cost only $1478. He spent the last 3 weekends replacing carpet in 2 bedrooms with laminated wood flooring. He's a real doityourselfer.

I would say about 15% of the homes in our neighborhood have an enclosed patio. This house was built in 1967 and is 2260 square feet. We have 3 kids and need a larger home. The house is in great shape but as you know when you have kids the walls are going to get soiled and stained.

Thanks for everyones help.

Sandra

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

The house is in great shape but as you know when you have kids the walls are going to get soiled and stained.

Make sure to take care of that before you put it on the market.
A little paint can go a long way in making the place look its best,
and sell for the best price.

 

[Steve Wyrick]

One of the best selling tricks I ever saw had nothing to do with the home. The lady of the house always had a warning prior to a potential buyer walk through and she had a supply of pre- made dough for making fresh bread or cinnamon rolls and would bake them just before the Realtor and potential buyer showed up. The aroma was wonderful and left a lasting positive impression. The sense of smell is one of our most sensitive and memorable memory keys.

Don't laugh, it worked big time. She did it when the Realtor tour came through and every Realtor in town brought buyers to the house, one of the most shown houses and it sold at top of market listed value.

 

[Restrain]

Every builder in the area has fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies in the oven. They are very aware of this trick.

Leave the patio for someone else. Put matching towels in the bath areas. Avoid spiced candles or poperee (sp?). These odors can actually be a turn-off. DO NOT leave lighted candles around. They don't help and are a fire hazard.

Fresh paint, an airy smell (no PET ODORS) and a 1 year home warranty (cost is appx $500) along with a well-maintained yard goes a long way. If you're planning to sell your home in the winter months, rye grass or a well-seeded fescue that stays green in the winter makes the home more attractive. Avoid high-maintenance lawn issues (very extensive landscaping, etc). If you don't have a sprinkler system, you might look at one of those (again, you can do that yourself).

Finally, pay for a home inspector to come out and do a report on your home. That way, you can take care of any items. You will also have an inspectors report available for the prospective buyer.

One other issue. I don't know about your market, but you are talking 12 months, which will be December/January. That is the SLOWEST time of our market. I realize that you have certain issues to deal with that will set when you want to put your home on the market. The best time is March-August to sell. Sept-December, the market dies as people don't want to move during that time frame. There is a measurable decline in sales prices during that period as it becomes a buyer's market for those who really need to sell.

Just something to consider.

Roger