For the past few years, I’ve decided to post this blog on bang for your buck remodeling. It’s a way to add value to the homeowner and most folks I know are tinkering with some home project, for one reason or another. The report, Key Trends in the 2018 Cost vs. Value Report is a good resource, targeted per region in the US. It comes out every year.

The report’s goal is to give homeowners objective reporting on how much it costs for a professional (not DIY) to complete a project and then how much real estate professionals believe the project will increase a home’s value if it is sold within a year of project completion. The report calculates bang for your buck by dividing the project’s value into its cost. It also compares projects that yielded great

Since many of you may be entertaining home improvements this year…..

This blog is the first part of a two-part series. First, in order to take advantage of tax breaks associated with home renovations, it is important to figure out the difference between a home repair (sometimes simple, sometimes not) and a home improvement.

The IRS defines a repair as anything that's necessary to keep your home in good condition but doesn't necessarily add to its value. In other words, to avoid “deferred maintenance.” An improvement is anything that prolongs the useful life of your home and has the potential to increase its resale value. If you want to take advantage of the available tax perks, your project needs to fall under the home improvement category.

My mom, who has a discerning eye for architectural and interior design, recently told me to go to Barnes and Noble and grab a dozen magazines to get ideas for my remodel this upcoming fall. Seemed pretty cumbersome to me—lots of bulk and I can’t tell you how vexed I am when the Restoration Hardware catalog hits my mailbox—all 250 pages of it.

I do love actually holding a book when I read one (once in a blue moon) rather than using a device. But, I feel 100% comfortable with the online tools available to plan my remodel from my office chair. Here are a few apps and sites that are convenient and comprehensive enough to get your home projects off to a great start in a flash.

New tools like virtual reality measuring apps and online mood boards are using

Sometimes, I’m a little embarrassed of my comrades in real estate. Okay, I’d go so far as to say that a handful of times, I’m completely astounded (note, negative connotation) by how realtors poorly prepare and market properties and even more so how sellers don’t demand better. Perhaps it could be that sellers just don’t know what expectations to hold for their realtor. Let’s just put it out there—a realtor listing a property typically does so for around a 3.2% professional fee (commission). On a $500K listing, that’s $16,000—that’s a lot of money! If you ask me, the listing agent should earn it, every time, regardless of the home price, and doing so, they might earn you a bit more money on your sale as well!

So, what should your realtor be doing

Photo by Marc Rochkind [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMolly_Brown_House_Porch_Detail.jpg]

When you travel back east and get a sense of just how old our country really is, I know Denver may appear somewhat less impressive, but, Denver can indeed confidently claim neighborhoods with historical character and architectural styles. I recently found out that there are three locations that are applying for designation as historic districts/landmarks- The National Western Stockshow stadium arena (not awarded), the Emily Griffith Opportunity School (awarded), and the 200 block of South Lincoln Street (awarded). The homes there, built between 1889 and 1895, feature Queen Anne Architecture and were designed by William Lang, a noteworthy Denver

More often than not, when one of my clients has a tight schedule and can only go see properties after daytime work hours M-F, I will preview a home to see if it’s even worth a client visit. As I was out previewing once I entered a home after finagling with the door lock for some time. The home was dark, disheveled, and moldy.

I was immediately drawn to an oversized lit up aquarium with a green glow in the front living room. Upon closer look, I noticed an unusually large sucker fish floating upside down on the surface, dead. Suffice it to say this was not the welcome that makes most buyers say, “This is it!”

Buyers want to envision what the space will look like with their belongings, not the items of the previous owner, especially dead fish.

Where can the Millennials find a place to live in Denver now? I get this question a lot. Back in February I wrote a blog on Affordable Neighborhoods Near Denver, http://lindseyfriedmanhomes.com/2016/02/29/affordable-neighborhoods-part-i/. Before I wrote that post, I actually had to look up the definition of a Millennial- and sadly, I found out I wasn’t one. In October 2004, researchers Neil Howe and William Strauss defined the group as “those born in 1982 and approximately 20 years thereafter,” putting the range at 34 years of age to 14 years of age. That range encompasses a vast array of stages in one’s life- a 23-year old’s life and priorities typically look very different from a 34- year old’s needs and goals in owning a home. That’s what make this

The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) announced its official list of the top landscape design trends for 2016. https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/

As the voice of the landscape industry, NALP crafts its annual forecast based on current consumer demands and lifestyle trends, in addition to considering broader horticultural, architectural and design factors.

"The latest trends reflect the desire to bring the indoors out—to create comfortable landscapes that are both functional and beautiful," says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs, NALP. "At the same time, we’re seeing a shift toward sustainable landscapes that reflect a renewed sense of mindfulness for the Earth and its ecosystems." Not to mention that

Radon, Lead Based Paint- these are things that realtors address with their clients when buying a home. These are things that sound scary and come with homes, especially older ones. I’m fairly certain I have asbestos in my sparkly popcorn ceilings (please still feel free to come over!) but I’m looking past that for now.

I think the arrival of spring has inspired me to create a fresh, clean, and healthy home. Or, it could be a manifestation of my lack of control living with three “boys.” But really, I feel like I spend so much time on BPA -free water bottles and non-high-fructose corn syrup ketchup and don’t really address what I spray all over, wipe with and wash with. Let’s open up the windows and breathe!!!

And let me just lay it out there: I

You might ask yourself, “Why does Lindsey from time to time send out a real estate snapshot showing a list of on the market and sold properties in my neighborhood? I’m not going to sell my house any time soon.” Why, it’s elementary! I want to make sure you are as educated as possible on the market- and not using 9News to arrive at your conclusions.

Housing averages, which generally irk me, do not tell the real story and are not predictive. It is more useful to study individual houses or neighborhoods over time, which can give you a much more reliable and granular picture of your local housing market.  As Alan N. Weiss, co-founder of the Case-Shiller Weiss housing market index and an expert on everything real estate data says, “Don’t be fooled by