FAMILY & HOME
G: What can I do to make my kitchen show its best for
the least amount of money?
T: If your kitchen cabinets are dated, instead of paying a
lot of money to replace them, you can stain or paint them.
After you prepare the cabinets and remove the hardware,
apply stain or paint in even strokes, going with the grain
of the wood. Add new hardware and yes, replace all the
hinges if they’re visible. Get rid of old appliances that
make your kitchen look dated and replace with stainless
steel. Don’t just replace one appliance - everything needs
to match. Studies show that new kitchen appliances
bring high returns for sellers. Anything on your kitchen
counters that you don’t use daily shouldn’t be there while
your home is on the market.
G: What types of inspections do you recommend to
your buyers?
T: ALWAYS have a building, termite and radon inspection
performed. Depending on the home, its age and location,
there are other inspections I strongly suggest to our clients.
Sewer Inspection with a camera…. If there are large
trees or if it’s an older home, I’d strongly suggest a sewer
inspection with a camera. This inspection could save you
thousands of dollars.
Chimney Inspection…. If after the building inspection
there is any doubt about the structure of the chimney,
you may need a chimney inspection performed.
Moisture and Mold Inspection…..If you suspect any
issues with moisture in the basement or possibly in the
attic from a roof leak, you should definitely have this test
performed. Mold can lead to a lot of health problems.
Asbestos Inspection……If the home was built prior to
1975, you should have the home tested. Asbestos can be
present on insulation around duct work, water heaters
and pipes.
Pool Inspection…. If the home has a pool, you should
have a pool inspection performed by a qualified pool
inspector.
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Tracy Ellis is one of St. Louis’ top luxury home real
estate agents and a member of LuxuryRealEstate.com.
She is the publisher of the magazine, Tracy Ellis: A
Guide to Luxury Real Estate.
SAVVY I SOPHISTICATED I SASSY