Page 6 - Inside Lehigh Valley Real Estate August 12 2015
P. 6
Out of space? Park a new room in the garage
Under-used areas are ripe for remodeling
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2015 Many people decide to grow old in a house, a the space was once a ga- Metro Creative Connection
upgrade from their apart- garage conversion can be a rage. A slab floor will need If your garage is under-utilized and you need more living space, consider converting it — the basics are
ments or condominiums worthy investment. But to be raised and insulated. already in place.
out of a need for more those who intend to sell Walls also will need to be
space. But even after mov- their homes rather than insulated and finished to Landscaping work also blend the garage reno- contractor and follow the
ing into a new home, retire in them may learn improve comfort and can minimize the appear- vation into the rest of the municipal guidelines for
homeowners may soon that a converted garage can soundproofing. Many ga- ance of an old garage. yard design. modifying the space to
begin to outgrow the room affect home value and rages do not have win- Rather than having the ensure the job is done
they have. make it less desirable at dows, so for the garage to driveway end at the wall of Transforming a garage right.
resale. Compare your home function as a renovated a home, shrubbery, pavers into a living space can add
Rather than looking for to others in the area and space, windows may need and other techniques can several hundred square feet Metro Creative
a new home, some home- see what your neighbors to be added. to a home. Hire a reputable Connection
owners consider expansion. have done. If converted
Expanding a living space garages are the norm where One of the biggest
can be expensive, and a you live, your own reno- transformations will come
more affordable option vation may fit in just fine. by way of modifying the
may be converting existing garage door entry. Some
basement or garage space Always apply for the homeowners prefer to leave
into something more liv- proper permits and learn the existing door so that the
able. Garages already are the zoning laws to see if a home still has the appear-
built on a foundation, have garage conversion is ac- ance of a garage from the
four walls and a roof over- ceptable in your town or curb, while others remove
head, so a garage-con- city. It’s best to go by the the garage door and rebuild
version project is merely a book so that work can be the exterior wall so that it
matter of turning this utili- done in a proper manner has a window or another
tarian area into a living and be inspected for safety. architectural element. An
space. architect can help suggest
Many homeowners hope design elements that will
Before beginning the their garage-conversion camouflage the original
renovation, homeowners projects will make their garage look and make the
should consider the ben- garages seem like a seam- space seem like it was
efits versus the cost of less part of the rest of the always part of the home’s
converting the garage. For house. To do so, you will main living area.
those who are planning to need to remove evidence
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE MORNING CALL Preparing for prospective buyers
Metro Creative Connection Selling a home can be home more appealing to give buyers the impression make sure all of the cur-
Make sure your home’s interior and exterior are clean, tidy and exciting. Homeowners who buyers whose dream home that you did not prioritize tains are drawn and the
made considerable fi- more closely resembles keeping a presentable blinds or shades are up. If
6 uncluttered to attract buyers. nancial commitments when your own. home. trees or shrubs outside
buying their homes may be ■ Address curb appeal. ■ Clear out the clutter. windows are blocking
anxious when the time Curb appeal goes a long Some sellers stage their natural light from getting
comes to get a return on way toward creating a homes when putting them inside, consider trimming
their investment, but sell- lasting first impression, so up for sale. But staging them.
ing a home need not be so homeowners can start by might not be an option for ■ Tackle that to-do list.
nerve-racking. driving up to their homes sellers who are still living It’s easy for a home’s resi-
and looking at them in their homes. If you can’t dents to grow accustomed
Buyers’ tastes often through the eyes of pro- stage your home, then do to certain minor problems,
dictate their interest in a spective buyers. Address your best to remove clutter, such as a doorknob that
home. For example, no the landscape and power including extra pieces of always sticks or a creaky
matter how immaculate wash siding if it appears a furniture. Keep common kitchen cabinet door. But
homeowners may keep little dirty. Examine your areas as open and clean as buyers might be turned off
their colonials, such homes driveway for cracks and possible. by too many of these mi-
won’t appeal much to consider installing a new ■ Let the light shine in. nor problems and wonder
buyers looking for a tradi- surface if the existing one Dark homes are less ap- if any larger — and more
tional Cape Cod home. But is an eyesore. Finally, clear pealing to prospective expensive — issues also
while you might not be the yard of toys and tools buyers, many of whom went ignored.
able to change your home’s before sinking the “For have no interest in living in
architecture to appeal to Sale” sign into the ground, caves devoid of sunlight. Metro Creative
the masses, there are steps as a cluttered yard will When showing your home,
you can take to make your Connection
Under-used areas are ripe for remodeling
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2015 Many people decide to grow old in a house, a the space was once a ga- Metro Creative Connection
upgrade from their apart- garage conversion can be a rage. A slab floor will need If your garage is under-utilized and you need more living space, consider converting it — the basics are
ments or condominiums worthy investment. But to be raised and insulated. already in place.
out of a need for more those who intend to sell Walls also will need to be
space. But even after mov- their homes rather than insulated and finished to Landscaping work also blend the garage reno- contractor and follow the
ing into a new home, retire in them may learn improve comfort and can minimize the appear- vation into the rest of the municipal guidelines for
homeowners may soon that a converted garage can soundproofing. Many ga- ance of an old garage. yard design. modifying the space to
begin to outgrow the room affect home value and rages do not have win- Rather than having the ensure the job is done
they have. make it less desirable at dows, so for the garage to driveway end at the wall of Transforming a garage right.
resale. Compare your home function as a renovated a home, shrubbery, pavers into a living space can add
Rather than looking for to others in the area and space, windows may need and other techniques can several hundred square feet Metro Creative
a new home, some home- see what your neighbors to be added. to a home. Hire a reputable Connection
owners consider expansion. have done. If converted
Expanding a living space garages are the norm where One of the biggest
can be expensive, and a you live, your own reno- transformations will come
more affordable option vation may fit in just fine. by way of modifying the
may be converting existing garage door entry. Some
basement or garage space Always apply for the homeowners prefer to leave
into something more liv- proper permits and learn the existing door so that the
able. Garages already are the zoning laws to see if a home still has the appear-
built on a foundation, have garage conversion is ac- ance of a garage from the
four walls and a roof over- ceptable in your town or curb, while others remove
head, so a garage-con- city. It’s best to go by the the garage door and rebuild
version project is merely a book so that work can be the exterior wall so that it
matter of turning this utili- done in a proper manner has a window or another
tarian area into a living and be inspected for safety. architectural element. An
space. architect can help suggest
Many homeowners hope design elements that will
Before beginning the their garage-conversion camouflage the original
renovation, homeowners projects will make their garage look and make the
should consider the ben- garages seem like a seam- space seem like it was
efits versus the cost of less part of the rest of the always part of the home’s
converting the garage. For house. To do so, you will main living area.
those who are planning to need to remove evidence
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF THE MORNING CALL Preparing for prospective buyers
Metro Creative Connection Selling a home can be home more appealing to give buyers the impression make sure all of the cur-
Make sure your home’s interior and exterior are clean, tidy and exciting. Homeowners who buyers whose dream home that you did not prioritize tains are drawn and the
made considerable fi- more closely resembles keeping a presentable blinds or shades are up. If
6 uncluttered to attract buyers. nancial commitments when your own. home. trees or shrubs outside
buying their homes may be ■ Address curb appeal. ■ Clear out the clutter. windows are blocking
anxious when the time Curb appeal goes a long Some sellers stage their natural light from getting
comes to get a return on way toward creating a homes when putting them inside, consider trimming
their investment, but sell- lasting first impression, so up for sale. But staging them.
ing a home need not be so homeowners can start by might not be an option for ■ Tackle that to-do list.
nerve-racking. driving up to their homes sellers who are still living It’s easy for a home’s resi-
and looking at them in their homes. If you can’t dents to grow accustomed
Buyers’ tastes often through the eyes of pro- stage your home, then do to certain minor problems,
dictate their interest in a spective buyers. Address your best to remove clutter, such as a doorknob that
home. For example, no the landscape and power including extra pieces of always sticks or a creaky
matter how immaculate wash siding if it appears a furniture. Keep common kitchen cabinet door. But
homeowners may keep little dirty. Examine your areas as open and clean as buyers might be turned off
their colonials, such homes driveway for cracks and possible. by too many of these mi-
won’t appeal much to consider installing a new ■ Let the light shine in. nor problems and wonder
buyers looking for a tradi- surface if the existing one Dark homes are less ap- if any larger — and more
tional Cape Cod home. But is an eyesore. Finally, clear pealing to prospective expensive — issues also
while you might not be the yard of toys and tools buyers, many of whom went ignored.
able to change your home’s before sinking the “For have no interest in living in
architecture to appeal to Sale” sign into the ground, caves devoid of sunlight. Metro Creative
the masses, there are steps as a cluttered yard will When showing your home,
you can take to make your Connection
