Starter Home Owners - Help!

How do you pick your projects?

We are planning on keeping our starter house for about 2 more years - is it worth it to spend $5,000 to put in a paver walkway and stoop and fix a driveway?

I know it would absolutely boost curb appeal because the concrete stoop we have now is crooked, the driveway has seen better days, and the walkway is blacktop.

My DH is on board, but thinks that we will never get the $ back when we go to sell. He is also concerned about getting too attached to something we aren't going to keep.

Message edited 5/7/2011 10:16:22 PM.

Re: Starter Home Owners - Help!

I don't know if this helps, but we are hoping that even if we don't make the money back, it will make the house more appealing to a greater number of buyers and therefore will sell quicker (and most likely at a higher price then if we didn't do the work). There's a line between doing too much work and losing too much money and doing some work and being in a better place to sell, but we have quite a few rooms that are truly turnoffs - I can see some people walking right back out the door, and that's what I'm hoping to prevent... And that is how we pick our projects. The basement could use a facelift, but is not primary living space and we will probably just leave that alone. I don't think too many would be turned off by an outdated basement, but an outdated kitchen is a different story, does that make sense?

That being said, we do a lot of the work ourselves, and don't go as pricy/nice as we would on our long term home (we are in a weird position of owning both for a few years) - kitchens, baths, etc. We are going to have to redo our driveway (professionally) b/c it was concrete and now seems to be well on it's way to gravel, but we'll do that right before we put it on the market....

Re: Starter Home Owners - Help!

if you have the $$, I would do it.

we are in the same boat as you - we may sell in 3 years or do an extension. We are re-doing the siding this week. I figure if we don't get every dollar back its ok, because we can enjoy it for the next few years and it will boost our curb appeal.

Re: Starter Home Owners - Help!

Do you have to be concerned that the stoop and driveway will be worse in 2 years? I imagine that if you have cracks in the driveway, there's a very good chance they will be worse in 2 years.

If so this may actually be a maintenance project rather than an enhancement project.

I agree w/ the previous poster about this having a curb appeal aspect which should be considered.

Re: Starter Home Owners - Help!

I think you should do it. Curb appeal is KEY when selling. Many buyers won't even bother to check out a home's interior if the exterior does not seem well-maintained. Also, buyers are often leery of homes that need exterior work, thinking those projects are more extensive and costly then cosmetic changes to the inside of a home (such as new carpet, flooring, paint).

Plus, the crooked stoop, etc. could be a safety issue as well as cosmetic.

Definitely pick and choose your projects if you are planning to sell, as you usually do not recoup your money for renovations when you sell. Also, with a starter home, you don't want to overimprove for the area.

But I would not put the project you are describing in that category. No matter what size or style of home, everyone likes to see a well-cared for, appealing looking home and property from the outside, so go for it!

Re: Starter Home Owners - Help!

I'd go with it for the curb appeal but only if you can pay for it in cash (not undertake debt for it).