As a seller, one can feel the pressure to improve your home to suit the buyer’ market. You don’t have to perform miracles to change the look or appeal of your home. Most of us are well aware of the costly need to upgrade counters and cabinets in our kitchens and often times we cannot justify the cost of doing so. Here is a list of home improvements you can make, that even though they can be costly, will pay you back in the long run.
Landscaping – Sprucing up your curb appeal can determine whether or not a buyer actually enters your home. An overgrown lawn and garden can turn buyers away, so plant some trees or flowers to catch their attention.
Add A Bedroom – If you have an unfinished basement or attic space, give your home one more bedroom. By doing so, you will definitely raise the price of your home.
Build A Deck – Putting a second story slider and deck in is one of the least expensive ways to expand your living space.
Bathroom – By converting a half bath into a full, or a closet into a bath, you are improving one of the most important rooms in the house, second to the kitchen. Buyers like the extra space a full bath offers.
Kitchen – The kitchen is a make or break room for buyers, so replacing appliances and counters is a great idea to catch a buyer, even if the layout isn’t exactly what they were looking for.
Finished Basement – If yours is unfinished, finish it. Buyers may not want to have to finish it themselves and the extra space will appeal to them.
Windows – New energy efficient windows in an older home can attract buyers, as it saves on energy and is also one less improvement the buyers may have to make on their own.
Source : http://www.lakeviewtitle.com/blog.details.php?id=86
About Christa
Resume’
Christa Sasser
Distinctive Properties, Inc.
Obtained Real Estate License in August of 1979 and the Broker’s License in January of 1985.
• Broker / Owner of Distinctive Properties since 1994.
• Graduate of the Real Estate Institute (GRI)
• Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
• Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB)
• Accredited REO Agent (A*REO)
• Certified Sort Sale, Foreclosure, Recourse. (SFR)
Real Estate Activities:
Locally: Tri-City Association of Realtors.
• 1992 and 2001 Realtor of the Year.
• 1991 Elected to President of the Tri-City Association of Realtors.
• 1990 Served as Vice-President.
• 1989 Embraced the office of Secretary -Treasurer
• 1985 to 1994 Elected to the Board of Directors.
• 1989 to 1994 Earned a place on the Honor Society
• 2012 CRB (Certified Residential Broker) President for WA Chapter.
• Chaired: Member Services, Nominations, Awards, Long Range Planning, Budget and Finance, Communications, Education, Grievance. Co-Chaired: Most or all of the Committees. Served on: Activities, Budget & Finance, Long Range Planning, Member Services, Awards, Education, Nominating. Grievance, By-Laws. MLS Committee (Some more than one term, consecutively or at different times.)
Washington Association of Realtors
On the Board of Directors from 1989 to 2004 and 2010 -2012
• 2004 Recipient of the EDDY AWARD
• Chairperson & Vice Chair: MLS Forum. Education Forum. Served on:
• Operational Planning Committee, Nominations Committee, License Law Subcommittee, Strategic Planning, Communication, Education Forum, Education Steering, MLS Forum, Budget & Finance, Forms, Nominating, Several Core committees. Business Practices Core Committee. Business Practices Core Committee through 2009. Member of Legislative Steering Committee through 2012. Taxation. (Some more than one term, consecutively or at different times.)
• *2014- Received the Larry Miller Award for Excellence in Real Estate.
State of Washington:
1993 Appointed by the Governor to the Real Estate Commission.
• 1996-2003 Re-appointed to the Real Estate Commission for a 6-year term.
• 1997 Vice Chair of the Commission
• 1998 -2003 Chair of the Education Subcommittee
• 1999- 2003 Honorary Trustee for the Washington Center of Real Estate Research. WSU
• 2008-:Present School Administrator for Distinctive Real Estate School.
• 2008- Present Certified Real Estate Instructor
Community:
• VITA- Volunteer Income Tax Assistance for 10 years.
• Mid-Columbia Symphony Guild
• German Club.
• Pasco Police Auxiliary Volunteer 1969-1974
• President of the Pasco Police Auxiliary.
• Toastmasters
• Board Member, Canyon Lakes Homeowners Association
• Member of St. Joe's Parish Finance Committee
Real Estate Education:
• Graduate of the Real Estate Institute (GRI) 1984
• Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) 1994
• Certified Residential Broker (CRB) 2005
• Appraisal MAI Courses.
• Additional Courses successfully completed: Finance of Real Estate, Real Estate Law, Successful Practices, Real Estate Management Training, Investment Analysis, Advanced Investment Analysis, Relocation, Legal Aspect of New Construction, Hot@ Legal Issues, Negotiating, How to Deal with Builders, Real Estate Agents Rights & Responsibilities. GRI 400, Broker Management. Risk Reduction Institute Courses: Agent Guide to Agency, Avoiding Misrepresentation, Fair Housing in the 90's, Avoiding Anti-Trust Violations, Agency, Ethics, Does it Pencil? (Investment Analysis) Accredited REO classes. Sort Sale, Foreclosure classes. & more.
• Certified as an Instructor from the Department of Licensing in the following
fields:
o Use of computers and/or other technologies as applied to the practice of Real Estate.
o Real Estate Sales & Marketing. Real Estate Practices. Real Estate Law. Real Estate Fundamentals.
o Real Estate Closings Practices. Principles & Essentials. Legal Aspects. Ethics & Standards of Practices
o Current Trends & Issues. Cross Cultural Communication. Consumer Protection. Business Management.
o Brokerage Management and Advanced Management Practices.
