Like the rest of America, I am also feeling the pinch of the economic down turn and the dramatic drop in the housing market. I am one of the rare people that have a house that is too big for what I need, so I was thinking about selling it. With the housing market being what it is, I figured I could probably find a really good deal on a smaller place that was more suited to my needs. What I didn't take into account was what happened to the value of my home! What at one time was worth $350,000 is now being appraised at $270,000... ouch! I know that I am not the only homeowner facing this problem, but it still doesn't hurt any less. I am one of the luck ones that has enough equity in the house to still be able to sell it and make a small profit.

When the real estate agent came over for the first time, he loved my house, but he had some suggestions to help get the appraisal value a little bit higher. I was open to any suggestions at this point. Most of them were minor improvements that I could tackle on my own, but the one that surprised me the most was the fact that he suggested replacing the kitchen cabinets. Even though the house is only a couple of years old, the builder didn't use the highest quality materials. They still looked pretty good, but it was obvious from the first look that they were contractor grade cabinets and didn't have a wow factor. He said a $20,000 investment could easily produce a $30,000 return. While that sounded great, I certainly didn't have $20,000 sitting around to do it!

With the idea of remodeling the kitchen stuck in my head, I started researching ways that I could update it, without the big price tag. I found a great deal on flooring, which I decided to install myself. A friend of mine was able to get me a deal on granite countertops, which would save me a couple hundred dollars, so that was perfect. When it came to the kitchen cabinets, I was still coming up with a cost of atleast $12,000 for name brand cabinets, which was still more than I wanted to spend.

I started reading articles on the internet about Ready-To-Assemble cabinets, and how much money I could save. The savings sounded great, but I had some real concerns about the quality and the fact that I would have to assemble them myself. I spoke with a couple of contractors who had used them on other jobs, and they reassured me that the quality was there, but I still wanted to see for myself. I decided to order a cabinet to see it first hand. I really was impressed.

When all was said and done, I ended up spending right around $10,000 for the kitchen remodel, and my house was appraised at just under $300,000 (not a bad bump up in value). I put my house on the market, and even in this horrible economy, I was able to sell it in under a month. I was able to find a house that was just the right size for me, and now I have a lower mortgage payment. So even though the housing market may not be a sellers market, by making some improvements in the look and feel of your home, you too might be to improve your chances of getting some extra value out of your house if you are planning on selling.

About the Author

I have been remodeling house for 15 years, and I have the secret to getting high qualitykitchen cabinetry at an affordable price. Interested in finding out my secret? Follow these links to find out the secret to getting kitchen cabinetry at 30-40% below retail prices

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                                                                                           GENE MOCK ~ MAKING IT EASY!

If you are looking for log homes for sale in Aiken, South Carolina - look no further. My website is an excellent tool to help with your Aiken area property search. Aiken SC offers something for everyone! Log Homes, Golf & Gated Communities, Equestrian with houses and building lots for sale, Condos & Townhouses, Patio Homes, Commercial Properties, Development Land, Horse Property, Historic & Luxury Estates, Downtown cottages, Polo properties... all this and more are for sale in Aiken County, South Carolina. Have you heard about Woodside Plantation and The Reserve at Woodside? A popular gated community in Aiken. No matter what your dream…. Log homes, condos, town homes, cottages, horse farms, golf property, lots, land, investments… you can find it, right here, in Aiken South Carolina. Start searching for your next Aiken SC properties today. Some of the best South Carolina Golf Communities are located in Aiken County South Carolina. Build your dream South Carolina Log Home.  For listings in Aiken - all areas: Rural, SE, NE, NW, SW - start your search right here. Looking for a golf course house? Are you investing for your future? Real Estate in Aiken can't be beat! Your one stop place for Aiken County Real Estate. Search the entire Aiken MLS right here! Find your Aiken realty today. Call Gene today for your Aiken SC Real Estate needs. Gene Mock, Realtor. Gene is a member of The National Association of Realtors, South Carolina Association of Realtors, and Aiken Board of Realtors.

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