About Northampton County, PA

Before starting a home addition project, you should research the market to make sure the project will maximize your return at resale. Here are two additions - one inside, one outside - that you might consider that are great for your family and great value-adders when you sell.

Decks

Adding more outdoor space will always add value to your home. For about $11,000 you can add a 16x20ft. pressure-treated wood deck, and will recoup approximately $10,000 (90%) at resale. If you add a wood deck, make sure you clean it regularly and apply a stain.

If you already have a deck, you can increase the value of your home by replacing the top deck boards and using hidden deck fasteners. The hidden deck fasteners preserve the wood and reduce splitting, splintering, and rotting. This is a very affordable and easy project.

Don't forget to add decorative planters to make the space feel warm and inviting. Also use bold plantings to highlight features or minimize flaws.

Family Rooms

Adding a family room to your home will not only create a nice space for you and your family to enjoy, but it will increase the value of your home. You can add a family room for approximately $54,464 and expect to recoup $45,458 (83%) at resale.

Once the family room is completed you can start decorating and furnishing your new space. To have a cohesive look, you should choose colors, carpeting styles, etc. that carry the style of your house into the new addition.

Don Wenner can offer you tips to help you with your home addition in the Lehigh Valley. Visit donwenner.com for the best properties in Bethlehem, Easton, or Allentown.

This year Lukie's Fall Festival is pleased to announce that we have Business & Corporate Sponsorship Packages available for the October 17th Festival in Pen Argyl, Pa.

Packages Start with our Scarecrow Level of $50 and go all the way up to our Platinum Level of $500... Please take a look at the forms below if you would like to Sponsor Lukie's Fall Festival... It is a great way to help out the community, families dealing with SMA and also in helping to find a cure for this deadly disease that is the #! genetic killer in children under the age of 2...

Please fill out the following form and fax back to us for all Sponsorship Levels and we will contact you for any additional information we may need... Also, if you would like to just donate an item or gift basket to the Raffle part of the Festival, Please fill out the RAFFLE DONATION Section & send back as soon as possible...

Together we will find a cure & Thanks for all your continued Help & Support!!

Here also is the 6th Annual Official Lukie's fall Festival Poster... Please feel free to print one out or hang one in your office or local site...

You can give your living room a more modern look by making a few changes. It is important that the changes not only look great, but also give you the best return when it is time to resale.

Start by doing some budget friendly updates.

• You can stage your room by rearranging your furniture. Move your furniture away from the walls to make the room look larger.

• Bring attention to a focal point in your home, by creating a seating area around it.

• You can inexpensively add new window treatments to give your room a fresh new look. If the ceilings are low, hang the window treatment higher on the wall. This will give the illusion of height.

• For about $25 you can add a fresh coat of paint to give your living room a clean look.

• If you have carpet in your living room, have it professionally cleaned ($100-$150).

If budget is not a concern, then these updates are sure to make a huge impact.

• Add crown molding throughout your home. Crown molding will give your rooms a fresh look and they are popular with buyers. The price starts at around $1.40 per linear foot.

• If your living room does not have hardwood floors, then have them professionally installed ($3-$8 per square foot). If you have hardwood floors, you may want to consider having them refinished ($1-$1.50 a foot).

• If the carpet is torn or stained, have it replaced unless you opt for the hardwood floors. This will cost approximately $10-$30 per square foot.

These updates will look great and you will see an average return at resale of 40 to 66 percent. Don Wenner has the wisdom and expertise needed to help you select the updates that will maximize your return at resale. Contact Don today and check out his Lehigh Valley website to view the best properties in Bethlehem, Easton, or Allentown.

New Listings	21
Back on Market	0
Price Increases	1
Price Reductions	11
Contingents	1
Pendings	6
Solds	6
Expireds	67
Inactives	3

Check out our No Cash Down program.

or call 24/7 (877) 735-3527 ID # 1074

Don Wenner

The Don Wenner Home Selling Team
Keller Williams Real Estate
2901 Emrick Blvd. Suite 100
Bethlehem PA 18020
PA RE License #RS300485

(C) 484-542-2868
(O) 610-867-8888
(F) 610-867-8889
http://www.donwenner.com
email: don@donwenner.com

"Your Home Sold Guaranteed, Or I'll Buy It"

"Buy A home with our Team and Receive up to a $10,000 Cash Reward!"

Chris Hoffman
Pa Re License #RS298340
Theresa Barlow
Pa Re License #RS281312
Barb Miers
Pa Re License #RS278138

In the past you could simply compare the price of homes that sold down the street to tell how much yours would sell for. This is no longer the case due to the abundance of foreclosures and houses remaining on the market for so long. Now homeowners and buyers are using real estate websites for appraisals. These websites allow users to the address and provides a price or range of prices that the home is currently worth.

Of course, it is important to remember that these websites are only providing an estimate. The estimates given are not 100% accurate. The websites determine property values by collecting information from public records, Multiple Listing Services, and recent sales of comparables nearby. This information is then processed through an automated valuation model (AVM) to calculate the value of the home. The AVM is unable to take into account upgrades in a home or the size of a room. This is what causes the discrepancies in the estimates. Another problem with the AVM is that some of the data collected is wrong.

Below are websites that can be used for online appraisals.

1. Zillow.com offers home value estimates (accuracy varies by market) and "owner's estimates" calculated after an owner has added information about their property.
2. Cyberhomes.com allows users to get a free home-value estimate, and browse for-sale and distressed listings.
3. Eppraisal.com provides home value estimates alongside projected values and the home value estimates provided by Zillow.com and Cyerbhomes.com.

It is important to remember that if you want to know the exact value of your home, you should definitely seek the assistance of a real estate agent. These websites will provide you the estimated value of your home, but it is still important to surround yourself with knowledgeable professionals.

Don Wenner has the wisdom and expertise needed to evaluate the value of your home. Contact Don today and check out his Lehigh Valley website to view the best properties in Bethlehem, Easton, or Allentown