Best Improvements/Additions to Increase Value?

[Michael]

What are the best improvements that can be done to a MH built in '82 to increase its value to prospective sellers? It's a doublewide, 1650 sq. ft. with three bedrooms and a bonus room.

[Kurt]

Depends how much money you want to spend. If you can do the work yourself to save money, I think that updating the kitchen and bathrooms would be a plus. Granted, these are probably the most expensive, but I think that the return on investment would be sufficient and it might just tip prospective buyers over the top. Updating wall treatments is another thing that really helps.
I live in a 1979 MH and have done all of this stuff and it really spiffs up the home.

[Michael]

Thanks. Not sure what a wall treatment is. You mean the actual wall? or the decor (i.e. wall trim and paint)?

I'm afraid I'm not much of a handyman, so I'd prolly have to get someone else to do these things. How much do the improvements you mentioned cost?

Also, the shed that came with the MH is in rather bad shape. Would replacing this structure with a Tough Shed (or other equally sturdy shed) add value to the home?

[Kurt]

I had paneling in my house. I replaced a lot of it with sheet rock. On some walls we painted the paneling on top half, installed wainscoting and wallpapered the lower part. This is not that expensive, nor hard to do and really adds to the appearance.
We gutted the kitchen. Installed new cabinets, counter tops, pergo on the floor and put in a really nice sink. I would guess the cost of the materials from Home Depot was about 3k. I had the counter tops built and installed, but did the rest myself.
The bathroom was also gutted andput back together with new stuff. The cost of that stuff was about 1k.
I truly believe that I will get my money back no problem. I saved a ton of money by doing the work myself.
Not sure if a new shed would really add value. If you need a shed for your own use, that would be reason enough for me to build/buy a new one. Maybe the old one can be repaired to make it more useable.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
Kurt

[Barb]

I keep harping on the same subject but here I go again. Check with your area, if you add sheet rock to a home that only had paneling, you're adding weight and if you want to sell and use HUD, the home inspector will spot that change and tell you that you've added too much weight to the structure of that frame.