By Andrea Schneider, Nebraska Home Sales REALTOR®

As reality TV has taken hold of cable programming over the last decade, there has been no topic left untouched. And with the HGTV network reaching 93 million households nationwide, real estate is certainly no exception.

For most of us, as we flip from one reality scene to the next, it’s fairly easy to weed out the reality from the ‘scripted’ reality…until we land on HGTV. Why? Because we’d all like to believe our home’s value can increase by $50,000 if we put $5,000 into it, and that a full kitchen remodel can be done without a spec of dust, an ounce of stress, or a dime over budget.

The reality? Behind the unveiling of that gorgeous new gourmet kitchen, is usually weeks of an unusable sink, evening meals on the couch, agonizing over budgets, etc. Remodeling can be a significant undertaking, to say the least.

While remodeling is often a necessary part of maintaining, upgrading, and keeping your home in good operating order, the return on certain upgrades are not always dollar for dollar when you decide to sell your home. So, be realistic and honest about your goals. Are you going to enjoy that new deck, screened patio, or gourmet kitchen for a long time to come? Or, will you be moving in the next couple of years?

Asking yourself these questions can help clarify what items are ‘wants’, and what items are ‘needs’. And, if you are thinking of doing some upgrades and remodeling before selling your home, it is a good idea to contact a ®Realtor. They can give you advice and suggestions on how to maximize your home improvement dollars, in order to get your home looking its’ best for prospective buyers.

A friend once told me, homeowners spend too much of their time trying to build a nest egg, rather than spending time building their nest. So, build your nest. But do it wisely!