With the housing market in a record slump, one of the biggest questions I get from people is how much is too much to spend on a renovation and will I see that money back when I go to sell my house?

While it is a common belief that any money you put into your house will add value to it, this is not always the case. There are really two different categories that you put home renovations into- General Maintenance/Upkeep and Visual Improvements.

Trying to sell a house in a down market can be difficult, but there are several things you can do to improve its marketability. By investing some money and sweat equity before it goes on the market, you can ensure that your home presents well, stands out from the crowd and doesn't turn off potential buyers so that you can sell quickly and at the best price.

Everyone is aware of the dramatic changes that have occurred in the national real estate market over the past year or two years. Prior to that, when property values were on a continuous increase, it was easy to buy a house, make some simple improvements, and make a lot of money. This even spawned the rash of home improvement shows and house flipping shows that falsely showed novice real estate flippers making $100,000 - $150,000 on a property in 6-8 weeks.