If you’ve been thinking about ways to increase home value, this article is for you.
Inspired by an infographic seen on Money Sense Magazine, here are ten simple and cost effective ways to add value to your home especially if you’re planning to sell it.
Ten tips to increase home value
Get rid of junk
It goes without saying. Getting rid of garbage, junk and clutter around the house will immensely increase the value of your home. Organizing spaces and having less stuff around make it appealing for potential buyers looking for your home who might otherwise be turned off by all the stuff you have lying around the house. Hire professional cleaners, organizers and junk removal companies and they’ll help you out if you can’t stand the idea of doing it yourself.
Light it up
Have a look at your light fixtures. Are they updated and modern, or could they use a bit of major upgrading? Doing something as simple as replacing old light fixtures with newer, modern ones changes the perceived value of your home especially when it comes time to showing your home to potential buyers. Newer light fixtures also use more energy efficient light bulbs that reduce electricity costs.
Fix things that need fixing
Dents and holes in the wall? Broken or squeaky door hinges? Cracked windows? Missing light switches? Get them fixed. It’s easy for a potential buyer to be turned off by trivial fixes around the house. And some homeowners think that these problems are small enough that anybody would be willing to fix them. Wrong. Buyers want something in move-in condition as much as possible. Don’t give them a reason to overlook your home because of a few minor fixes.
Landscaping
Don’t have a green thumb? Don’t worry. You can always hire professional landscapers to do some of that work for you. Consider landscaping your backyard, or front yard if you have enough real estate to work with. Lush and beautiful gardens come at a cost, but they definitely can increase home value and add to the overall appeal and uniqueness of your home.
Get new floors
Still stuck with the original carpet from 10 years ago when you first bought your home? It’s time to get it replaced. Invest in decent hardwood floors and upgrade the look of every room in your house when you do so. It’s not as costly as you think, but the perceived value and return on your investment is worth it to increase home value.
A fresh coat of paint
You’ll be surprised how something as simple as putting on a fresh coat of paint will increase the appeal of buyers. If the rooms in your home are in need of a paint job, doing this simple task will not only give your home interior a fresh new look and feel, it’ll also make you feel good about the space even though you may be spending your last few days in your home before selling it.
Repair the roof
When it’s home inspection time, one of the most costly repairs is the roof. Have you done work to your roof lately? If not, and it’s time for repairs, consider getting it done. Not only will it increase the value of your home, it’ll take away any buyer’s objections about having to fix the roof up (hence increasing the potential selling price of your home).
Curb appeal
Do you fall in love with your home whenever you drive into your driveway? Do you see yourself glancing over your shoulder as you drive away from it? If your house doesn’t have curb appeal, it won’t give buyers much of a great first impression when they arrive to see your home during showings. Power washing the exterior of your home, repainting stucco, getting rid of shrubbery, and removing unnecessary things from the front yard and pathways are just a few things you can do to increase home value by giving it good curb appeal.
Remodel kitchens and bathrooms
Kitchen and bathroom styles get old really fast, and if your kitchens and bathrooms are stuck in another era, spend some money to upgrade it. Aside from roofing, kitchens and bathrooms are also costly to repair and buyers’ perceptions of your home are affected if you have an older kitchen and outdated bathrooms.
Get professional photos (when it’s time to list)
Hire a professional photographer. Otherwise, doing all this work on your home to increase home value isn’t going to be worth it. A professional photographer knows how to showcase your home to make it appealing to potential buyers. They know what to include in the photo showcase, what angles to take photos for each room, and how to make your home attractive to as many buyers as possible.
Leave a Reply