Your home is most likely your largest financial investment. So regardless of whether you are in your home for the long run or are getting ready to put it on the market in the near future, like any investment, you should take steps to maintain and increase its value.
And the good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to do it. Here are a few tips for increasing your home’s value in today’s market.
Spend an hour with a professional
Invite your Realtor® or hire an interior designer for a small fee to evaluate your home, and give their professional suggestions as to how you can improve the look and feel of your home.
Inspect your home
Hire an inspector to check all the areas of your home, especially those that you don’t see, such as your roof, electrical systems, etc. so you can fix small problems before they become larger and more expensive repairs.
Paint, paint, paint
It doesn’t cost much but goes a long way to improving your home’s appeal both inside and out. Neutral colors
appeal to the most people and are your safest bet.
Landscape
Landscaping can go a long way in increasing the appeal of your home and really works with all budgets. Don’t have the
money to hire a professional? No problem, you can cut down on your costs by doing a lot of the labor yourself.
Be clean
Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional to clean your home, make sure that it’s sparkling clean.
Make small spaces feel larger
Help your home feel larger by removing unnecessary furniture pieces, hanging mirrors to double the space and opening blinds and curtains to let the light in.
Update your bathrooms
Making small updates, such as tearing down wallpaper and putting on a fresh coat of paint, replacing an old toilet with a newer, water-saving one, installing a new vanity and updating your fixtures can make a world of difference. If your budget allows, consider replacing your old floors with new tile, granite or hardwood for an even greater “wow” factor.
Update your kitchen
Evaluate what needs to be done, consult your budget and go from there. It’s easy to get carried away investing a lot in kitchen updates so only do what really makes sense for you and your budget. Replacing old appliances with new, stainless, energy-efficient models will go a long way in helping the aesthetic appeal of your home while also putting some savings in your wallet. Updating countertops and freshening up the paint on cabinets are other ways to make the room even more attractive.
Go tankless
If your budget allows, upgrade your standard water heater to a tankless model. Tankless water heaters only heat the water as you need it—versus the older models that keep gallons of water hot at all times. This will help you save money now.
Give some appeal to your home’s entrance
If your existing front door is old, outdated or worn, replace it with a newer, more energy efficient model. Adding a new coat of paint to an existing door—black, red and white are popular choices—in good condition can do wonders and help add curb appeal. Adding a few potted
plants in the area will help make the entrance more inviting.
Save on air conditioning costs
Consider installing a whole-house fan—considered to be a “green” home improvement—which only uses one-tenth the electricity of air conditioners.
Brighten up your space
A well-lit room not only makes your space more cheerful and welcoming, but also makes it feel larger and cleaner. You may do this with table and floor lamps, or even hiring an electrician to install recessed lights or wall sconces.
Bring the outdoors in
Consider turning two standard windows into an opening for French or sliding doors. Full-view glass doors brighten up the space and make it more attractive. As an added bonus, installing new doors that are energy efficient will help you cut
down on heating and cooling costs.
Add storage
Consider installing an organizer system or cabinets in the closets and garage area. Not only will this help keep you more organized, but potential home buyers will appreciate it, too.