7 Tips for Improving Your Home’s Value
Are you looking to sell your home soon? Want to get the best bang for your buck? Here are 7 tips on how you can easily improve your home’s value, without completely redoing the whole thing!
1. It’s all about the kitchen.
People buy houses for the kitchen. When people are searching the internet for homes for sale, they immediately look for the picture of the kitchen. You don’t have to start from scratch, even if your kitchen is outdated. Start with a coat of paint—choose a fun, bright color, or go with a time-tested neutral. Greige is in! (It’s a greyish beige color that goes with pretty much everything). Add a backsplash and invest in some new, stainless steel appliances. Show off your counter space, or add a roll-away island to give more counter space and storage.
2. Maybe it’s all about the bathrooms, too.
Okay, so buyers also want great bathrooms too. Small upgrades to a bathroom can go a long way and do not cost much. Give your hardware and fixtures and update, replaced that dated wallpaper, and change out the lighting. Step it up a notch by adding a frame around your mirror. Give the impression of a spa by installing wall lights instead of overhead, and adding body sprays in the shower.
3. First impressions are the only impressions.
It is sad but true, most buyers take one look at a house and they have made their decision. So impress them by having a clean, decluttered house. Get your floors cleaned, scrub from top to bottom, and clean out all of the things you don’t use often. Get rid of the dirt and grime from a lived in house, especially if you have kids or pets. You want your buyers to picture themselves living in this house, and no one wants to live in a junk yard.
4. Show off your space—or trick them into thinking there’s more.
Arrange your furniture so that rooms flow together better. Don’t be afraid to switch around some paintings or add a large mirror. Change out bulky furniture and open the curtains to let in the light. A general rule of thumb is to empty closets, pantries, and cabinets to 2/3 full, so as to give them impression that they’re bigger and show off your storage space. Don’t forget to stage your home—and consider that anything you purchase to make it look better, you get to take with you when you move. You can invest in yourself.
5. Spice up your curb appeal.
Remember what I said about first impressions? The yard is the first thing home buyers see. Mow the yard, add some landscaping and fresh flowers, paint those shutters. You can even pressure wash the house and driveway, and add a new mailbox and house numbers.
Quick Video on Landscaping
6. Make your house eco-friendly and energy efficient.
Consider installing solar panels, or an air filter system to rid the home of allergens and contaminants. You can upgrade to energy efficient pieces, like a new toilet that uses less water or new windows which lower your energy bills. Make sure you advertise these improvements to potential homebuyers.
7. When in doubt, paint it.
Painting can really be easiest and cheapest solution to your upgrading needs. Walls and cabinets feel the wear and tear over time, and can start to look dingy. Make sure to keep bedroom colors gender neutral, and don’t try anything too bold. You want to appeal to as many people as possible. Seek out ideas from interior design magazines or TV shows to learn some of the newest home trends.
Upgrading your home, and improving its value doesn’t have to put a huge hole in your wallet. These simple improvements can really make or break a home’s sale, and can get you more money in the long run.
BONUS:
Get educated on real estate before you list your home. Find out and review any mandated real estate forms. Look up and understand the local real estate trends in your area. Review what types of financing your home is eligible for. Don’t underestimate pricing your home properly. The initial pricing is one of the most important parts of selling. Make sure you ask your REALTOR to walk you through the process from listing to the closing table. Understanding the process will reduce stress when these things come up.
