Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home
- Update your home’s finishes.
- Upgrade to energy-efficient features and appliances.
- Freshen up your curb appeal.
- Put your money into your kitchen and bathroom.
- Finish off your basement or other unfinished spaces.
- Clean and declutter before showing your home.
Spend an Hour With a Pro
Invite a realtor or interior designer over to check out your home. Many realtors will do this as a courtesy, but you will probably have to pay a consultation fee to a designer. Check with several designers in your area; a standard hourly fee is normally less than $100, and in an hour they can give you lots of ideas for needed improvements. Even small suggested improvements, such as paint colors or furniture placement, can go a long way toward improving the look and feel of your home. Please Call Us! 910-600-6348
Make it low-maintenance
Since many home buyers worry about buying a home that will need constant maintenance, replacing a major component before putting it up for sale — like the furnace, water heater or even the roof — may calm fears of an emergency repair in the near future and help get you a higher price.
Improvements that make things easy to clean and maintain may also increase home value. Consider replacing easily stained carpet with hardwood floors or replace high-maintenance wood siding with vinyl siding.
Complete minor repairs
Get rid of the squeaks, scratches, dents, and dings. You may need to touch up moldings or door frames, add a little WD-40 to hinges (if not replace them altogether), or even refinish hardwood floors. Every little bit counts when making a great impression on guests or potential buyers. Be sure you also test toilets, windows, drawers, and even smoke detectors to ensure they work properly.
Clean and declutter
Deep cleaning and decluttering your home can add more than $4,000 to its resale value, on average, according to a 2021 report. Buyers appreciate a clean, pristine home, but if you don’t plan to move, you could benefit from making better use of your space, getting more organized and having less clutter to stress over.
While cleaning and decluttering are inexpensive, these tasks still require a lot of work. You can begin by going through cabinets and closets and starting a donation pile. Clean out drawers and other storage areas of your home as well, making sure you’re not keeping anything you don’t need or want.
Update the Bathroom and Kitchen
It’s often been said that the kitchen sells a home. A bathroom is also a high priority for most buyers who expect an updated space. Whether you can afford to do a major remodel or only have the budget for a few small changes, these two areas are where you should place your focus.
Even something as minor as updating the hardware on your cabinets can yield positive results. If you can’t afford to replace your cabinets, purchase new doors or paint your current ones. If you’re working with a limited budget, focus on the areas that will get the most attention. This includes the lighting, faucets, countertops and cabinets. A coat of paint will make the rooms look and feel brand new as well.
Curb Appeal
The outside of your house has the important task of making a great first impression, and it could most likely use a little TLC. Try installing a stone walkway from your driveway to your front door, and add in a few flowers and plants along the way. Painting the window trims and front door are also easy fixes that make a big difference.
Improve Energy Efficiency
Buyers like the idea of saving money over the long-term, so they will pay more for a house that is energy efficient. You can find ways to do this regardless of your budget. Install new appliances that require less energy to run. Replace old windows with new ones that are better sealed to prevent air leaks.
You can ask for an audit of your home from your local utility company to find out where you can make improvements. They will show you areas that need to be repaired, enabling you to make changes before you list your property.