A Homeowner’s Guide on Increasing the Value of a Home

Investing on your home can mean a great deal when it comes to your finances. If you are going to move to a new location or perhaps you want to try your hand in real estate and selling property, you can consider increasing the value of your own home. You don’t have to be a professional interior designer or an engineer to make improvements to your home, which would result in a higher price tag. With some careful planning and consideration, you can increase the value of your home effectively without overspending in the process.

When you find yourself wondering about how you can increase the value of your home to get a great price when reselling it, consider the following ideas:

The saying that “first impressions last” can really apply to a property. The curb appeal of your home is what potential buyers would first see because it encompasses the beauty of your home’s exterior. From your fence, lawn, porch, your windows and the front door, these elements of your home all contribute to the curb appeal. People who drive by your property will notice your lawn, the condition of your porch, and the ambience of your property. Even the lighting can contribute to just how wonderful your home can look.

Interested buyers will think along the lines of “I wonder how much nicer it looks inside,” when they see how great your home is from the outside. You can make a strong impact by increasing the curb appeal of your home. Do this by making sure your lawn is well maintained, and that your landscaping is attractive too. Clean the steps leading to your porch, and make sure that you have a clean overall look for your home’s façade. Paying attention to the lighting helps increase the attractiveness of your home as well. Yellow lighting tends to cast a more appealing glow compared to white lighting, so consider having mini outdoor spotlights to accentuate the features of your garden or have wall-mounted lights that bring balanced illumination to the front of your home.

The main idea behind increasing your home’s curb appeal is to make your home look as attractive as it can be from the outside by making noticeable changes. You’ll see how a great façade can bring in more potential buyers to visit your home.

After the curb appeal, a lot of interior designers and real estate agents agree that a great kitchen definitely adds value to your home. Don’t forget that the kitchen is a busy place where a lot of families spend time together—preparing meals and bonding over the holidays. Upgrading the kitchen by having stainless appliances which are custom-fitted into the walls and counters to save space is a great idea. You can also have a nice kitchen island if you have enough space. To make smaller kitchens feel more spacious, remove divisions and allow the kitchen to connect to the dining room, living room, or your den. This gives the illusion of a wider space and a grander kitchen.

Have a clean tile or natural stone countertops. Redo the tile installations if you must to achieve a new look. Replace drawer and cabinet handles with new ones to match the updated appeal that your countertops have. Mind your kitchen sink and taps too! You can find affordable fixtures to update the look of your kitchen and make it look cleaner and brand new.

If you have wooden cabinets, give them a fresh coat of paint to liven up their overall look. For glass doors, make sure you clean them thoroughly or have the glass panes replaced if you can. These little changes can contribute a lot when it comes to increasing the appeal and value of your home.

Next to the kitchen, you can make a huge difference to the value of your home when you choose to update your bathroom too. The bathroom can suffer from lack of visual appeal over the years because of exposure to chemicals and stubborn stains. If you want to increase the value of your home, you have to keep in mind that making it as presentable as you can increases the chances of selling it higher.

A habitable home has a clean and appealing bathroom. Major turn offs for your bathroom interiors include dirty grout or cracked tiles. A dingy-looking bathroom can definitely make buyers want to stay away from your property because not all of them would be willing to do the renovations. A lot of buyers would prefer homes which are ready to live in, and you can give them that by ensuring that your bathroom is not just attractive but fully functional as well.

Freshen up your bathroom by replacing the tiles, replacing an old and battered-looking toilet, or brightening up your vanity by improving your lighting. Replace the mirror too and make sure the bathroom fixtures like shower handles and bath fillers are spotless. It would help a great deal when you have a clean and dry bathroom when interested buyers drop by to check your property out. Also, make an effort to keep your bathroom smelling fresh! Keep in mind that the bathroom is the place for personal hygiene, so you ought to show interested buyers a great place to do all of their vanity rituals.

Here are some other things you ought to remember when your goal is to increase the value of your home:

• Clean – Generally, a clean home is a habitable home. If you cannot do a lot of replacements, make your best effort to clean your existing home features. Give your windows a thorough wash, make sure your walls are grime-free, and check the carpet or sofa to see that they are in presentable conditions. Wipe your countertops and make sure your surfaces are dust-free. The cleaner your house looks, the faster it can charm the hearts of your potential buyers.

• Paint – You’ll be surprised by how much a new layer of paint can make your home feel refreshed and updated. You can repaint the walls of the different rooms and the living room to make your house have a much brighter appearance. Neutral colors like beige and white are great choices but if you want something lively, you can try some light yellows or some hints of green.

• Declutter – You can sell your house with or without the furniture in it, but as much as possible, remove all personal items from the house when inviting potential buyers. This can help make them see how much they can customize the space based on their own preferences. Remove ornamental pieces like paintings, vases, or unnecessary décor to have a more organized appeal in your home.

• Deodorize – This is particularly applicable if you cannot repaint your home. Deodorize your space by cleaning as thoroughly as you can, replacing curtains, and making sure that the garbage bins are empty. A fresh-smelling home that has no strong odors can be more appealing when you invite potential buyers to view your property.

You can increase the value of your home without spending way too much money when you consider these friendly suggestions!