Your home is an investment in your future. Whether you’re planning to sell this month, or several years from now, you want to make sure you’re doing what you can to increase its value. But remodeling costs can be expensive. How do you know you’re getting the most value for your money? Here are some suggestions for easy repairs and updates you can make around your home to maximize your return at sale.
If It’s Broken, Fix It
Go through the house and note all the little repairs you have needed to do, but haven’t gotten around to doing. Now is the time to replace cracked outlet covers, broken window panes and damaged weather-stripping. Patch dings and nail holes in the walls and make repairs to any crumbling tiles or other surfaces in and around the home. For extra security, consider replacing your front door light with a motion-activated bulb.
You can even add your own home security system. Home security kits are easy to install with ordinary household tools and their monitoring services are no more expensive than traditional systems.
Keep The Buyer In Mind
Appeal to broader tastes by choosing traditional styles and neutral color schemes that work well with a multitude of furnishings and design aesthetics. Don’t waste money on costly updates that will look dated in a few years. Choose quality materials and focus on making the home seem more spacious and accessible to people of all ages. Improved lighting, smart appliances and modifications to increase energy efficiency are all good choices for upgrades. You may want to consider adding extra storage space, or finishing a basement or garage for more square footage. Implementing universal design principles, such as easy-to-open lever doors and non slip flooring can widen the demographics of your potential buyers.
Create Curb Appeal
You only get one chance to make a great first impression, so don’t neglect the exterior of your home. Put in some colorful perennials and tidy up the yard. Fix anything that needs repair and put a fresh coat of paint on the front door and shutters.
Clear away the toys and lawn furniture and install solar-powered lights along the walkways to brighten your home at night and make it more visible from the road. Put up new reflective house numbers that are easy to see even in the dark, and trim back any overhanging bushes or branches that obstruct the public view.
Freshen Up
You can make simple, inexpensive updates to make your home look more inviting to potential buyers. Paint walls and woodwork in a neutral palette. Declutter to maximize space and make the home more inviting. Consider adding closet organizers as this will help you to organize your things, but also increases storage that is highly desirable to modern homebuyers.
Hang new curtains and draperies to make the home seem more modern, and switch out dated faucets and fixtures for new ones. Most faucet kits can be installed by the homeowner. For a new look in the kitchen, replace the drawers and door pulls and wax or paint the cabinetry.
If you have hardwood floors, do a fresh coat of wax or new polyurethane and rent a steam cleaner to bring life back to old carpets and upholstery.
Go Green
Many modern homebuyers today are looking specifically for homes with a lower carbon footprint. Greener, more sustainable homes are on trend for 2018. Smart appliances, insulated windows and higher value attic insulation can all help lower monthly energy bills, saving the environment as well as your pocketbook. Low-flow toilets and faucets are an easy way to upgrade the kitchen and bath, making them more environmentally sensitive and stylish. Replace traditional bulbs with CFL or LED light bulbs and plant drought resistance plants to reduce water consumption in the yard and garden. Consider adding trees to the yard to improve shade. You also should boost your air quality and ambiance with houseplants.
Protect the value of your home investment with proper maintenance, such as seasonal checks on the furnace and air-conditioning and having your ductwork cleaned. Ensure gutters are hung correctly and not blocked by leaves or debris. When deciding to make modifications, be sure to keep track of what you are spending and the market value of your home, so that you don’t over budget. Making smart repairs and upgrades to your home can help it to sell quickly and for more money. Here is a handy list to avoid a low home appraisal when you are ready to sell.
