When it comes time to sell your home, there are several simple home improvements you can do to increase the value of your home – before you list it on the market! Before you make a list of home renovation projects understand what your potential buyer is looking for. Put on your buyer hat and conduct a ‘home inspection’ yourself or you can invite a realtor or interior designer over to check out your home. Small suggested improvements, such as paint colors or furniture placement, can go a long way toward improving the look and feel of your home.
Here are some easy steps to Add Value to Your Home
Step 1) Fresh Paint Makeover
The simplest way to add value to your home is by giving it a paint-only makeover. Adding a fresh coat of paint throughout your home will make your home look bright, fresh, and clean. Say bye-bye to the scuffs and scratches that you’ve accumulated over the years. When it comes to color selection, the key is to avoid any dramatic colors. When you’re selling your home, you want to appeal to the broadest number of potential buyers, so stick with neutral tones and avoid whatever the designer trend may be at the time.
Pro-Tip: After painting, fill shallow bowls with water and several lemon slices and place them around your home overnight to help absorb the paint odors.
Step 2) Kitchen Upgrade
The same rule applies in the kitchen. You don’t have to start from scratch to create a winning recipe. For maximizing your home’s value, kitchen updates are key. Start by swapping out just one item, such as a stained sink or ancient microwave for shiny new stainless models. Even small kitchen updates will add big value to your home.
Step 3) Bathroom Updates
A great room to update for less than $750 is the bathroom. The two rooms that benefit most from even small renovations are the kitchen and bathroom. One cost-effective change — like replacing an outdated vanity, old plumbing and lighting fixtures, or adding a new tile floor — will guarantee a lot of bang for your buck and give your bath an updated, modern look.
Step 4) Upgrade to energy-efficient features and appliances
Energy-efficient upgrades reduce your utility bills while you own the home. When it comes time to sell, these upgrades will also offer more appeal to buyers, many of whom are interested in energy-efficient features to lower their costs as homeowners.
If your home currently features old appliances that guzzle energy and date your interiors, an upgrade—even if it’s installing modestly priced modern appliances—can help you get a higher sale price.
Step 5) Change cabinet hardware
Even if you can’t afford a full renovation, one simple upgrade that agents say often goes a long way in kitchens and bathrooms is replacing old cabinet hardware with more stylish knobs and drawer pulls. If you can spend a bit more time and money, swap out dingy faucets and shower heads, and outdated towel bars and hooks, too. This will signal to a buyer that, oh, it’s modern, it’s updated, it’s on trend.
Step 6) Upgrade to LED lighting
Replacing incandescent recessed lights with LED versions, which are significantly more efficient, will save you electricity, and also the hassle of frequent bulb changes. Highlighting eco-friendly upgrades like this when you market your home for sale can make a difference
Step 7) Get rid of carpet
If you have carpet that’s worn out or not neutral — especially in places other than bedrooms — experts say you really ought to get rid of it if you’re hoping to sell. Some lucky homeowners tear out old carpeting only to discover hardwoods underneath. But if you’re not in that camp, Experts suggest laminate or vinyl plank flooring as wallet-friendly options. For an ambitious DIY-er, those products are relatively easy to install, because they can be cut with a utility knife and don’t require power tools.