Many people regard their house not only as a place to call home, but also as an investment. Whether they have no intention of selling until after they retire and their children are grown or whether they are looking to move as soon as the housing market in their area is strong, most people are looking for ways to increase the value of their homes. Here are fifteen tips to keep in mind when working towards this goal.
1) Ask for Help from Professionals
Hire either a realtor or a designer to spend just an hour going over the home and suggesting improvements, it will be well worth the investment.
2) Have an Inspection Done
An inspector can help a homeowner discover any potential problems, such as termites, that could derail a sales process so they can be fixed beforehand.
3) Paint
Adding fresh paint is one of the easiest and cost effective ways to make a home look like new.
4) Cut Energy Costs
Not only can these improvements cut costs now, they will also make great selling points later on.
5) Add Low Maintenance Landscaping
Additions such as trees or shrubs that do not require too much work but add to curb appeal are excellent choices. Check out HGTV for some more tips on landscaping.
6) Get Rid of Popcorn Ceilings
This style of ceiling is quickly becoming dated and few homeowners want to deal with it. Buying a solution to soften the texture and then scrape it away.
7) Test the Air Quality in Home
Find sources that could be potentially contaminating the home, such as old carpets, and replace them with other options, such as tile, which is easier to keep clean.
9) Secure Your Home
Home security is often a project that only lasts a day or at most a couple days and can make your home a lot more attractive to potential buyers. Check out homesecurity911.com/home-monitoring.html for more information on some great plans you can have integrated into your home.
8) Make Sure the Bathroom is Up To Date
Bathrooms are popular for potential buyers to critique, so make sure to update any fixtures and wallpaper.
9) Get Rid of Clutter
Help the home make a great first impression by getting rid of any extras to help the space feel open and welcoming
10) Update Any Worn Carpets or Rugs
Fresh carpeting helps the room look its best, whereas worn carpeting just looks stale and old.
11) Update the Kitchen
The kitchen is another room where many potential buyers tend to focus. Consider updating areas such as fixtures or even small appliances to help everything look its best.
12) Stay on Top of Regular Maintenance
Every home has small little things that need to be fixed or updated. On their own they may not seem like much, but together they can really add up.
13) Keep the Outside Looking Fresh
The outside of the home, such as or an overgrown lawn or porch, can really detract from the curb appeal of a home, so be sure to stay on top of outdoor care.
14) Keep Home Fixtures Updated
Some home fixtures, such as fans are great selling points, but only if they look great. An old, wobbly fan is not going to do any good.
15) Add a Water Filtration System
These systems tend to be inexpensive, but they are a great selling point.
Taking the time to update small parts of the house can help homeowners dramatically increase the value when it comes time to sell. Fortunately, many of these improvements can be made slowly and over time to avoid straining the budget. Use the above list to be inspired and get started.
