The value of your home depends on a number of factors such as the location of your home, local demand for housing, and the current economy. That said, there are ways you can upgrade your house to increase its appeal to get a higher price when you want to sell it.
Some of these are inexpensive and require little time and effort while others require significant investment and involve a bit more planning. Whether you are looking to sell your home via auction or through other means, the upgrades we’ll be discussing below will help you get maximum value for your home. Continue reading to learn more about these upgrades.
Tips For Increasing Your Home’s Value
You don’t have to wait till when you want to sell your home before you find ways to upgrade it. You can do these upgrades to breathe life into your property or increase your comfort when you are still living in it. By the time you want to sell it, you’d already built value in your home and you’ll need little to no renovations to get a high selling price. Below are ways you can increase the value of your home:
Upgrade Your Exterior Doors
One of the first things neighbours, visitors, or prospective buyers will see when they come to your home is the exterior doors. And the state of your current doors tells the story of your home. Old and worn-out doors indicate the property isn’t cared for and suggests the interior may not be very inviting.
A new and modern front door increases the curb appeal of your home and adds value to it. You should consider painting your door in a bold colour for a fresh, updated look. Doors are usually a one-time investment so you won’t be replacing them anytime soon as long as you install a good one.
Don’t forget your garage door. If it’s damaged or in bad shape, replace it with a rustic wood door or glass panel door to improve your home’s appearance.
Include a Garage
Garages are in higher demand than ever. More and more people want the convenience of having a place to park their cars. Garages can also function as more than just a parking space as people can convert them into a storage room, office space, or an entertainment spot.
Attached or detached to your building, garages can add significant value to your building and fetch you more money when you sell your house. Even a tiny sheltered space that can be used for parking will add a lot of value to your home.
Paint is Magic
Oh, the things a fresh coat of paint can do for your house. A fresh coat of paint can literally transform a building and make dated exteriors and interiors look great. And the good thing about paint jobs is that they are usually not expensive and they can significantly add value to a home.
While you can paint your home in any colour you want, you should consider neutral colours when you are trying to sell your home. Neutral colours like white, grey, and light blue appeal to a wide range of people.
Your Kitchen Deserves an Updated Look
The condition of your kitchen can determine how much you make from a sale. So, if your kitchen feels outdated, you should consider giving it a new life. Depending on your budget, you can decide to completely revamp your kitchen to give it a completely modern and luxurious feel.
Small and meaningful changes such as coordinating appliances, repairing damaged sinks, or installing modern hardware on cabinets can add a lot of value to your house. Remember to also paint the walls and update the lighting. And you’ll be able to recoup most of your expenses when you sell your home.
Floors Matter
The condition of your floors can determine whether you get to close deals or not. An ugly floor is an eyesore and will make prospective buyers lose interest quickly in your property. You don’t have to completely replace the floors, especially if you don’t have the budget. The key is to make your floors look good and presentable.
Replace old and worn out carpets, repair broken tiles, and patch damaged floorboards. No one wants an ugly floor and the changes suggested above will definitely add a lot of value to your home.
Rethink Window Treatments
The value good window treatments add to your home is undeniable. Custom window treatments can make your home stand out from the rest, especially in areas where the real estate inventory is high or your home is in competition with other houses in the neighborhood.
Buyers love having good window treatments in place so you should look to install custom window treatments like shutters or timber Venetians. The secret is to choose a timeless style since window treatments aren’t changed often. Most window treatments also increase the energy efficiency of a home which is a massive benefit.
Give Your Bathroom a Makeover
Bathrooms are more than places where we go to shower. They are a personal sanctuary for many people, allowing them to relax and relieve stress. So, if your bathroom is in bad shape, don’t be surprised when people walk away from your property or make you a low offer.
You don’t need to go all rambo on your bathroom renovation. Clean the tiles, and replace damaged taps, showerheads, and vanity. You can refinish the tub or replace it if you have the budget. These changes will make your bathroom more appealing to prospective buyers and increase the chances of closing a deal.
Landscaping Matters
Good landscaping can immediately skyrocket your home’s value as it improves the curb appeal of your property and makes a strong and positive first impression. But there’s a lot more to landscaping than just having a couple of flowers and plants in the ground.
The first thing prospective buyers look out for is a manicured design as it reveals the true condition of the landscape. Then, they check out the maturity and size of the plant as well as the diversity of plant life.
If you don’t know how to go about your home’s landscaping, hire a professional to plan it for you. While good landscaping can add value to your home, the opposite is true for bad landscaping.
Outdoor Space Is Golden
Outdoor features like patios, wooden decks, fire pits, and swimming pools can add significant value to a home. They are more sought after in cities like London where many people don’t have outdoor spaces. So, if you can add any of these features to your home, it’ll be worth it. If you already have an outdoor space, redesign it to make it even more appealing.
Smart Features Are Highly Sought After
Homes with smart features like CCTVs, fire alarms or fire protection systems are highly valuable and sought after. Many people understand the importance of these smart features and are willing to pay more when they are already installed in a home.
Smart systems don’t just add value to your home. They add value to your life and the life of anyone lucky enough to buy your home.
BONUS TIP: Clean and declutter your home. It will make it look clean, pristine, and more appealing to prospective buyers.
As you can see, there are several ways to add value to your home. You just have to inspect your property and carry out the required upgrades. The extent of the upgrades is mainly determined by the effort and money you are willing to spend on your home.
Guest Article Written by James Durr. James has been a property buyer and developer for almost 2 decades. As one of the co-founders of leading UK homebuying firm, he has accumulated a vast amount of knowledge in speaking effectively and empathetically with property owners and business owners to find genuine win-win solutions.
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