Top 10 Tips to Increase the Value of Your Home

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest investments anyone can make in their lifetime. Though mortgage payments build up equity, there are also simple steps homeowners can take to vastly increase their return on investment—especially if you’re planning on selling and moving into a larger home in the future. 

With a home upgrade here and a home upgrade there, consider your budget and implement some (or all) of these ten easy ways to increase the value of your home.

1. Ask a Professional

Whether you own an older home and need to sniff out any small-time repairs like a water leak that could become a larger problem later, or simply want a fresh set of eyes to look at your home as if for the first time, hiring an interior designer and/or inspector to survey your property can be a gamechanger. 

Have them over for an hour and get new ideas for renovations or design changes, or learn about potential termites and deteriorating roofs that are better to catch early on. Alternatively, find inspiration in renovation magazines or television shows. Future you will thank you!

2. Paint Away

The most commonly recommended home upgrade trick, covering your home in a fresh coat of paint has a tremendously positive impact on the curb appeal of your home and makes it seem clean and new. It doesn’t have to be the whole house to boost property value either! Paint the front door, the living room, or focus on the bathrooms—whichever area you think deserves a facelift.

3. Invest in Cost-Effective “Green” Features

Eco-friendly features like stainless steel energy-efficient appliances, new LED lights, quartz kitchen countertops, double-paned windows, a water filtration system, and solar panels are all things that boost property value. Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but today’s homebuyers desire more sustainable living and they recognize it’ll save them money in the long run.

4. Rethink Your Landscaping

First impressions mean everything, so it’s wise to boost curb appeal by sprucing up your landscaping because it’s the first thing potential buyers see. Planting shade trees can cut cooling costs nearly in half while native plants require less water, all of which equates to more savings.

5. Spruce Up the Kitchen and Bathroom

Tiny but mighty, these rooms make the biggest impressions on buyers. Replace old lighting, fixtures and plumbing and tear down the old wallpaper in place of something textured and modern. If your budget allows, new tile floors can increase the value of your home, too.

6. Increase Square Footage

Home prices are often determined using square footage. By renovating a basement into a bedroom or building a deck, you can boost your property value. Or, simply make the space you already have appear visually larger by decluttering, adding a large mirror to a small space, and purchasing window shades that let in a lot of light. 

7. Say Adiós to Carpets and Popcorn Ceilings

Popcorn ceilings date your home and it’s an easy DIY once you’re cleared of asbestos. Old stained carpets aren’t only an eyesore, but they can harbor allergens and be a major turnoff for potential buyers who might see it as an additional cost they’ll have to take on themselves. Replace carpet with hardwood floors (or if the budget is tight, start with the room whose carpet is the most worn). Buyers will appreciate their sleek look and that they’re easy to clean.

8. Upgrade to Smart Home Gadgets 

Similar to the homebuyer shift to eco-friendly appliances, potential buyers desire “smart” technologies to enhance the safety of their future home. These appliances, like a smart thermostat, can also improve energy efficiency and save you money on utilities. Others like security cameras and door locks can all be implemented for under a grand, and though it may not directly boost property value, your home will garner more interest.

9. Cleanliness Matters

Though regular upkeep will make a good first impression on buyers (more people want to buy something that’s been taken care of more often than not), it’s worth the investment to have a professional cleaning company do a thorough cleaning of your home to truly make it shine.

10. Ensure Low-Maintenance Living

Though an inspector can ease potential buyers’ fears about future necessary repairs, you can replace some big things right before selling so it eradicates the fear of needing to replace them soon—i.e. the roof, water heater, furnace, etc.

Would you rather sell your house for cash as is rather than go through the hassle of increasing your home and property value? Call our team at 1-800-CASH-TODAY, so we can connect you with our local investor and help you with a seamless process.