Large remodels on your home can be extremely expensive and time consuming, and many homeowners simply do not have time or large amounts of money to put towards this endeavor. It is well known that remodeling your home, even just a room at a time, can help increase the overall value of your home when you decide it is time to sell. However, there are many other things that you can do to increase the value of your home without breaking the bank or allowing it to consume your life. I am here to let you in on a couple of my best kept secrets to increasing the value of your home with these tips and tricks!
An Appealing Outdoor Space is Key
Most buyers today, especially younger millennials, truly value a good outdoor space on their home. The inside of your house can be absolutely perfect when it comes time to sell, but if you don’t have at least a little bit of comfortable and attractive looking outdoor space, all of that perfection on the inside could quickly be ignored. Adding on an outdoor living space doesn’t have to be a huge project. You can add on a small deck off of the back door with a built in grill or a small stone patio with a nice arrangement of seating. Keep it simple and focus on the space itself and the details of the materials you use, and the value of your home can quickly becoming more appealing to a broader range of potential buyers.
Another thing that you need to keep in mind when designing your outdoor space and general landscaping, is that most buyers will desire a yard that is fairly low maintenance year round. Make sure that all of your outdoor space is as appealing as it can be, without requiring hours and hours of watering time and general maintenance weekly. This may mean planting more drought resistant and local plants, versus attempting to make your property look more like a golf course. One of the last things your prospective buyers want to be thinking about as they view your property, is how much work it is going to take to upkeep its visual appearance.
The Kitchen Will Always be the Heart of the Home
When you are deciding which rooms to do a little remodeling on first, always keep in mind that unless another room is absolutely unlivable- the kitchen will always come first in value. Buyers will immediately praise a newly remodeled kitchen and it can easily set the tone for the viewing of the rest of the home. And believe it or not, with a little bit of research, you can easily remodel your kitchen for just a couple thousand dollars. If you focus on attaining new appliances, new flooring and new counter tops, you will be increasing the overall value quickly while also increasing your home’s aesthetic appeal.
If you are also able to pick out new cabinets and hardware, it is a good idea to choose materials that are easy to clean and simple. Do not waste money on expensive and elaborate knobs and handles. They are harder to clean and might not appeal to everyone. And if you are not able to update or remodel larger appliances and cabinetry in your kitchen, simply putting a fresh coat of paint on everything will go a long way!
Small Maintenance and Repairs- Don’t Let them Linger
For many homeowners, it is easy to dismiss small repairs such as leaky faucets and paint chipping that may occur throughout the years. If there is a large issue that is impacting our everyday living, we tend to jump on it quicker than other small and mundane fixes. But it is very important to the overall value of your home to keep up with small repairs and maintenance checks on the bones and basics of your home.
If you notice a leaky faucet or some other small problem, fix it right away to prevent further damage or larger issues later on. This also gives you the opportunity to learn more about how your home works, and gives you the chance to notice problem areas that a home inspector or potential buyer might point out. Along with keeping up with small repairs, it is also important to keep on top of the general maintenance of your home. This might include regularly cleaning your gutters, getting your septic system cleaned and pumped if you have one, and regularly servicing your larger appliances. You want to make sure that everything is working as perfectly as it can be when it comes time to appraise your home and show it to potential buyers.
If you are a homeowner and are getting ready to put your house on the market, taking the time to remodel the important rooms such as the kitchen, executing an enhanced outdoor space and paying close attention to small repairs that are needed, can increase the value of your home tremendously. These secrets to success in the world of real estate, will help increase the value of your home and do not require an unreasonable amount of time or money. And trust me, when the time comes to put your house on the market, your confidence level will be much higher knowing that your faucets aren’t leaking as potential buyers are walking through!
