10 Tempting Tips to Increase Home Value
They don’t make any more real estate, so home and property values will always increase over time. But how do you maximize your value short term? Here are 10 tips to increase the value of your home.
Awesome Outdoors
Curb appeal is critical. Clean the gutters, mow the yard, pick up the trash, and pluck those weeds in the flowerbed! A dirty exterior can tarnish that first impression…and that leads to tip #2:
Luxurious Landscaping
A manicured lawn, dogwood trees, and a bed of pansies can bring tranquility to the property. A great landscape can add value to the home far above the initial investment.
A Vibrant coat of Paint
New exterior paint can make an old house new again. Even better if your budget will stretch is to adding vinyl siding to provide a lifetime of protection with near zero maintenance. Indoors, two-tone paint schemes with neutral or contemporary colors can add volume to a room and provide a great effect.
Fashionable Bathrooms
New tile, glass shower doors, and sensible fixtures can all be weekend projects that capture that wavering homebuyer.
Programmable thermostats and Weather-stripping
Energy is never going to get any cheaper- so do yourself a favor and make your home more efficient. These are do-it-yourself projects that can significantly help your pocketbook. Homebuyers often ask to see the last few power bills to get an idea of potential energy costs, and having an efficient home never hurts.
Powerful Porches and Patios
If your house has a wood deck, consider expanding it for more room. Or perhaps it just needs a good wash and weather seal? If you have a concrete slab patio, consider covering it with recycled brick to add fashionable flair.
Fabulous Flooring
Natural wood or laminate flooring is a becoming a popular home improvement nowadays and can add significant value to any home. Higher end carpets such as berber are also very attractive. If your flooring shows wear in high traffic areas consider replacing it.
Magnificent Glass
Double- or triple-pane gas filled windows can lower your heating and cooling bill, and will be a significant attraction to a homebuyer. The payback may take a year or two so do your homework first as to how much you can expect to save. Many window manufacturers include a transferable warranty so make sure you keep a copy.
Potent Privacy
Homebuyers with pets or small children will appreciate a tastefully fenced backyard. Privacy fencing adds a cozy touch. Vinyl fencing will last a long time and never need painting. Wood fencing does involve some maintenance yearly so make sure that fence is taken care of before the house sale.
Cooking Kitchens
Couples love kitchens with modern conveniences. Improvements such as track lighting, deep-well sinks with stretch faucets, ceramic smoothtop ranges, or high efficiency dishwashers can very enticing. There are some regional and taste preferences that may come in to play here, so keep your improvements neutral.