10 Ways to Boost Your Home’s Value and Appeal
1. Re-paint It
Redecorating your home helps give it a new breath of life, making it more attractive to prospective buyers. This can be as simple as applying a fresh lick of paint to the house indoors and outside.
You, however, do not want to go with your favorite colors, but neutral ones instead. This will make it easier for prospective buyers to envision themselves in the house. You could choose to repaint it yourself or hire a professional for even better results.
2. Have All Artificial Defects Fixed
Even the most minor defects or issues can be a deal breaker in a house sale. It thus would be advisable to hunt down all these defects and have them fixed on time. Ensure these defects are only superficial and won’t affect the house’s integrity. Some of the issues you should look out for include:
• dirty walls (around light switches and door frames)
• paint peeling off
• squeaky stairs, floors, and doors
• leaking taps
• moldy sealant in bathrooms and kitchens
• broken light fixtures and bulbs
• badly fitted laminate flooring
• a buildup of limescale on bathroom fittings and in the kitchen
3. Work On Your Front Door
What is the condition of your front door? A broken, squeaky, or rusty-looking door could make your home unappealing even after repainting the house. Inspect the house to see if it needs repair, then give it a power wash and repaint it. Consider replacing the old doorknob with a new one and a new house number. Make sure your front door is the most attractive/cleanest on the block. If you want to sell house fast, contact estate agents to reduce the time and hassle of waiting around to find a buyer.
4. Declutter
Nothing makes a room/home more appealing and cozier than a well-kept, neat, and clean home. Don’t just focus on vacuuming the carpets and rugs; ensure the furniture, workstations, and even the wardrobes are wiped clean and neat. You must do the same in the kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Get rid of anything you don’t use at the moment or don’t need any more to create more space.
5. Upgrade Your Heating and Lighting
A warm and well-lit home appeals more than a cold, dull one. That said, you want to ensure your central heater is working optimally, lights too. If the central heater is fairly new, small upgrades such as investing in a programmable/smart thermostat will go a long way. Good lighting is also ideal, a reason you should invest in proper lighting fixtures and bulbs. LED bulbs are more efficient and better than traditional incandescent or fluorescent. Consider making the switch if you haven’t already.
6. Spruce Up the Garden
This is especially important if you have a garden at the front, as well as the back. Ensuring the garden is in the best condition possible; tilled, watered, and pruned, can help improve your home’s overall look and appeal. It can be a sell-point, especially for potential homebuyers that love gardening. If the garden was neglected for one reason or another, then take time to prepare it well and plant some seedlings. Clear the pathways, trim the borders, and prune overgrown bushes and trees.
Unknown to many, homes with front or back gardens sell faster than those without. Investing in a garden house can also help boost its overall value.
7. Create a Driveway
Creating a driveway eliminates the need to pack by the roadside, making your home more appealing and valuable. Most potential homebuyers are willing to pay a premium for a private driveway or parking bay.
8. Make Your Home Energy Efficient
With rising energy costs, almost everyone wishes to make/have energy-efficient homes. Making your home energy efficient by installing double-glazed windows and doors and using energy-efficient heating and lighting systems will make it more marketable. Consider investing in smart home systems, such as a smart thermostat, automatic lights, etc., and advertise the presence of fiber optic cables (if any) to attract savvy homeowners. Hive, for example, is an excellent hub that helps control heating systems and can be integrated with other smart home devices as well.
9. Consider A Kitchen Makeover
The kitchen is the heart of every home. It thus needs to spell living in the house, a reason you might want to make a few upgrades or a makeover (if budget allows it). Replacing broken cupboard handles and drawers and repainting the entire kitchen goes a long way in boosting its value. Proper lighting also makes for a huge improvement too – look for ways to upgrade the existing ones, especially with energy-efficient light bulbs.
10. Renovate The Bathrooms
Simple bathroom renovations, such as re-grouting the tiles, replacing lighting fixtures, and taps, and adding a new shelf, go a long way in boosting your home value. If possible, consider adding a standard glass screen or a shower curtain for improved functionality. Such simple upgrades should make a significant difference and even make your home more marketable.
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