Are you gearing up to sell your home? If so, you’ll want to do everything possible to ensure that you get the best return on your investment. Luckily, there are several ways to increase home value without breaking the bank. Here’s what you need to know about the best ways to increase home value on your house for sale.
Curb Appeal
When it comes to listing your property, curb appeal is one of the most critical factors in attracting potential homebuyers. Curb appeal is the appearance of your home and property when viewed from the curb or outside street view. It refers to landscaping, paint color, exterior features like doors and windows, and any updates you may have added to your property since moving in.
These things play a significant role in determining curb appeal. Research has shown that they also significantly affect how appealing a house will be to potential homebuyers. Buyers want to see a well-maintained house with updated features, and they also want to feel confident that their new home will not require too much work after they move in.
To improve curb appeal:
- Pick up trash
- Put away toys and lawn furniture
- Pull weeds
- Mow the lawn
- Trim the bushes
- Plant flowers
- Powerwash the exterior
- Replace window and door screens
- Paint porch railings
- Replace the doorknob and deadbolt
- Put out a welcome mat
- Put potted flowers by the door
Staging
Staging is getting your house ready for sale by making it look as attractive as possible to potential buyers. Staging can include decluttering your space, making minor repairs, and staging each room to look warm, inviting, and lived-in.
The main goal of staging is to create positive feelings in homebuyers and inspire them to picture themselves living in your house. Because it helps buyers visualize their lives there, staging has been shown to significantly impact the homebuying process.
If you want to maximize the value of your house for sale, it is vital to take staging seriously. Here are some simple tips and tricks for staging your home:
Clean: One of the most important things you can do to stage your home is to make sure that it is sparkling clean from top to bottom. This part of staging means dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and deep-cleaning every room in your house.
Declutter: In addition to cleaning, you’ll also want to declutter each room to look bigger and more open. Decluttering means getting rid of unnecessary furniture, home decor, and personal items like clothing, toys, and keepsakes.
Depersonalize: Once you’ve decluttered your home, you’ll want to take things one step further by depersonalizing it. This means removing any family photos, personal mementos, or other items that would make it difficult for buyers to imagine themselves living in your home.
Arrange furniture: Another important aspect of staging is arranging your furniture to be both attractive and functional. Arranging furniture means creating conversation areas, placing furniture away from the walls, and using area rugs to define each space.
Minor, Inexpensive Upgrades
If you’re thinking about putting your home on the market, it’s important to realize that with a few small, inexpensive upgrades, you can significantly increase the value of your house.
Updating your home is a good way to make a great first impression on potential buyers, but it can also influence the appraisal.
Most appraisers will assess the condition of the home based on their first impression, which often depends on how well the house is maintained.
Additionally, because appraisers measure home values in $500 increments, even a few small updates could translate to hundreds of dollars in returns. Whether you’re looking to renovate an outdated kitchen or add some new decorative touches around the exterior of your house for sale, these simple updates can help get more money out of your investment and set you up for success.
Paint: One of the quickest and most inexpensive ways to increase the value of your home is to give it a fresh coat of paint. Painting your home can make it look clean and new, which is appealing to potential buyers. When choosing paint colors, it’s best to stick with neutral tones like white, beige, or light gray.
Replace hardware: Another quick and easy way to update your home is to replace any outdated hardware. This includes things like door handles, cabinet hardware, and plumbing fixtures. Replacing old hardware is a quick and easy way to give your home an updated look.
Add new home decor: Adding new home decor is a great way to give each room in your home a fresh look. This can include things like throw pillows, rugs, wall art, and candles.
Update light fixtures: Updating your light fixtures is a great way to add both style and function to your home. New light fixtures can brighten up each room and make it feel more inviting.
Replace carpets: If your home has outdated or worn-out carpets, replacing them is a great way to increase their value. New carpets can make your home feel cleaner and more comfortable, which is appealing to potential buyers.
Recaulk: One often-overlooked way to update your home is to recaulk any gaps or cracks. This is especially important in the kitchen and bathroom, where moisture can cause mold and mildew to grow.
Replace windows: Replacing old windows is a great way to improve both the function and the aesthetic of your home. New windows can make your home more energy-efficient and help reduce your utility bills. They can also give your home a fresh, updated look.
Conclusion
When you’re getting ready to list your home for sale, there are a number of things you can do to increase its value. From decluttering and depersonalizing to making minor upgrades, these simple changes can make a big difference in how much your home is worth. By taking the time to prepare your home for sale, you can maximize your investment and get the most money out of your home.
