Whether or not you are planning to sell your home this year, sprucing it up does not have to send you into the red. There are certain qualities of a home that you can improve to increase its value. Experts say to keep the focus on the kitchen, bathrooms, and exterior of the home, these areas are where prospective buyers pay the most attention to. Keep reading to find out how you can inexpensively increase the value of your home.
Start with curb appeal
With over 90 percent of home searching beginning online, you as a seller, want prospective buyers to fall in love with your home before they even come to view it. In order to do this, you want the exterior of your home to look it’s best. You don’t have to go through extensive re-landscaping, a quick clean up and trimming should help. Start with cutting the lawn and trimming any trees or bushes. Put mulch around the in-ground plants to give the place a more polished look. Make sure your front porch and door are looking its best as this is the main focal point of the exterior of your home. Begin by refreshing the front door’s coat of paint, install new house numbers and a matching door knocker with a new door knob. And if it needs it, a new mailbox will really be the cherry on top.
Upgrade the bathroom
Bathrooms are another huge factor when selling your home. A clean, well-maintained bathroom shows the buyer that you really care for your home. Much like the kitchen, bathroom upgrades don’t have to be extensive. Start with updating the light fixtures, faucet, and mirror, as these are areas in which buyers first look. If you need a new toilet, get one that is water efficient. If you’re not in a hurry to sell your home, you can redo the bathroom floors and counters.
Paint the rooms
It’s crazy how something as simple as painting a room can really improve its overall look. Paint any rooms that have unusual or bright colors because you want as many people as possible to love your home. Choosing neutral, warm colors are more universal than bright blue or pink. Grays and beige colors are your best bet and can really improve the atmosphere of a room. But don’t go and paint every room in the house, stick to common rooms such as living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.
Make the kitchen cook
Experts say that the kitchen is the single most important room in the house, it can really make or break a deal. Don’t go spending thousands of dollars on remodeling the kitchen, you can make huge improvements with only a couple hundred. Give the kitchen a fresh coat of paint, replace any outdated counter appliances such as toasters and microwaves. Next, upgrade the lighting fixtures and any cabinet hardware. Also, installing a new faucet never hurt and can be easily done. By making these few improvements, your kitchen will look a whole lot better.
Look underfoot
Don’t rip out and replace all your carpeting, instead, hire a professional carpet cleaner to give life to your carpets. If you have some wear and tear areas, strategically place area rugs to cover these problem spots. Unless you have some seriously damaged carpets, replacing them be your last resort as experts advise against re-carpeting your home before you sell.
