The best thing about increasing your home’s value is the fact that you’re not only investing in your future, but you’ll be indulging in your home in the meantime, too. You may already have an idea or two about which investments bring the highest ROI, but we’ll take the matters one step further by giving you some practical, down-to-earth tips, most of which are very budget-friendly, or even free. Without further ado, here are 5 immediate home value boosters.
Kitchen remodel
As expected, kitchen redecoration is extremely valued since this room is always meticulously inspected by any potential home buyers, says eastbaypmc.com. For a reason, it’s quite possibly the most used room in a house. Nevertheless, not everyone is able to simply call a constructor and an interior designer and splurge on an astonishing kitchen makeover. For this reason, here is a brief list of improvements and DIYs you can attempt:
Ups and downs – replacing the old flooring with a new, modern design (such as checkerboard) will work towards creating a striking look that will change the atmosphere of the room. Also, don’t shy away from installing new lighting, or perhaps even a chandelier.
Tiles – naturally, the best option would be to replace all the tiles and introduce new, bolder designs or go for a specific, traditional pattern. If it’s too costly, you should know that changing the backsplash can go a long way.
Cabinet tricks – buying new cabinets is great, but it’s not absolutely necessary. You can achieve the same effect by simply buying new cabinet doors.
New countertops – there is a wide variety of materials to choose from: granite, marble, quartz, laminate, solid-surface material and so on. Once again, it’s up to you how much you are willing to invest.
Depending on how much effort you put into the kitchen remodel, you can expect to increase the home price by 12.5% (from a recent survey by Royal LePage).
Bathroom bliss
This is what you can do about the second most popular room in the house:
Replace the tiles – if not all of them, then at least change the flooring.
Install a low-flush toilet – green homes are no longer an option in real estate, but rather a standard, so this minor change will speak volumes about your lower water bill.
Install a new toilet in the house – it’s costly, but it is without a doubt a game-changer for many a home buyer, especially families with children.
Of course, the plumbing had better be in perfect condition, or all the other improvements will be in vain.
Hot location booster
In case your home is situated in a high-end, popular neighborhood, and the climate is nice and warm for the majority of the year, then you probably already have a pool in your backyard. Most of your neighbors boast one, so it’s impossible not to keep up with them…Joneses. Of course, in order to be a true value booster, the pool has to be well-maintained and look impressive, which is hard to achieve if it is surrounded by a rusty old fence. A fancy glass one will do the trick, and don’t forget a quality fence isn’t just for decoration, but is also mandated by law in many countries around the world, so make sure you’re across all the safety regulations in your area before attempting this project.
Play it smart
What you should be trying to create is an energy-efficient, smart home. Nowadays, buyers are not asking how much energy is spent every month, but how much energy is saved. Therefore, you should have a couple of green home features up your sleeve when the question arises, and it surely will. This is what you can do:
Buy new appliances – the latest generations are extremely energy efficient. For instance, advanced dishwashers can have a soil detection option which estimates how dirty the dishes are, and uses the right amount of water-based on that.
Choose proper lighting – you should have only LEDs and CFLs in your home. Moreover, you may consider having motion detector lights for the outside lighting.
Insulation is key – hardly anyone will be interested in buying your home if it’s not properly insulated (garage door and attic included).
Finishing touches
To sum up, here is one proven property value booster that doesn’t cost a dime, and that is good old decluttering. Get rid of all the things that are lying around in the rooms or the garage. People wish to see nicely arranged, clean spaces when looking for their future home. In addition, a freshly painted interior is always a sight for sore eyes.
If you’re thinking about selling your home, these would be your safest bets to raise the price. Take everything into consideration and sort out the priorities. When you’re finished, the only issue would be whether you still want to sell your home, or you’ll simply be enjoying it too much.
