Simple and Wise Ways to Increase Your Home’s Value
You might have dreamed about remodeling your kitchen or installing new wood floors since you bought your house, but you never seem to find the time or the money. Does this sound like you? If so, no matter your budget or available time, you can come up with some simple ways to invest in your home. Even if you’re struggling, it’s worth finding the resources to increase the value in your home in the long run.
Consider taking on some do-it-yourself projects to save money. While you might not think you have the time, try turning it into a weekend project and getting your family, extended family, neighbors and friends involved. Offer to help others with their projects if they help you with yours. Then, your project can turn into a social event to make it more fun. While you might want to remodel your entire house, take on one project at a time and you can slowly change it without overwhelming your energy or your budget. Concentrating on certain areas of your home can make a large difference.
One idea to start with is installing a new floor. Dirty carpets or beat-up hardwood or linoleum floors won’t make a positive impression on new buyers. A great option for a beautiful floor that will save you money is engineered hardwood flooring. You can install this type of flooring right over wood or concrete that is already present. This material comes in a variety of finishes, cuts, textures and colors to fit your home.
Another great selling point is to add a deck to your home, or to make an existing deck larger. A deck offers a place to enjoy the outdoors without being in the grass, plus it is the perfect place for parties and picnics. This can be a do-it-yourself project with the right tools, guidance and helpers. If building a deck seems too complicated for you, you can opt for composite decking, which is easier and faster to install.
A simple and effective way to improve the look of your home, especially the first impression, is to landscape. Choose a variety of decorative grasses, bushes, small trees and flowers that are suited for your location and soil type. Display them along the front of the house, in window boxes, lining walkways and in pots on the deck or steps. It helps to plan where you will put each plant before you plant them. Depending on your budget, choose cheaper plant varieties or add a few plants at a time. Native plants and drought-resistant plants can save you money with watering and maintenance. Also, cleaning up the outside of your house can make a big difference. This includes maintaining the yard, fixing dead patches of grass, weeding and fixing up broken steps.
In today’s world, many people are looking for environmentally-friendly aspects to their home. If you add some, these features can be great selling points. This can include energy-saving appliances, using environmentally-friendly materials in remodeling, adding cost-efficient cooling or heating and adding strategically placed trees to keep your home cooler.
If your driveway is cracked and beat-up, you might want to consider repaving it. The driveway helps make the first impression on the house and can be very important, especially if the potential buyer has a brand-new Mercedes. Plus, you don’t want to go to the effort of landscaping and fixing up the exterior of the house, only to have the impression ruined by the driveway. If this seems like too big or too expensive of a project, you also have the option to patch and reseal certain parts of the driveway if the overall condition isn’t too bad.
Finally, painting and redecorating your home can go a long way for little money. In the same vein, try small updates like changing outdated light fixtures, sinks, toilets, and door handles. Installing new appliances, cabinets and counters can result in a large return on your investment. Also, many new homebuyers are looking for storage space when buying a new home. If your home is lacking in this area, consider adding simple shelves to closets and the garage to maximize the space, or possibly adding another closet if you have the room.
Overall, to make your house marketable in today’s economy and in comparison to other houses, it’s important to make it the best it can be. Instead of making potential buyers feel like they’ll have to do a lot of work if they buy your house, make them feel as if the house is ready to live in. If you put even a small amount of money and effort into remodeling or uplifting the appearance of your house, you will be thankful when it’s time to sell.