How to Increase Home Value
There are several ways you can increase your home value. Some are simple, and some are complicated. Some are expensive, and some are cheap. If you want to get more for your money when you decide to sell, consider making these improvements now.
Make Your Home Energy Efficient
Everyone loves to save money, and potential buyers especially love to hear about the energy efficiency of your home. There are many things you can do to stop the heat transfer from the outside to the inside and vice-versa. Consider adding insulation to your attic and installing double-paned NFRC-rated windows on the sides of your house that get the most sun. A water heater company in Brentwood can install a tankless water heater which could save you up to $100 a year over a traditional tank. Low flow toilets and showers are also money savers.
Update Your Kitchen Appliances
It’s hard to beat a home kitchen with upgraded appliances. A high-end five-burner stove appeals to almost everyone – even those who don’t cook. Sinks should be roomy and unstained with a spray wand attachment. Even replacing the garbage disposal with a quiet one can get you some points with potential buyers. If your dishwasher, oven and refrigerator are mismatched, now is the time to coordinate the collection so your kitchen looks like a seamless extension to the rest of the house.
Install Smart Technology
The newest houses tend to have fully integrated smart technology. You can do everything from unlock the doors, to turn on the lights, to open the blinds from a smartphone. Even if you can’t create this kind of home system from the ground up, you can certainly add a few features such as security cameras at the front and back door that you can view on your phone or thermostat control that you can adjust when you’re away.
Create Curb Appeal
There are many updates you can do on the outside of your house to give it extra curb appeal. Both replacing the siding or adding a stone veneer can recoup a generous portion of their cost. Getting rid of a dented rusted garage door and replacing it with a modern insulated one is a great eye-catcher. Landscaping, either professional or DIY, is a no-brainer when it comes to creating curb appeal. Blooming flowers, trimmed hedges and trees make a statement about how much a home is cared for.
Add Living Space
Consider the going rate of price per square foot of real estate in your neighborhood and then see if you can create extra living space for under that amount. Real winners are a game room addition or expanded master bedroom because they don’t involve the cost of adding a bathroom. If you can’t commit to the disruption construction brings, imagine a beautiful deck off the back door for integrated indoor/outdoor entertaining.
Remodel the Bathrooms
You don’t have to gut a home bathroom in order to breathe new life into it. Simply updating the sink and tub faucets go a long way. Replace the old toilet with a sleeker chair-height toilet with a high-water conservation rating. If you currently have a stand-alone sink that is not part of a larger bathroom counter, think about what a difference it could make if you changed sizes. A smaller sink could create more space for shelving or make a tiny water closet feel roomy. Adding in a bigger sink with some counter space might be nicer for a guest room.
Refresh the Paint
If you prefer to start small, try your hand at repainting your house room-by-room. Begin with a project that is doable in one weekend like the half bath or guest room. Once you get painting, you’ll likely be inspired to continue throughout the rest of the house. Stick with a classic neutral palette as you’ll want the new homeowners to be able to imagine their art and knick-knacks in the room.
Increasing your home value is all about updating in a way that allows you to recoup most of the money spent on the project when you sell. Hopefully, you will get to enjoy a little bit of the beauty you created too before it’s time to move on.
