Tips for adding value to your home
Are you looking to increase the value of your home without breaking the bank? There are many things that we can do to make our houses easier to sell, or even a more pleasant place to live but they do not necessarily increase the value of the house. Adding value to your house sounds straightforward enough but it can be quite tricky.
If you don’t feel your savings account can handle the upgrades, consider improvement loans. If you are planning some DIY make sure the job is small enough for you to handle, if the work requires a professional and you ignore this, illegal home improvements may not be covered by your home insurance.
First Impressions
Exterior
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. If your home’s appearance rubs a potential buyer the wrong way they may not want to look any further. Make sure the lawn is cut, the shrubs are trimmed and the landscape is neatly manicured. This implies anything from maintaining window treatments to the dispensing of tacky garden gnomes.
Interior
Be aware of any unpleasant or unusual odours. Pet, cigarette and food odours tend to linger and can change the way a house is perceived. Invest in a good spray deodorant or plug ins. You may want to make a fresh pot of tea and bake some biscuits to provide a welcoming and homey atmosphere.
Consult an Estate Agent
Consult a knowledgeable estate agent that is experienced in your area - they can advise you on what small improvements your home may need prior to embarking on any major refurbishments which may result in substantial debt. It may be worth asking what the house would be worth with the planned renovations and what the ceiling price is for your type of property in the neighbourhood.
Square Footage
Many properties are now listed on a ‘per square foot’ basis so it would be advisable to get a professional to re-check the measurements of your house as it may be more than originally listed. A slight increase may result in listing your house for a higher price.
Eliminate the clutter inside the house. An organised and tidy home will seem larger and more appealing to potential buyers. The idea is to make the house look like a model home that buyers can imagine themselves living in.
Check Flooring
Potential buyers pay close attention to floors, so make sure carpets are shampooed, hardwood is polished and broken tiles are replaced.
Kitchen and Bathrooms
Kitchens and bathrooms are major selling points so the more modern and spacious they appear, the better chance you have for a sale. It is costly to remodel so replacing towel racks, light fixtures, door knobs and putting away small appliances can make a major difference for potential buyers.
Decoration
A fresh coat of paint is almost a prerequisite for a seller these days, however, this will likely speed up the sale of your house more so than increase the value.
**Articles featured on BeatThatQuote.com are for information purposes only and reflect the views of individual writers. Articles are not, and should not be considered as, financial advice. BeatThatQuote.com strongly encourages our readers not to rely solely on information contained within this article/our website, but to conduct their own research and seek independent advice about the financial products they purchase.**
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