How to Increase Home Value Without Going Broke
Upon first arriving at your home, the first thing a homebuyer's eyes generally focus on, is the landscaping, front door, and how appealing the home is to the eye.
First ImpressionsUpon first arriving at your home, the first thing a homebuyer's eyes generally focus on, is the landscaping, front door, and how appealing the home is to the eye. Throwing a little fertilizer on the lawn, pruning overgrown trees and bushes, and adding colorful flowers, is an inexpensive way to get bang for the buck on a home sale. Ditto for painting the front door if it needs it, and for adding colorful plants in decorative containers near the entry.
Have the Home Inspected
Almost all home sales will require a Termite Inspection and possibly a Home Inspection. The findings on these reports can reveal problems with the home, which will likely need to be fixed anyway, or result in a decrease in home value during a sale. Addressing those problems up front can add value to a home. For example I remember a seller who had a termite report performed. It was discovered that the bathroom had significant drywall damage behind the shower/bath stall, and also bathroom floor damage. By replacing the flooring with new tile, and performing the dry wall and plumbing repair, followed by beautiful new tile, the bathroom looked significantly improved.
The Over Decorated Home – Less Can Be More
It is not uncommon to live in our homes, and accumulate a collection of knick-knacks and other items, that represent little creature comforts or nuances to our lives. Sometimes we acquire furniture and hang onto it even though it reduces the appearance of floor space, or may be a tad dilapidated or old. I am often amazed that Home Stagers pretty much clear out a house, re-decorate or arrange furniture, with far less furniture, and clutter than before. Less is usually more!
What About That Kitchen?
Are the existing cabinets in your kitchen, dingy, or not adding to the Wow factor of your home? Consider painting them to provide a fresh look. There are numerous paints that provide great transformation for old cabinets. Recently, I visited a home where the homeowner had lightly sanded the cabinets, applied a slate blue color stain, which added a truly delightful appearance to the room. The kitchen floor had been covered in old vinyl and had dry rot beneath near the dish washer. The floor was replaced with a really sharp looking slate gray wood laminate. As appealing as the new cabinet color and floors were to me, it is also important to consider colors, if you are planning on marketing your home.
Extra Dining Space
When I purchased my home a number of years ago, I worried about the size of the dining area. My family is large - There are children, their spouses, and grandchildren. Several years ago, I put in a patio with nice patio furniture, and created much more space to entertain. Gatherings at my home almost always press that area into use.
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