We all like to think that our homes are valuable; that they’d fetch a great asking price if put on the market. Yet, the reality is that increasing the resale value of a property takes work. The longer that you live in a house, the faster it wears, so it needs more care and attention before it looks like new again. The good news is that these home improvements don’t have to cost the earth.
They can be fairly extensive, in some cases, like a remodelled kitchen or bathroom. Or, they can be little things like repainting cupboards and touching up skirting boards. The trick is not to erase all evidence that a house is lived in, but to spruce up all of those bits and pieces that tend to get worn over the years.
This guide to seven of the best ways to add value to your home will help you give your property a new lease of life.
If you’re working with a tight budget and are not sure where to focus the money that you do have, start with the kitchen. There are two reasons for this. The first is that a little bit of cash can go a long way here; updating cabinet handles, repainting walls, and refinishing floors makes a huge difference. The second is that, if you are going to splurge, a new kitchen, from a reliable vendor like Brentwood Kitchens, is guaranteed to add resale value.
You can reinvigorate the entrance to your home with just a lick of paint, a new mat, and a sturdy shoe or coat rack. This area is really important, because it’s where prospective buyers get their first impressions of the property. So, spruce up your door with a bold colour, clean any stains on the carpet, and maybe even add a framed print.
While not all of the floors will need attention, if you do have a particularly threadbare or worn room, it could be worth replacing the carpet, laminate, or floorboards. You can, of course, deep clean carpets with a steam machine, but if they’re very old, it could be better to cut your losses and find a replacement. If you do have the money to spend, consider the fact that buyers adore wood floors. They’re sturdy, long lasting, and easy to maintain.
It sounds like such a simple thing, but if you are hoping to sell your property, it’s precisely the kind of detail that needs taking caring of. Dirty, streaky windows don’t really signal that there’s anything wrong with a house, but they still put prospective buyers off. It’s all about curb appeal; if a house looks beautiful from the outside, buyers will want to get inside and check it out as soon as possible.
Talking of curb appeal; if your windows need to be clean to appeal to buyers, your garden definitely has to look good. Once again, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on fancy landscaping services. It can be as simple as keeping the lawn neat, planting some colourful flowers, and making sure that tall shrubs and trees don’t obscure the view of the property.
One other small detail that tends to really delight prospective buyers is the presence of robust locks on the doors and windows. This not only shows them that you take pride in the property and have given it a lot of care, it is also something that will really benefit them if they decide to take the house. It is best to have new locks fitted by a qualified expert. The process doesn’t take long though and can be completed in a couple of hours.
If you’re not a seasoned property developer, you’re bound to find some of these decisions tricky. It can certainly be tough to decide what to invest in and what should be left unchanged if you’re working with a small budget. Yet, ultimately, you can’t go too far wrong if you trust your instincts. When it comes to decorating, stick with neutral colours and features. When picking out new appliances or accessories, try to find the right balance between value in the future and value for money right now.