If you have been thinking about selling your home, you have probably thought about things you could do to add value to your home before putting it on the market. The truth is, while there are things that will increase the value, it pays off more in pride while you are still living there than it does anything else. However, some minor upgrades and changes aren’t such a bad idea when trying to appeal to home buyers.
First things first, home maintenance. Your home is a big investment, and you should take care of it as you would anything else that you want to have for a while. Home maintenance items, such as lawn maintenance, replacing outdated or broken appliances, or servicing your HVAC, won’t add value to your home. If anything, you’ll have a lower chance of getting a bad home inspection report back. Home maintenance should take place as issues arise to keep your home in good condition while you’re still there. The better care you take of the home, the more it’ll be worth later.
Small upgrades are a good way to spruce up your home and add a little bit of value back into it. The best way to do that is to paint. When you’re selling your home, you want your home to appeal to a wide variety of buyers, and to do that, painting over your lime green bedroom walls might be a good start. You could also think about sanding down and repainting kitchen or bathroom cabinets. Other small upgrades you might want to think about are removing your popcorn ceiling, replacing hardware on cabinets and drawers, and switching out old lightbulbs with LED’s. These are small and inexpensive changes, but they will make a difference in the eyes of a buyer!
If you want to do something a bit more than small upgrades, think energy efficient. Bringing energy efficiency into your home is going to add value because you will ultimately be saving money on things like heating and cooling costs. Smart or programmable thermostats are a great way to save on energy costs; you’ll be able to set climate control for when nobody is home or when it’s time for bed. Other things you might want to think about in terms of energy efficiency include installing double paned windows, adding ceiling fans into bedrooms, or adding a bit more insulation to your attic.
If you’re wanting to remodel or renovate, specifically to sell, remember to keep in mind that anything you do will need to appeal to a large variety of people. While a lot of people appreciate a good kitchen or bathroom remodel, any renovation that adds mores space is the best route to take. A lot of people are looking for more space to work from home ever since COVID has created a remote work force. You can finish out your basement, if you have one, or open up the floor plan by knocking out a wall.
Making eye candy changes to your home to make it more appealing doesn’t have to be expensive. Add a fresh coat of paint, and keep in mind you are trying to please a variety of different potential buyers with whatever changes you decide to make. Whether you decide to make some minor changes or add a half bath, you’ll find that you added just enough value for the right buyer.
