Making home improvements to increase the resale value of a home when planning to sell is common. Most people inherently understand that no one wants to tour a home filled with problems. Repairs and remodels are the most common approaches, however, most people tend to overspend when doing so. Below are 5 of the top home improvements you can make that will increase the resale value of your home without breaking the bank.
1. UPDATING PAINT IS COST-EFFECTIVE AND BIG IMPACT
One of the easiest and most cost-effective methods of refurbishing a well-lived-in home is paint. Over time, even the cleanest of homes will show fading paint and dirt on the walls. This is partially due to natural aging/wear and tear and partly due to sunlight. Sunlight will bleach paint over time so that in rooms with the most windows, you can expect to find fading. Most people fail to notice this until pictures and other decorations are removed from the walls during packing. Behind the decorations, the original paint color will be mostly intact whereas the rest will be faded. Paint doesn’t cost much and anyone can do it. Of course, neutral colors are always best for home sales—let the new owner add lime green or hot pink if that is their preference. Keep it simple.
2. LAWN/LANDSCAPING MEANS FIRST IMPRESSIONS
A yard full of weeds or overgrown landscaping will reduce your overall curb appeal. First impressions are often lasting impressions, so imagine what a new buyer will see when first walking up to your home. Quick fixes such as trimming hedges around windows and doors, cutting back large tree limbs, blowing and bagging fallen leaves, and adding small pops of color with inexpensive flowers can help give your home a facelift. Also, make sure to keep up with landscape updates until your home has sold.
3. ENERGY EFFICIENT PRODUCTS ARE GREAT, BUT DON’T GO OVERBOARD
Making a home energy efficient is another great way to increase the value of your home, but make sure you invest your dollars wisely. For example, windows are great, but can often run tens of thousands of dollars to replace. On the other hand, ensuring that your attic is properly insulated is an inexpensive fix to a common problem. How to Home Insulation has some great tips or you can visit the help desk at your local home improvement center to determine the right amount to add. Doing so is easy and can be completed in an afternoon in most cases. Another inexpensive trick is to add energy efficient lighting. We recommend making energy efficiency improvements to your home months before putting it on the market so that you have electric bills to prove the changes—this alone could sell the house.
While on the topic of energy and electricity, depending on where you’re located and how likely you are to lose power, there are some upgrades that might appeal to future buyers. Things like a home generators or solar panels might be a good addition to your home.
4. LEAKS MUST BE REPAIRED PRIOR TO SELLING OR YOU WILL LOSE MONEY ON THE SALE
It is important to inspect your home for leaks, especially since these can often go unnoticed. Look in your attic with the lights off to see if you can detect light entering from above or below. Another good time to test for leaks is the day of or after rain. Roof drips or puddled water will often be visible at this time. If you detect a leak, make sure to inspect the area closely and look for discoloration or staining which may be an indication of water damage or rot. If possible, these leaks should be addressed before putting your home on the market since a home inspection will reveal the problem.
5. THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN REMODELING YOUR HOME FOR RESALE
Remodeling main areas is another thing many do prior to selling, but be mindful. Not all buyers will have the same remodeling taste. For instance, many sellers overspend in the kitchen, adding custom counters and cabinets. However, clean and neat is all that is required for a sale. A great tip is to only remodel according to the standard of the neighborhood. If marble counters are the norm, then sure, add them. As other home inspectors would agree, like the inspectors company in San Diego, if you live in a location where high-end additions are not the norm, adding these may increase the appraised value of your home, but that has no impact on the selling value.
We hope you find these Top 5 Home Improvements to Increase the Resale Value of Your Home helpful. In future articles we will go into greater detail on these and more. Be sure to bookmark us and visit often, especially when you get closer to putting your home on the market.
A Seller Inspection can always be arranged to make sure that you have an understanding of the condition of your home before you put it on the market and to make sure you aren’t caught off guard by any inspection findings. A home inspector will also be able to point out in more detail items that can be fixed or updated before the buyer’s inspection.
Contact Careful Home Inspections today to discuss your Seller Inspection. 512-587-0726