Selling your home can seem very daunting. You often have a good idea of what your home is worth as-is, but if you want a better price, consider performing some upgrades. Even basic home improvements, like painting and landscaping, can boost the value of your home.
Look for home improvements with a high return on investment (ROI). Projects with a high ROI increase the value of your home exponentially for each dollar spent on the work. While specialists in home sales like Sundae.com—an online marketplace exposing homes to multiple offers—can sell your house in its current condition, making minor improvements can go a long way.
“It’s only natural that an upgrade to your home enhances its curb appeal,” said a representative of Sundae.com which, through its marketplace, provides the opportunity for multiple offers on any property. “The challenge becomes making the smart improvements that bring a return in the final sale.”
To learn more about Sundae.com, check out Sundae.com Reviews.
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Tips for Increasing the Value of Your Home
You might walk in the door of your house and think everything is perfect—but not every buyer will agree. Sometimes having an outside opinion is a great way to spot areas that could be improved that you hadn’t considered.
Work with a Pro
Spending just an hour with an interior designer or industry expert can be a great investment. They will tell what areas buyers might not like so you can address them. Something as simple as rearranging your furniture can make a room much more attractive to buyers.
Get an Inspection
An inspection can help you find and address hidden issues. Most buyers will require an inspection before they buy the house. They sometimes use any information found in an inspection to decrease the overall purchase price if repairs need to be made. You can address these items now by getting your own inspection before you put the house on the market.
Address Energy Drains
Many local utility companies will work with you to perform an energy inspection. They will review concerns like leaky windows, high-drain appliances, and other issues. If you address these problems well in advance of putting your home on the market, that will also decrease your energy costs. Buyers will often review energy costs before they buy, so decreasing these costs will not only help you save money, but it will make the house more appealing to budget-conscious buyers.
High-ROI Home Improvements Buyers Love
It is a good idea to focus your time and efforts on home improvements that will give you the most bang for your buck. On average, most home improvement projects (when done correctly) will end up providing about a 66.5% return on investment, but some projects are just better than others when it comes to ROI.
Finish Your Basement
If you have an unfinished basement in your home, finishing it can appeal to buyers. While this is a big project that comes with a hefty price take, HomeAdvisor reports that you can often get an ROI of up to 70% for a fully finished basement.
Work Toward Open Concept
If you watch any remodeling shows, you will hear buyers talking about “open concept” on virtually every episode. Today, most buyers want to see a large space that includes a kitchen, living, and dining area. Having this open space is often appealing because it makes watching children easier and gives more space to entertain.
However, keep in mind that you often still need to define the spaces from room to room. You can do a lot with furniture, but sometimes maintaining opening casings and other ways to define the space is appealing too.
Invest in a Steel Door
Just adding a steel door can increase the value of your home more than you might think. Replacing your entry door can recoup up to 91% of the investment. Steel doors are energy efficient, low maintenance, and very safe—all of which are appealing to buyers.
Swap Out Fixtures
You will be amazed how much a room can change when you just swap out the fixtures—especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Ensuring that your drawer pulls, faucets, and knobs all match can give the whole room a more “put together” look.
Boost Your Home’s Value?
If you are ready to start making improvements, you can address some of these items right away.
Boost Curb Appeal
You want your home to look good inside and out, and if the house is struggling on the outside, a potential buyer might not want to come inside to see any improvements you made. Do a walk-through on the outside of your house to spot problem areas. Touch up paint, address sagging siding, or clear away debris. Planting trees and updating the landscape can go a long way as well.
Replace Garage Doors
Replacing your garage doors is actually one of the higher ROI projects you can do on your home. You can get back about 95% of the money you spent on this project in most cases.
Upgrade the Kitchen
It is said that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. Even if you do not do a full-blown remodel, simple things like swapping out knobs and pulls and repaying the cabinets can make the room feel brand new.
Replace Siding
It’s no secret that siding is expensive. If buyers think the siding needs replaced or repaired, they might steer clear. Take a hard look at your siding. Improving problem areas can put a buyer’s mind at ease.
Remodel the Bathroom
Bathrooms today are becoming more and more spa-like. Adding space to relax, like swapping out your dated tub for one with jets, can be a swap that adds enormous value for many potential buyers.
Home Renovations Increase Property Value
If you want larger projects that are almost guaranteed to add value, focus on kitchens and bathrooms. Swap out appliances as you upgrade the space. Adding decks and increasing square footage by remodeling basements and attics are almost always added value for buyers.
Keep in mind that not all upgrades will add value. Swimming pools, for example, are hit or miss. Some buyers hate them while others see them as a huge benefit. Too many luxury upgrades can also miss the mark, and garage conversions (when a buyer loses a garage) often don’t go over very well either.
Putting It All Together
Most upgrades will add value, but you should be smart with your money. Start with getting an outside opinion and then work within your budget to make upgrades that make sense for you and your situation.
