Are you looking to renovate your home to prepare it for the housing market? Are you on a budget and want to know which are the steps you need to take in order to win money in the future and still make the best decisions? Then this article is just for you!
For your convenience, we have gathered the 10 most recommended home improvements that increase the value of your property so you can sell it in no time!
Improve the curb appeal of your property
First impressions are the most important, so you always need to start with the outside of your house. It doesn’t matter if you’re selling, renting out or just wanting to increase the property value for future generations; the front part of the house and the garden are the first things anyone sees walking in.
Here are some useful tips on what you can do to the areas that drive the most attention.
Paint the outside of your house
Stroke the curiosity of any potential buyer with a fresh, good looking facade. Make sure to coordinate the colours with the rest of the house and garden. A cohesive design can do wonders to the overall appearance of your property.
When you finish with the walls, you can also spruce up the letterbox or completely change it, depending on how old it is and how it looks like. To top things up – add a new house number! Entice people to look in from the very beginning.
Tidy up the garage
If you have a garage, don’t forget to paint the door and the walls of the house. Make sure it looks presentable from the inside and out. If you make an organising system where everything has a place, it will make it a lot easier to sell it to anyone.
A messy garage can scare anyone while a tidy one is a gateway to opportunities. Throw out any piled up waste and don’t let it fester for months. If the place is too moist, invest in a dehumidifier, it will do wonders. Nobody likes stagnant and humid air. Take care of the outside as well, including the driveway leading to the garage.
Spruce up your garden
Start with a general clean. Ensure there are no debris piles around the garden, the waste bin is where it’s supposed to be, and it’s nice and tidy. Pull out the weeds, especially in between the cracks of your driveway or patio. And when you’re done with the cleanup, it’s time to do some landscaping!
If you don’t have a designated place for plants, create one. And the best thing is, you don’t need to go shopping for expensive flowers, trees and bushes to make your garden look appealing to the eye.
Take cuttings from friends and family, and implement them in your own green space. By doing so, you can also ask them questions regarding plant care, placement and anything else that you might be wondering about.
Bring attention to those areas by creating an edge to the flowerbeds or around the bushes. The material you will be using depends on the design of your garden.
You can go with rocks – a universal edging; broken china plates, for a more different look; old tires for when you want to create a small garden within your garden; bricks for a more boho design; wooden blocks that will go great next to a deck, if you have one; and anything else you think might fit with the look of your garden.
Renovate the kitchen and bathroom
Recent research has shown that these two rooms are the ones people spent the most money on, so having a renovated kitchen and bathroom will surely attract many buyers. It is a lot better to not worry about such things when you buy a new home, you just walk in and start living.
So what do you need to do to make your kitchen and bathroom more functional and appealing? Thankfully, not everything requires a ton of money. Read on to see how you can renovate your bathroom and kitchen on a budget.
Kitchen
Referred by many as the heart of any home, kitchens are one of the most essential rooms in a home, and one of the first things potential homeowners look at. Take a good look at your kitchen and see what can be changed. Maybe the cabinets look old and weary, begging for a new paint job. Or the faucet is leaking, and you need to repair the sink.
Many things can be done, but the two most important factors you need to consider are – is it functional and is the design appealing to the eye. If it’s not functional – replace it, if the design makes you want to scratch your eyes out – fix it.
Take a look at the current trends and make sure you’re up to date with the technology in appliances – even if you’re not selling, it will make your kitchen a lot more efficient and functional.
Here are some small general renovations that you can do for your kitchen space:
- Fix any faulty appliances and buy new ones, if needed. This is recommended even if you’re not selling your property.
- If your cabinets are still functioning, repaint them or vinyl-wrap them for a completely different look.
- Speaking of vinyl, you can change the flooring with it. There are many available options and patterns, and it’s easy to clean up and serves as insulation!
- Install a backsplash to the area where you’re cooking, especially the oven.
- If you can switch to more energy-efficient cooking appliances, do it.
Whatever you do, make sure that you don’t invest too much money into those renovations. The whole idea is that you have a solid return on your investment, so it’s not wise to spend more money than you will get in the end. Affordable and stylish houses are easier to sell than super high-end ones, equipped with the latest technology and furniture.
Bathroom
With bathrooms, there is one main thing to consider. We are currently living in a rapidly ageing society – by 2050, the population over 65 will double compared to 2012. So it’s imperative to consider making your bathroom universally accessible. There is no point investing in expensive renovations that don’t add any functionality to the room.
Speaking of which, a bathroom has so many different components, and it can be quite fun renovating it. The critical thing, similar to kitchens, is not to get carried away and stick to your budget plan, no matter how pretty this fancy vase looks.
Here are the most recommended bathroom renovations you should invest in.
- Check the tiles and replace if there are any broken ones.
- Change the showerhead and handles, if needed.
- Check if the ventilation system is working properly and fix it if necessary.
- Fix any leaking faucets.
- Make sure the lighting system is functioning and works aesthetically with the rest of the room.
- Change to a walk-in shower to make the bathroom more accessible.
- Install support bars close to the toilet.
- Put the lower switches lower (you can do this in other parts of the house, as well).
- Widen the doors so that they can be accessible for wheelchairs, especially the front door to the house.
Make your property energy efficient
Thankfully, the majority of the world is finally realising the importance of being environmentally conscious in order to preserve the planet we live on. One way to do this is by investing in an energy-efficient home, instead of opting for the more expensive options.
By doing so, you will not lower your carbon footprint on the planet, but you will also improve the overall performance of your house and really impress any potential buyers.
Central heating system
This is considered one of the best investments you can make for your home. It’s efficient, comfortable, easy to use, silent, environmentally friendly, and healthy. A lot of companies that offer central heating installation usually take the time to make a custom plan for your home so that it fits both your needs and budget.
Once installed, you can enjoy the benefits of this system for many years to come, especially if you put a smart thermostat, as well. With it, you can fully control the temperature in each room, and depending on your consumption rate and bills, regulate the temperature so that you don’t pay as much. A wise choice for any current homeowner and the ones willing to sell their property in the future.
Rewiring
Rewiring is a process you can’t really skip, especially if your house is quite old – build before 1970. Even if your property was constructed after that, we still recommend that you rewire it every 15 years, to make sure everything is working properly, and most of all, it’s completely safe.
Keep in mind that this is something that requires a professional electrician. Depending on where you live, there will be different requirements from the government and a certified technician will be aware of all of them, making sure that the whole process is completed up to the highest standards.
Improved lighting
A well-lit house will always be a lot more inviting than a dark, grim one. So put away the old, heavy curtains and change them with ones that actually allow the light to come in. You can also change the light bulbs with halogen incandescents, compact fluorescent lamps or LED globes for a more modern look and, of course, environmentally friendly home.
Better insulation
If you want to save money and increase the value of your home, consider opting for pex insulation. It does not let escape cold or warm air from your home. Do a thorough inspection for any leaks, especially around doors, windows, electrical sockets, light switches, fixtures, in recessed lighting, attic hatches and the holes used for ducts and wires.
Seal any entry points – this will help with any potential pest problems, as well. If you’re not sure you’ve covered everything, you can call a professional for a full inspection of the house so that you can be aware of what needs to be done.
Conclusion
Investing in your property is always a good idea, no matter if you’re trying to sell it or not. The rules are always the same – make sure everything is functional, the design is cohesive and welcoming, the property is tidy and organised, and most importantly – you don’t spend more than what you will earn when you sell it. Our advice is to make a list with everything that needs to be done, sort it by importance, make a budget and stick to it until the very end.
Author bio: Jane Wilson is a mum, a blogger and a marketing executive from Melbourne. She represents the local branch of Fantastic Services, a licensed home maintenance company, which provides a wide range of services. She also runs a small blog called Modern Housewives, where she shares all kinds of home improvement and parenting tips.