You don’t need to be in the property market to know that house prices are forever increasing. While this does mean you’ll be able to sell your home for more than what you bought it for, wherever you choose to go next will be proportionally expensive. So how do you combat this and ensure a better financial future for yourself and your family?
One surefire way to do it would be to increase the value of your home by making a few smart investments. Whether you’re looking at moving a few years down the line or you’re ready to hit the market next month, there are many ways to boost the value of your home.
Start with the Kitchen
The kitchen holds particular sway over new home buyers, so it’s worth focusing on. A clean, modern kitchen with a fresh look goes a long way in making your home a more enticing buy. Take advantage of popular buzzwords such as “stainless steel” and “quartz countertops” when deciding where to make improvements.
Consider updating your appliances, picking up new cabinets and hardware, changing up the flooring or walls and applying a fresh coat of paint. For more information, here’s an in-depth look at what you should do to your kitchen when adding value to your home.
Clean it up
Cleanliness is a major selling point of houses today. This is especially important if you plan to sell your home in the near future. Store away personal items, wipe down your floors, walls, and counters, vacuum away any dust and get rid of smudge marks on your windows.
Improve Your Energy Efficiency
According to a study done by the National Association of Home Builders, energy efficiency was second to only safety when it came to the most important decisions when purchasing a house. Lowering your energy consumption will not only add significant value to your property, but it will also decrease your living expenses for as long as you’re there.
LED lighting is one of the most affordable and reliable ways to improve your green credentials. Typical LED bulbs are less than $10 and have life expectancies of 20 years or more. Your windows also matter. Energy Star certified windows can bump up the value of your home between one and three percent. Also make sure you check out your insulated vinyl siding to ensure its in good shape.
Replace Carpets with Wood Flooring
Lately, buyers are preferring the clean, modern look of wooden floors to carpets. Especially if your home has been around for a while, carpets can look old, dirty, and outdated. With the right tools and a bit of time, this DIY project can provide a significant return on investment.
Remove Popcorn Ceilings
Another simple and affordable DIY project would be to remove popcorn ceilings from your home. This old type of ceiling can devalue a home and make buyers look the other way, so it’s worth removing. If you have an older home, be sure to determine whether there’s any harmful asbestos that may need professional removal.
Conclusion
If you do it right, putting the time and money into your home to improve its value will pay off in the future. Take a look around and ask yourself what you would change if you were a prospective buyer.