7 Ways to Boost Your Home Value
When you sell your home, you want to get the most bang for your buck. If you decide to make a few upgrades, which ones should you do? Not all upgrades – no matter how expensive – will actually increase your home value. It really depends on your market and neighborhood.
No matter where you live though, these tips will help to boost your home value check out.
Clean and Stage Your Home
A little dusting and vacuuming goes a long way. Making your house look clean and presentable shows off your home’s true potential. It shows open house guests how to use your spaces and it shows off your home’s best features.
Go through your home and clean it out. Go through closets and pantries, and whatever you don’t need, either donate or throw out. Not only will your house look neater, but you won’t have to move as much when moving day finally rolls around.
Landscape Your Yard
When life gets busy, it can be hard to squeeze in a little lawn care. Maybe your grass is just a little too long or maybe weeds are taking over your flowerbeds.
Before you post an online listing or host an open house, spend a day fixing up your front yard to increase your home’s curb appeal. Your home makes its first impression from the street. Potential homebuyers make judgements about the home value from right there in their cars. Make your yard look clean and polished in order to secure a great first impression.
Highlight the Details
Buyers notice everything from the dust on the fan blades to the streaks on the windows.
When you’re preparing to sell, don’t skip over the minor details. If your bathroom needs a paint touch up, do it. If you haven’t washed your windows in awhile, rent a power washer to get all that dirt and grime off. When your house shines, your buyers will notice.
Polish Your Bathroom and Kitchen
Some home sellers like to spend a lot of money upgrading their kitchen and bathrooms to increase their home value, but unless you live in a higher priced neighborhood already, then this probably won’t affect your home’s overall value too much.
Instead, touch up your kitchen and bathroom. Repaint the rooms to make them look fresh again and clean them thoroughly. Keep the paint palette neutral, and your rooms will look fresh.
Choose the Best Photos
Your online listing should show your home in the best light. Choose the photos that show off your home’s best features.
Most home sellers post at least 12 pictures in their online listings, but you can always post more. Give your potential homebuyers a sense of living in your home, and they’ll feel more willing to pay close to or at the asking price.
Avoid DIY Projects
Some people are good with their hands. Others are not. If you aren’t sure which category you fall into, don’t attempt too many DIY projects around your home – especially during the selling process.
Don’t Get Emotionally Involved.
At the end of the day, buying and selling homes is a business transaction. Don’t take offense to a low ball offer. Try to see why those offers are coming in, and if you choose to decline them, look for other ways to increase your home’s value.