How to Improve House Value Before Selling

Whether you are planning to sell your home in the next few months or are already in the market to find a new place, there are some things you can do to increase the value of your home. Whether you plan to paint the outside of your home or upgrade your interior lighting, there are a number of projects you can complete to improve the look and feel of your home.

Best of all, these improvements don’t need to cost you a fortune, and they will add up to an impressive amount of value to your property. To see which improvements and changes we recommend, be sure to read through all of the home improvement tips listed below.

Improving Your Home Before Putting it up for Sale

If you are selling your home soon, you should consider doing some repairs and improvements to it. Making repairs is one way to increase the asking price of your home, and some of them can even break even! A recent survey by Zillow found that nearly a quarter of homeowners who sell their home sold it below the asking price. If you can afford to do some remodeling, you may be able to increase your home’s asking price by as much as 20%.

Repair and improve worn-out or broken items before putting your home on the market. A thorough cleaning will make the home look polished, and you can do some cosmetic improvements to add a polish to it. Adding a new paint job will help set the stage for a fast sale. When preparing your home for sale, try to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and see what they’d want to buy. A few simple repairs can make all the difference.

Paint the Outside of Your Home

Painting the outside of your home before selling will increase its marketability and curb appeal. In fact, a freshly painted home will appeal to more buyers who want to avoid a lengthy home improvement project. Furthermore, the quality of your exterior paint can influence the buyer’s FHA financing. A chipped, peeling or cracked exterior will not qualify for FHA financing, which can work against you depending on the price range.

The first impression a prospective buyer has of your home will be the exterior. Prospective buyers will start with the exterior of the home and work their way inside. When they see an unpainted home, it may be difficult to believe that it has been updated and maintained. A freshly painted exterior will inspire prospective homebuyers to take a closer look at the interior. The fresh paint will also add the “wow” factor to your home, thereby influencing the sale of your property.

A freshly painted exterior will give your home a dramatic boost in value. Pressure washing, sanding, and priming are all essential steps in the process. Make sure you use ladders for safety purposes, as well. A new coat of paint can add five percent to the price of your home. However, keep in mind that painting the outside of your home isn’t a quick fix. Paint the exterior of your home before selling will result in a 51% return on your investment.

Upgrade Interior Lighting

One of the easiest and least expensive ways to add value to a home is to upgrade the interior lighting. New lighting can increase the appearance of your home, help you save money on utilities and highlight unique architectural features of your house. You can install energy-efficient light bulbs, which can also lower your monthly utility bills. Here are some tips on how to upgrade your interior lighting before selling your house. Listed below are a few upgrades you can make to your home before you sell it.

Before staging your home, take inventory of all interior lighting in the rooms. Do not install a chandelier in the entryway, because it may not fit in other rooms. If the light is not adequate, you can install a more modest, but bold fixture. Whether or not buyers will notice this lighting, consider the benefits of the change. This will increase the appeal of your home to potential buyers. Also, you should consider the square footage of your home, since it affects the selling price of your home.

Give Your Kitchen Area a Face Lift

One of the best ways to boost the appeal of your kitchen is to change its tiles. Replacing the backsplash will not only improve the overall appearance of the kitchen, but will also increase the value of your home. Choose from a variety of options, including subway tiles and marble backsplashes. You can also use tiles with geometric shapes, such as diamonds or hexagons. If you are not sure what type of backsplash will look best in your kitchen, check out some of these tips to give your kitchen an updated look.

Update the hardware and fixtures. Homebuyers value a new kitchen, so replace old and dated hardware with newer models. New hardware fixtures add details and complement the style of cabinets. Make sure the style and size of your hardware matches the cabinet style. You can also paint the cabinets to give them a fresh look. However, don’t go overboard! The smaller things will have the biggest impact on the appeal of your kitchen.

Install New Flooring

Before you decide to sell your home, think about investing in new flooring. New flooring can increase the value of your home by up to 80%. Plus, the price of new flooring can be recouped many times over. It’s important to know how to make the best choice for your home and the type of flooring you’ll need. Here are some tips for installing new flooring:

First, inspect your floors. Don’t neglect these details because they are a big turnoff to prospective buyers. After all, the floor ties your entire home together. Inspect each room’s flooring carefully. Hallways and living rooms should be repaired the most, followed by kitchens and bathrooms. Inspect them carefully and hire professionals to repair any stains or damage. If you can’t afford to hire a professional, you can try buffing the hardwood floors yourself.

While hardwood floors are the most attractive choice, you’ll need to make sure that they are in good shape before selling your house. This means replacing worn or damaged hardwood floors. Laminate flooring is an inexpensive alternative, but can jazz up any room in your house. Laminate flooring is available in large tiles that snap together easily and come in different designs and colors. If you can’t afford hardwood floors, laminate flooring is a good option.

Get Estimates and Recommendations from Realtor

You may think you know what needs to be repaired or cleaned around your home. While you might know that some things need to be replaced or improved, you might not have the time to do it on your own. The articles in this section offer general advice. However, you can also get tailored advice from real estate agents. Listed below are some of the most important improvements to make before selling your house.

Consider hiring a home inspector. These people will check for problems with your house and provide written estimates of repairs. If your house has structural issues, you may want to hire a structural engineer to assess the damages. You will also need to have enough money to cover the down payment, closing costs, and any repairs. If you need a mortgage to finance the improvements, be sure to get preapproved for a loan.

Home Improvements Summary

The last thing a smart seller wants is to spend a small fortune on home improvements. While you do want to get your home in tip-top shape, it is also important to prioritize your projects. In a recent study, Susanna Haynie, a real estate expert, explains why sellers should make only a few home improvements before selling. The results speak for themselves: home improvements can significantly increase the selling price of a house.