Home…Improvement…Project. How can three simple words elicit so much raw emotion in the hearts of so many? Simply mention that most dreaded of phrases around a poor, unsuspecting homeowner, and you will notice a genuine shudder of fear dance down their spine, as they instantly become plagued with visions of disheveled kitchens, devastated bathrooms, and vast sums of money flying out their new energy-efficient windows into the dark void of a starless night.
Making improvements to one’s home can feel like a daunting task. However, in time, these important changes can go a long way towards improving your home’s equity and overall resell value.
Whether you’re looking to sell your home soon or you’re just interested in making a few proactive changes, here are five easy steps to help improve your home’s resell value.
#1). Know Before You Go
Before you make the first improvement, you need to create a game plan of what needs to be fixed and what’s going to be left alone. Start by hiring a home inspector to check your property for any problems that may negatively impact your home’s value. After all, you can’t fix a problem if you don’t even know it exists.
Even small problems, such as a hidden water leak, can become big, expensive problems if you don’t fix them quickly. You’ll save a considerable amount of both time and money if you make these kinds of repairs to your home sooner rather than later.
In terms of cosmetic improvement, invite a realtor to take a quick walk through your house. Most realtors will do this as a courtesy, and they can offer invaluable insight into the ways you can best improve your home’s marketability.
#2). Start from the Outside and Work Your Way In
When it comes to selling your home, first impressions really matter. That’s why curb appeal–or how attractive your home looks from the street–is so important. It doesn’t really matter how beautiful you make your home’s interior look if prospective buyers are put off by an ugly exterior.
Start by making sure your existing landscape looks well maintained. If your exterior looks drab compared to your neighbors, beautify your yard by planting flowers or adding a nice shrubbery. A fresh coat of paint to the front door and shutters are also great ways to improve your home’s curb appeal.
Once the exterior of your home looks attractive, you can then shift your focus and begin improving the appearance of your home’s interior.
#3). Less is More
Just as dust overtime accumulates on a baseboard, so too does a home accumulate superfluous furniture and décor. Too much clutter can easily rob any feeling of spaciousness your property may have, making prospective homebuyers feel cramped as less inclined to purchase your property. That’s why one of the easiest ways you can improve your resell value is by simply eliminating the clutter from your house.
Start by hosting a yard sale or an online auction for items you no longer have an attachment to or never use. Or, if that sounds like too big of a hassle, you can also give your unwanted items a new purpose by donating them to a local charity, such as Habitat for Humanity or Goodwill.
Once decluttered, your home will feel much more open and inviting to both you and prospective buyers.
#4). Leave the Popcorn at the Movies
Nothing dates a home quicker than ugly popcorn ceilings. That’s why it’s important, at some point during your home improvement project, to dedicate some time to cleaning up those ceilings.
This is a relatively easy project. However, it is important to have a professional check out your ceilings before you start. Some older ceilings can contain asbestos and require a professional asbestos removal company to safely clean them.
However, if the asbestos test comes back clear, then this a project you can easily tackle yourself. All you need is a simple solution to soften the texture, a plastic scraper–both of which can be purchased at any hardware store–and a weekend free to scrape.
#5). Think Neutral
Adding a fresh coat of paint is a cheap and easy way to make any room look clean and updated. On average, a gallon of paint only costs around $25, but the value it can add to your home is astronomical. However, you must pick the right color for your home. When perusing through color swatches, you should select a nice, neutral color that will appeal to the widest range of people.
#6). Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
If the last year has taught us anything, it’s the importance of cleanliness.
As such, we cannot overstress the importance of keeping your home clean. Let a cleaning service do the dirty work to really make your home sparkle. For less than $400, you can hire a professional cleaning service for a thorough top-to-bottom scrubbing–hitting those hard to reach nooks and crannies that even the most thorough of homeowners can miss.
It is also important, particularly during these unprecedented times, that the air quality in your property is as clean as possible. Older carpets in your home can trap an endless array of contaminants and allergens. Hire a professional company to test your indoor air quality. If the results prove that your air quality is lacking, consider replacing those older carpets with a hard-surface flooring option–such as tile, hardwood, or lament. Hard-surface floors are much easier to keep clean, don’t hold odors, give your home an updated look and, in general, are more appealing to buyers.
#7). Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Let’s face it, home improvement is an expensive endeavor. The time and money placed into larger projects like a kitchen remodel or new flooring installation is daunting for anyone. However, not every home improvement project has to be a herculean task. Many homeowners are surprised to learn just how big of an impact little changes, like replacing old faucets and doorknobs, can make towards improving the value of their home.
If you have spent a bundle on making an upgrade or you feel overwhelmed after completing a particularly vexing project, spend the next couple of months making small changes around your house. Upgrade a couple of electric plugs or buy a new mirror for the living room. After a while, you’ll be amazed just what a difference these little changes can make.
*Bonus Tip–Trust Your Home to the Professionals
Once your home improvement projects are complete and you’re ready to start the process of selling your house, it’s important to choose professionals you can trust to sell your home.
For more than 60 years, BHGRE Elliott Coastal Living has been the Grand Strand’s local real estate expert. Using the latest technology and most innovative strategies, we guarantee that our friendly staff and real estate professionals will get you the most amount of money for your property.
Give us a call at 843-280-5704 or stop by our office today.
