7 Simple Tips to Increase Your Home’s Value

f you’re planning to sell your home, you may be considering updates to get it market-ready. Here are seven ways to instantly increase value.

Replace Your Mailbox

Small things like the condition of your mailbox and your yard have big impact on curb appeal. Clean out flowerbeds, powerwash stains on the driveway and sidewalk, replace house numbers with shiny new ones, and remove grass and accumulated muck from street gutters. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Get Decorating Advice from a Pro

The personal touch you’ve put into the interior of your home is part of its charm, but potential buyers may not see it that way. Meet with a realtor (who may consult with you for free) or an interior designer (who won’t) for advice on how to make the inside of your home most appealing.

Create a File for Paperwork

If you have the manuals for appliances, energy audits from utility companies, specific color swatches for the paint you’ve used, and invoices for improvements you’ve contracted, collect them together and make them available for potential buyers to peruse. Having a thorough collection of records will instill confidence that you’ve taken excellent care of the home while you’ve lived there.

Simplify Your Decor

Less is more when it comes to furnishings. If you have lots of family photos or eccentric art around your home, consider replacing them with neutral art prints and decorations, which can be found at any craft store.

Increase the Light

More light makes a room feel larger. If you have drapes, consider replacing them with vertical blinds. Upping the wattage in your light bulbs while the house is on the market won’t increase your power bill substantially, but it will make each room feel warmer. Consider adding decorative mirrors to major rooms like living rooms and bedrooms.

Change Air Filters

Changing the filters in your air conditioner will improve the quality of air inside the home (although if there’s any odor from the AC, you will need to hire a professional to clean it). A house that smells fresh is essential.

Make It Sparkle

This may seem like a no brainer, but a clean house increases the price people will pay. Scrub walls and door frames, dust curtains and Venetian blinds, scrub the grout between tiles in the showers, and before a potential buyer comes for a showing, be sure to empty the garbage.
Getting your home ready to put on the market can be overwhelming, so after you’ve finished the list of improvements you want to make, create a plan for which projects you’ll start first and which you’ll save until later. Estimate a date of completion for each item on your list, and include a rough estimate for the cost of each. Starting with a plan will help keep you focused on a single project at a time, increase your efficiency, and contribute to your internal motivation as your property progresses from the home you love to a property that will command top dollar from the next owner.
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