How to Increase Your Home’s Value with Simple Changes

By the time you make the decision to sell, you have invested a lot in your home–financially, aesthetically, and even emotionally. You purchased quality appliances and fixtures and selected top-of-the-line finishes. Perhaps your décor was planned and arranged by a professional. You’ve put a lot of love into your property to get it–and keep it–at its best.

Little wonder, then, that sellers often express surprise when a Realtor suggests changes before the property goes on the market. Such suggestions are meant not as a comment on the homeowner’s taste, but as a way to “tweak” the appearance so that potential buyers are able to envision themselves–their furniture, their family, their lifestyle–in the house.

Here are a number of simple changes that can improve your home–and its value–in the buyer’s eyes:

Put on a new coat. If it has been more than two years since your house was painted (including the front door), a fresh coat, inside and out, can make a world of difference. The added advantage of painting is that it gives you a perfect opportunity to move and remove unnecessary objects from your house and yard.

Turn up the volume. Help buyers appreciate room size–both square footage and ceiling height–by reducing the number of pieces of furniture.

Step up to great floors. Carpets can hold onto dirt and . Give carpeting a professional cleaning, replace it entirely, or refinish wood floors for maximum beauty.

Simplify, simplify, simplify. Make sure that buyers focus on your house, not your possessions. Remove small objects from surfaces (including kitchen counters) and place into storage.

Show your good taste. A kitchen says a lot about the quality of a house–and buyers listen. If appliances, countertops, or cabinets are looking dated, your investment in improvements can add significantly to your profits at sale time.

Go green. When you are making choices regarding materials, appliances, and systems–inside and out–remember that conservation is increasingly on buyers’ minds. Drought-tolerant landscaping is a big plus among today’s sophisticated homeowners.

Make a place for everything. Buyers want plenty of storage space, both room-specific, such as pantries and kitchen cabinets, and general, such as cupboards, closets and shelving in the house and garage.

Make way for walk-in closets. A bedroom is more than just a bedroom if it has a walk-in. Consider talking with a closet expert to see if existing storage can be converted to a luxurious walk-in closet.

Add polish to bathrooms. Like kitchens, bathrooms speak volumes about taste and quality. Make sure mirrors, lighting, and plumbing fixtures are up-to-date, working perfectly, and polished to a dazzle.

Make a great first impression. Whatever the size or style of your home, keep the entry well manicured and inviting and make sure the lawn, landscaping, and pool are beautifully maintained.

If you have questions about these suggestions, or if you’d like to discuss additional value-boosting improvements for your property, give me a call.