Even if you are not selling your home, you may be looking to make your investment worth more. Most homeowners only think about the value of their house when they are ready to sell. Buying a home is your largest investment and the thought that maintaining it or increasing its value isn’t a priority is asinine. Here are a few tips that can be done continually throughout the life of your home.
Landscaping
Updating your landscaping before you sell your home is always a good idea. Adding fresh mulch or flowers that are blooming will do nothing but improve the visual appeal of your home. If you are selling your home this is a great trick to deploy. If you are looking to add a lasting value to your home planting easily maintainable bushes and trees is an excellent way to increase the value of your home. Planting a tree like a Red Oak can give your house a shot in the arm.
Update your fixtures
This idea is twofold. First, let’s focus on plumbing fixtures. Depending on the area you live in, water can take a toll on your fixtures. Hard water can make your fixtures look old and dingy. Appraisers take the plumbing into heavy consideration when assigning the value to a home. Second, changing lighting fixtures or at the very least the way you light your home can increase its perceived value. If you have boring recessed lights in your dining and living rooms, consider replacing one of the room’s lights with a tasteful chandelier. Installing a dimmer or remote-controlled lighting will give your home a modern aesthetic.
Finish the Basement
Basements have come a long way in the 21st century. Most homeowners have converted their basements into game rooms, extra family rooms, or even bedrooms. In most cases, finished basements will not increase the value of your home because appraisers do not consider them living spaces. But let’s be honest, if a home has a finished basement the buyer is more likely to choose it over a home that doesn’t have one. While it may not increase the value on paper, finishing your basement will ultimately make it more appealing.
Clean Windows
Windows are the eyes to your home’s soul… I think that’s how the saying goes. An open house is meant to make a great impression on potential home buyers; they can’t enjoy your home’s view through a window covered in bird poop. While clean windows LOOK good, it’s also important to consider the long-term effects proper window maintenance can have on your home’s value. Regular cleanings are important because glass is a porous surface that when penetrated by dirt, sap and dust, can develop cracks and irreversible stains or clouding. Dirty, damaged windows are a major red flag to your open house guests and they’re immediately blinded by the threat of having to replace windows, which if you didn’t know, isn’t cheap.
Paint
One of the simplest, most cost-effective improvements of all is a fresh coat of paint. Freshly painted rooms look clean and updated. Even though not real value is added, the illusion is there. Painting is also much easier than trying clean stained walls. Make sure you choose paint colors, keep in mind that neutrals appeal to the greatest number of people, therefore making your home more desirable. Weird or outrageous colors can be a severe turn off.
Pressure wash and seal concrete
As with window cleaning, regular pressure washing keeps your home’s concrete and brick surfaces not only looking good, but in great working condition. Pressure Washing is one of the best ways to maintain your largest investments. Dirt, grime, mildew, and algae build up over time and leave your home, driveway, sidewalks, patios and decks unsightly. Maintaining your home and business with regular pressure washing can, not only, increase the longevity of your property, but also increase its value. Sealing a driveway improves its appearance and reduces cracking. Sealing your concrete will keep color from fading. Sealants also make cleaning oil or other leaked fluids from your vehicle much easier because the liquid can’t seep into those tiny pores on the driveway.
