5 ways to immediately improve the value of your home

Improve curb appeal

The way your home looks is the first thing prospective buyers notice, so it's important to make a good impression. Keep your home maintained, keep the outside and inside clean, organized, and welcoming. Get rid of any clutter, such as old toys or furniture you don't use anymore. 

Clean up the front yard and trim any bushes that have gotten overgrown. If you don't have a large lawn, add flowers or shrubs to make it look more appealing from the street. Add some colorful flowers or plants around the entrance to your house so it looks welcoming when people drive by. A mailbox can also improve extra curb appeal as well! Be sure not to clutter up the front door with too much--it should be simple enough so that visitors can focus on the interior of your house.

Update the kitchen and bathroom

Did you know that the kitchen and bathroom are the most important rooms in your home? It's important to make sure they're updated and in good condition. Buyers often look at these rooms first when touring homes for sale, so if yours doesn't meet their expectations, you may lose out on a potential buyer. A kitchen or bathroom renovation doesn't always have to be a huge undertaking, a fresh, interesting paint color and some new fixtures can go a long way to increase the overall value of your home.

Add some built-in storage

Built-in storage is a great way to add value to your home. It can be used to store books, collectibles and other items that you want to keep out of sight, but still have access to them. You can also use built-in storage as an opportunity to hide clutter that might otherwise distract a buyer from the room.

If you're thinking of adding built-ins: make sure they aren't too deep or wide so they don't take up too much space visually. Here's a tip, consider putting mirrors at the back of the built-ins if possible to make the space look larger! Make sure to use materials that match the style of your house. If you're struggling with knowing what design choices to make, consult with an interior designer!

Add value with your landscaping and outdoor spaces

Landscaping is an often overlooked way to increase your home's value. The right landscaping can increase curb appeal, create a relaxing space for you and your family to enjoy, and add value to your house by increasing its size or improving its overall appearance. It's also an opportunity for you to express yourself through color and texture choices.

The best way to prepare to make landscaping improvements is by learning about native plants that are appropriate for your area. Native plants are usually drought resistant, require little to no maintenance, resist diseases common in the region, and deter pests like deer or rabbits.

Repair and upgrade your roof, siding, windows, doors and foundation

Your roof, siding, windows, doors, and foundation not only influence the value of your home cosmetically, but also structurally. If you wait until a structural failure to replace these parts of your home, it might end up costing more.

A good way to cost effectively repair your roof is to replace old wood shingles with a new synthetic composite material that looks like traditional asphalt shingles, but lasts longer and costs less to maintain. A qualified contractor should be able to install this type of roofing material for about $3 per square foot--about half what you'd pay for asphalt shingles.

Leaky windows are both cosmetically and structurally harmful. Leaking water can damage the floors, walls, furniture, and even structure on the interior of your home. If you replace leaky windows with energy-efficient models, you can both save money on your heating costs while also increasing the value of your home by as much as 50%. If possible, choose dual-pane glass or tinted low-e (thermal heat reflective) glass to make your home more efficient.

If you have larger repairs to do on your home like your foundation, consider doing them before you sell your home to increase the selling value!

Increase your home’s value by thousands of dollars

Improvements to your home's exterior, while an investment, can increase your home's value exponentially. For example, if you are thinking about adding a new porch or patio, that alone could add thousands of dollars in value.

If you want to increase the value of your home by making improvements, it's important to do it right the first time. If you are doing the improvements yourself, make sure to do everything with good quality materials and with the correct process. If you are hiring contractors or service professionals, make sure they have a reputation for doing good quality work. If these improvements aren't done well, they can actually end up decreasing your home's value.

Make sure your home improvements are done well

As you can see, there are many relatively simple ways to improve the value of your home. The key is to identify which improvements that will have the biggest impact on its value. If you're not sure where to start, consider hiring a professional who can help guide you through the entire process fall the way through completion.

To learn more about home buying, register for our homebuyer education or post-purchase course today!