November 3, 2017
10 Tips to Increase Your Home’s Value
Increasing the value of your home is easier than you think. Follow these tips, and your home will be worth more before you know it.
Plan your remodel.
Tackle one room at a time.
Small improvements can really pay off.
Clean your house now for profits later.
Curb appeal counts.
Upgrade the kitchen.
- Do a mini-remodel. Change the paint. It sounds simple, but it works. You can also paint a faux-wood finish onto your cabinets. This looks just like cherry.
- Add a splash of color with a new backsplash. New tile is attractive. Home improvement stores teach classes on this.
- Go stainless steel. The cold feel of steel is a hot ticket item for buyers. Transition your appliances as they wear out and go with a similar metallic look in your light switches.
- Make your kitchen rock with a rolling island.
- Hang a pot rack with fresh new pots, pans and a hanging wine bottle holder. With the rolling island, your kitchen will catch every buyer’s eye. You can take some of these things with you to your new home.
Beautify your bathroom.
- Focus on your faucet. Bathrooms are not utilitarian anymore. People like to feel relaxed, like they are in a spa. Drop-sinks are old news, people want the under-mount sinks.
- Go granite or marble with your countertops. If you are toying with the granite idea, your bathroom counter is most likely smaller than your kitchen counter and less expensive. This is a great place to start your first granite project.
- Nix the overhead lighting in favor of wall mounts to add warmth and value to your bathroom. Make sure that around your mirror you have even lighting with no side shadows.
- Heated floors attract buyers like bees to honey.
- Upgrade your bath area. With an 85 percent return, install a shower with body sprays and stone surround tile. If you are not selling right away, you will feel like you are in a Zen garden every time you step into your bathroom.
- Keep it clean. Dirt and grime can become embedded in bathroom surfaces very quickly. Freshen it up with new grout.
Weigh the benefits of upgrading versus selling.
Hire a certified home inspector.
Pay down the principal on your loan.
Don’t rush into your home loan, as there are dozens of types. The strategy that you develop for the type of loan you want depends on where you see yourself in five or 10 years. Managing your debt payment with an interest-only payment will give you an opportunity to save that money for retirement or save it for a college fund.