Top Tips for Boosting the Value of Your House
Category Just Imagine Properties Team
Do you still remember the feeling you got when you first moved into your new home, gazing upon vistas of possibility to impress upon the very architecture your identity and create a comfortable and welcoming living space for you and your family? One is reminded of these endearing lines from Charles Swain's poem "Home Defined", which reminds us that home is more than just a building "Home's not merely four square walls/though with pictures hung and gilded/Home is where affection calls/filled with shrines the heart hath builded!". Even rocker Ozzy Osbourne has lent his highly distinctive voice to the chorus of artists and musicians extolling the virtues of home with his nostalgic ballad, "Mama, I'm Coming Home".
But the time has now come to sell and turn that emotional investment into profit; to convert blissful ideals into something tangible.
In this article, we'll take a look at some tips for boosting the value of your home before you sell.
A new paintjob
Applying a fresh coat of paint is like giving your home a facelift; it's more than just sprucing up a drab wall or a sad-looking arch, but can alter the entire aura of the building, so to speak. It's one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to increase the value of your home and make it more desirable. You'll also do well to do some research online on the best colour paint to attract potential buyers, with neutrals appealing to the greatest number of people. But whether you settle for traditional off-white or opt for a cheerful yellow, painting your home is a great way to boost its aesthetic appeal.
Make small improvements
New buyers tend to inspect their prospects very closely for indications of where they may need to spend money in the future. So if there are old faucets to replace, unseemly marks and blemishes to do away with or outdoor lighting that needs an upgrade, this can really pay off in the long run.
Clean and declutter
This may seem like an obvious one, and yet the importance of putting a bright and sparkly house on the market is often overlooked. If you have a lot of junk lying around, now might be the perfect time for a yard sale and to consider perhaps rearranging your furniture to make rooms look more spacious and ergonomic. And remember: a house can never be too clean!
Kitchen remodelling
The kitchen might just be the most important upgrade with the greatest return. You can go big if you have the capital available and replace items such as cupboards - especially if they are worn - or simply do a mini remodel by applying a fresh coat of paint; you'll be amazed at what a difference such a seemingly small alteration can make.
The green factor
With a growing global awareness around energy conservation and protecting the environment, more homes are opting for renewable or "clean" energy solutions such as solar power, which many new buyers looking for power failure autonomy and cutting down on utility costs will find appealing. But going green can also mean spending some time cleaning up your garden or going the arboreal route and planting a tree or two.
The bathroom
There are a myriad of ways that you can breathe some new life into your bathroom and get it sales-ready. Start with the basics, such as replacing old faucets and getting rid of dirt and grime, and then move onto the big-ticket items like going granite or marble for countertops.
Need some more advice on increasing the value of your home? Call us today!
Author: Charl Mijnhardt
