Five Ways to Boost Your Home's Value Before Selling

Planning to put your house on the market? Some carefully chosen improvements can boost your home’s value and help you make a quicker and more profitable sale. But how do you know what to renovate and whether it will help you sell the house for a better price?

Here is where the realtor comes into picture. A qualified local real estate agent can tell you what buyers want and what upgrades are, though good to have, unnecessary given the current condition of the market and the house. It is also a good idea to hire a professional inspector to find out if your house has hidden problems such as weak roofs or termites that can ultimately affect your sale price.

 In the meantime, check out our top five ways to increase a home’s value without burning a huge hole in your pocket.

Clean, de-clutter and organize

Dirt, clutter and grime can put off a buyer the minute they walk in through that door. If your house needs a thorough cleaning job from top to bottom, consider investing a few hundred dollars in a professional cleaning service to have your house sparkling in no time at all.

But before that, de-clutter your house, room by room, and get rid of all unnecessary stuff that you have lying around. At the end, if you still have a lot of belongings that you need but doesn’t fit anywhere, consider putting them in temporary storage. Storage space is one thing that most homebuyers will not want to compromise on and visible clutter only adds to the impression of a cramped and constrained space.

Upgrade the kitchen

With the kitchen being the heart of any home, it makes good sense to carry out some reasonable updates to give it a clean and modern look. A shiny, new kitchen sink and faucet set, new doorknobs for your existing cabinets or new light fixtures don’t cost much, but they can give your kitchen an instant makeover. If your budget permits, consider resurfacing the cabinets to make them look new again. You can also get matching panels for your kitchen appliances to make the room appear more cohesive.

Fix up the bathroom

 Asin the case of the kitchen, even simple bathroom updates can add to your home’s value. Give your bathroom an instant facelift by re-grouting the tiles in the shower, replacing old shower curtains with new and installing a new toilet seat. Make sure that there are no leaks and all fixtures are sparkling clean.

Freshen up the exterior

Make a great first impression by freshening up your “curb appeal”. A clean front yard, a nicely mowed lawn, well-trimmed bushes and hedges, and healthy potted plants makes your house appealing to potential buyers and increases its value.

 Be creative with the extra space   

Do you have an extra room that can be used as an office or a nursery? Talk to the realtor and find out what buyers are looking for. While young professionals may be looking for a home office, a nursery or a guest room may be more useful for families. Your loft or basement can also be remodeled into living spaces. However, it will require professional help and can turn out to be an expensive and lengthy process.

Kurt Jacobson is a snowboarding enthusiast with a background in real estate. Having moved 11 times in the past nine years, he thrives on helping others learn from his experiences. When he’s not out shredding the mountain, he writes about all things home related for the website HouseHunter.co.

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