The Real Estate Blog

When you’re ready to sell your home, you want to sell it at the highest price possible. Increasing the resale value of your home can be done in a variety of ways – from the easy, minor things, to large scale renovations. The first question you should ask yourself is if it’s worth the time, hassle and money to do so.

Here are some of the best things you can do to increase the value of your home before selling it:

• Spend some time with a professional to get an objective opinion. This is one of the benefits of working with a realtor, but even if you don’t take advantage of your realtor’s advice, I recommend hiring an interior designer or decorator for an hour to give you suggestions on how rearranging furniture or painting the walls can improve the look and feel of your home.
• Get a home inspection to look for structural issues with your home. A home inspector might discover a roof that needs repairing or outdated electrical system that should be fixed. It’s important to fix this type of thing before it turns into a larger issue that will cost more money in damages and emergency repairs. It’s also beneficial for you to identify these problems so that you can make the necessary repairs before you list your home in order to avoid having to accept a lower asking price during negotiations.
• Hire a cleaning company to make sure your home is spotless. Even if you clean on a weekly basis, there are areas that you will overlook. A cleaning service will ensure your home is in pristine condition
• Make sure your landscaping, and yard, looks perfect. A 2007 survey of over 2,000 brokers found that investing $400-$500 in landscaping can bring you a return of four times the cost when you go to sell your home. The landscaping is also the first thing someone notices when they view your home, so make sure that your first impression is a lasting one.
• Kitchen and bathroom renovations will net you the highest return when you sell your house. These are pretty big renovations to make, but if you can make space for them in your budget, they’re the most important rooms in your home to upgrade. Even if you can’t afford a complete remodel, consider swapping out old appliances for new ones, or upgrade your sink and fixtures to something more modern-looking.
• Go green. Upgrading your furnace or air conditioning systems to more energy efficient versions can save you money on your bills and also make you eligible for green tax credits.

I’m merely scratching the surface when it comes to how to increase the value of your home – there are many things you can do and feel free to think outside the box and see what works for you and your home. Stay tuned for more blogs related to this topic!