Ideas to Increase the Value of Your Home
There are many things you can do to make your home more appealing to a buyer without breaking the bank. Some projects, however, are simply not cost effective. There is likely little chance of recovering the costs you put into a whole kitchen remodel, for instance. Remember also that whoever purchases the home will have their own ideas of how it should look, which could cancel out all that money you just spent to spiff it up for a potential buyer.
But there are improvements that will draw a buyer. For instance, rather than a whole new kitchen, why not give the old one a facelift. No need for brand new cabinets. Instead, you might reface the old ones. This is relatively inexpensive, mostly a matter of replacing the doors. Another trick that makes a huge difference in your kitchen's appearance is replacing the old hardware - drawer pulls and cabinet handles. That and a good scrub down can give your kitchen cabinets a fresh new look.
Adding an in-law apartment is another idea that will go over big with buyers. So many families now include an aging parent or two. A house that offers a separate apartment for them is a real plus. Adult children can be close, making it easier for them to assist their parents, but still separate, allowing the elderly parent his privacy and independence. The right basement, one with a walk-out patio door, requires a minimum of work and expenditure to turn it into an apartment. A few extra walls and a small bath (often already roughed in) and you're almost there. A kitchen need not be large; simply serviceable.
An outdated bathroom may benefit from a prefabricated tub/shower insert, especially if the tiles and grout have suffered too many years of wear and tear. Get a complete bathroom renovation to make the house sparkling new.
Consider too your home's curb appeal. That can go a long way in attracting buyers. It takes little expertise to create an inviting yard. A coat of paint to the house; perhaps some shutters or attractive canvas awnings for the windows; a front door painted in a complementary color. Look online at sites such as Pinterest for landscaping ideas. And think small - small trees and bushes that won't overwhelm or block the windows. Small patches of garden. Keep it simple and use curved lines rather than squared angles. It's more ascetically appealing.
With a little forethought, you can increase the sale value of your home with little expenditure.
But there are improvements that will draw a buyer. For instance, rather than a whole new kitchen, why not give the old one a facelift. No need for brand new cabinets. Instead, you might reface the old ones. This is relatively inexpensive, mostly a matter of replacing the doors. Another trick that makes a huge difference in your kitchen's appearance is replacing the old hardware - drawer pulls and cabinet handles. That and a good scrub down can give your kitchen cabinets a fresh new look.
Adding an in-law apartment is another idea that will go over big with buyers. So many families now include an aging parent or two. A house that offers a separate apartment for them is a real plus. Adult children can be close, making it easier for them to assist their parents, but still separate, allowing the elderly parent his privacy and independence. The right basement, one with a walk-out patio door, requires a minimum of work and expenditure to turn it into an apartment. A few extra walls and a small bath (often already roughed in) and you're almost there. A kitchen need not be large; simply serviceable.
An outdated bathroom may benefit from a prefabricated tub/shower insert, especially if the tiles and grout have suffered too many years of wear and tear. Get a complete bathroom renovation to make the house sparkling new.
Consider too your home's curb appeal. That can go a long way in attracting buyers. It takes little expertise to create an inviting yard. A coat of paint to the house; perhaps some shutters or attractive canvas awnings for the windows; a front door painted in a complementary color. Look online at sites such as Pinterest for landscaping ideas. And think small - small trees and bushes that won't overwhelm or block the windows. Small patches of garden. Keep it simple and use curved lines rather than squared angles. It's more ascetically appealing.
With a little forethought, you can increase the sale value of your home with little expenditure.