Remodeling your house doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, small projects can add big value to your house! This article explains some house remodel ideas are both relatively easy to do yourself and add value to your home.
Whether you are looking to increase the value of your home to sell, or make it more attractive to potential renters, there are many simple steps you can take to improve the value of your home or rental property. When deciding what home improvements will be most valuable in your area, take into consideration factors such as what’s desirable in the local market and the weather. For example, selling a home in Maryland is different than selling a home in Virginia.
If you’re having trouble selling your house, consider some of the common reasons your house isn’t selling. Home renovations don’t need to be difficult and expensive. Read on to find some of the best home improvements to increase resale value.
Landscape Improvements
Improving the appearance of the lawn or adding a garden can go a long way toward making a good first impression. A well-maintained landscape sends the message that the house was well cared for. Landscaping can be done at a low cost and is a simple way to add value to your home.
Build a Deck
Building a wooden deck is a relatively easy job and is one of the best home improvements to add value. It can be done in a weekend or even a single day. A new deck makes a house feel bigger by adding outdoor space and builds on the value created by a well-maintained landscape.
Re-Paint
One of the first things a potential home buyer or renter sees is the exterior of your house. As a result, a fresh coat of paint is one of the best improvements for resale. Painting can cover wear and tear and give a home a more modern and well-maintained appearance. If painting the whole house is too much, just put a fresh coat on doors and window frames.
Replace Doors and Door Frames
Replacing a door can both improve buyer impressions and act as a functional improvement. Replacing doors can increase energy efficiency and security. For security and aesthetics, steel or fiberglass may be particularly beneficial for exterior doors.
Install Weatherstripping
Weatherstipping doors and windows can greatly improve the efficiency of your home.
Weatherstripping blocking drafts and guards against leaks that waste heating and cooling. Weatherstripping can not only lower energy bills but can add aesthetic value by blocking gaps and uneven edges.
Make Your House More Accessible
Additions such as handrails and ramps are easy to install. They are particularly attractive features for our aging and disabled populations. These additions are not only welcoming, but also expand the number of potential home buyers and renters interested in your home.
Get Onboard With Smart Technology
Smart home upgrades are becoming more and more popular. Common smart devices include smart speaker systems, energy management devices, and security systems. In fact, many home buyers are beginning to expect smart home features, so installing them can be a simple way to add value to your house.
Improve Lighting
Great lighting makes a good first impression on potential buyers. Replacing lighting fixtures and installing modern lighting is easy and inexpensive, and it makes a home feel more inviting.
Add Landscape Lighting
Recessed lighting on a deck or a similar addition will add an attractive touch to the home with very minimal expense and effort. Landscape lighting like motion detecting lights can also make a home more secure and increase the value of outdoor spaces for eating and entertaining.
Invest in a Water Filtration System
A water filtration system is a very easy and almost universally-appreciated upgrade. This is particularly true in places with lower-quality tap water – including many neighborhoods in the DC Metro area.
Remove Popcorn Ceiling
Popcorn ceilings look dated, but luckily can be removed easily. After removing ceiling fixtures, clearing the room of furniture, and putting plastic down for cleanliness, simply wet the ceiling and begin to gently scrape away the old popcorn texture. Once most of the texture is gone, lightly sand what remains and add a fresh coat of paint. This home improvement project can totally transform a room and add value to your whole house.
Add a New Ceiling Fan
Old ceiling fans can be loud eyesores. Purchasing and installing a new fan will add an attractive touch to a room while also improving lighting and temperature.
Replace Old Sinks
A stained, chipped, or off-colored sink does not look appealing to buyers and can make an otherwise nice bathroom or kitchen feel outdated. Fortunately, sinks are easy to replace and can be installed without changing surrounding vanities or countertops.
Do Minor Repairs
Trying to sell a house that needs repairs can be extremely difficult, but it is easy enough to avoid that headache. Minor repairs will go a long way toward increasing the value of your home. Spending money upfront for projects like repairing cracks, fixing leaky faucets and toilets, regrouting tiles, or replacing worn door handles and light switches may have the best cost-to-benefit ratio of any home improvement tasks.
Replace Appliances
Appliances are one of the most used features in a house and are important to many home buyers. Upgraded appliances can add shine and feeling of newness to older houses.
New energy efficient appliances also have the added appeal of saving future home owners or renters on their utility bills.
Making a house look neat, maintained, and move-in ready is makes your home more appealing to discerning buyers. Taking the time to complete small home improvement tasks can pay off big time when going to sell your home. Remember, not every project needs to be complicated. Just a deep-clean can earn you extra money. Check out this cleaning checklist for home sellers to make sure you’re covered.
Of course, there are many ways to add value to your real estate. But these recommendations are some of the best home improvements to increase the value of your house without taking too much time or money.
