As you plan to move out and sell your current home, one of the things you’re likely thinking about is how to make it increase in value. After all, you want to get as much of your money back as possible and hopefully make a profit. There are many projects you can take on, but not all of them will give you a great ROI. Here are great examples of some that’ll help your home increase in value, among other benefits.
1. Hire Professional Movers
When you consider how expensive a move can get, you may be tempted to handle the move yourself. However, planning and executing a move is one of the most stressful undertakings. You have to find a moving van to rent and work out all the other logistics of a move which requires a great deal of attention and time that you could otherwise spend elsewhere. There are several great benefits to hiring professional movers that make it the better option.
For one, you’ll get to have a stress-free move. Professional movers will take the guesswork out of the process by handling everything from packing and inventory management to the relocation itself. Their years of experience in the industry also means that they’ll be able to execute the move more efficiently and faster than you can.
They’re familiar with all the best routes to take to save money and maximize fuel efficiency. They consider any road constructions, the latest weather conditions, and other situations that could result in delays. Professional moving technicians also go through specialty training on how to move different household items.
2. Resurface Your Driveway
One of the first things potential buyers will see when they pull up to your property is your driveway. If it looks worn out, you can be sure that most people will be put off instantly. That’s not what you want. A great first impression is key to making people feel drawn to your home. A freshly resurfaced driveway will increase people’s interest in checking out the rest of your home and help it increase in value.
Besides that, adding a new layer of asphalt with the help of an asphalt paving service will protect the underlying surface from the effects of constant exposure to foot traffic, heavy vehicles, and weather elements. This will pique the interest of buyers as they’ll know the driveway will last long and require minimal maintenance over time, a dream for every potential homeowner. Resurfacing will also improve the safety of your driveway by eliminating hazards such as cracks and potholes which otherwise increase the risk of tripping and falling.
Resurfacing offers a fast alternative for building a new driveway and is one of the most cost-effective solutions for surface damage. To ensure it’s a feasible choice, your driveway contractor will always conduct a thorough site assessment. Among other things, they’ll need to make sure there is a secure foundation for resurfacing. If they notice warning signs like deep base cracks that might later affect the resurfacing material, they’ll discuss other options with you. You must also factor in the surface height implications of your driveway resurfacing project, which is why it’s critical to have a specialist on board right away to go over the expected results.
3. Perform Electrical Inspections
Booking an electrical inspection with local certified electricians before listing your home is one of the best ways to make it increase in value and stand out in the market. During the job, the electrician will take an in-depth look at all of your home’s electrical components and then give you a detailed report of their state. They’ll typically look at the appliances, systems, switches, outlets, and wiring.
If everything is up to code and safe, they’ll let you know, and if anything needs fixing or monitoring, they’ll provide recommendations on updates and repairs. In this day and age, your home has to be at modern code if you hope to sell at a good price. Potential buyers will want the assurance that they can work from home, take a dip in their hot tub, and charge their EVs without worrying about running out of electricity or encountering other issues. The electrical demands of modern technologies are no joke, and if your home can’t handle them, you’ll be missing out on many potential buyers whose lifestyles and livelihoods have embraced the change.
4. Fix Any Damages
As you look for ways to make your home increase in value before you move, you may wonder if you need to make renovations or roof repairs. Most homeowners hope to sell “as is,” get a return on their house and let the buyers fix anything that needs fixing. In most cases, repairing your home before selling is usually a good idea because it must pass an inspection before being sold.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 23% of home sales fail to proceed due to inspection or environmental issues. Some buyers may also make their purchases contingent upon specific repairs. So in the interest of ensuring a smoother sale, you may want to fix any damages, which includes scheduling roof repairs with a reputable roofing company before putting it up on the market. This way, everything will be up-to-date and all underlying issues will be resolved.
However, before proceeding with any repair work, consider its return on investment. Some rehabs and repairs can cost a lot of money, yet add very little to your home’s sale price. For example, remodeling the kitchen of an older home is one of the most expensive projects you can undertake, and while it will significantly transform the space, it won’t do much in terms of augmenting what buyers will be willing to pay for the property. On the other hand, you may not be able to avoid making repairs like faulty wiring even though it may cost you a lot of money because a home that won’t sell is no good.
5. Upgrade Appliances
Upgrading your home’s appliances is another project you should consider in your efforts to make it increase in value. If you’ve had your appliances for only a few years and they’re still in optimal working condition, you probably don’t have to replace them before selling. However, there are instances where an appliance upgrade could make your home sell faster and for more money.
According to Consumer Reports, remodeling your kitchen complete with new appliances, flooring, and countertops can boost your home’s value by 3% to 7%, but that doesn’t make it a smart investment, especially before selling. New appliances, including a tankless water heater, don’t come cheap. Angie’s List says you should set aside about $650 to $2,000 if you want to get a new stove, and around $900 to $8,000 for a new refrigerator.
So if you decide to switch out everything, you likely won’t even recoup that 7%. Ensure you consider the ROI of any upgrade you may want to make. It should work to get you more money from the sale.
6. Create a Healthy Environment
You may not realize it, but your home’s environment influences how you think, feel, and behave. So as you look for ways to make your home increase in value, it only makes sense that you should spend some time creating a healthy setting that’ll put buyers at ease. The first thing you’ll want to do is clear any cluttered spaces where dirt, dust, and other debris tend to settle.
Besides arranging your excess personal items neatly on shelves or putting them into cupboards, you could rent storage space. If possible, only leave necessary furniture pieces and select pieces of art or decor. It’ll help with creating the impression of a healthy home. It’ll also make it easier for buyers to picture themselves living in the space.
Another area you’ll want to focus on is lighting. Poor lighting can result in fatigue for those using the space even if they’re not doing something tasking. Pay attention to the amount of sunlight that enters your space and how your current light fixtures illuminate the space. Even if a room is slightly dim, it can affect the impression buyers have of your home’s comfort levels.
If your home sustained water damage at some point in the past, your property’s value can benefit from water restoration services. No potential buyer wants to buy a home with water damage unless they’re specifically looking for a fixer-upper. Even then, they’ll use it as an excuse to make a lowball offer.
7. Beautify Your Property
If you want to sell your home at the right price and fast, you’ll want to ensure people see it for its maximum potential. You don’t want to just prompt an offer, work to ensure house hunters don’t have a reason to haggle down the asking price. Most of your potential buyers will find your listing on a website, which typically includes videos and photos. Others will drive around your neighborhood looking at other houses before walking in to view your space.
To increase your property’s marketability, you must ensure it doesn’t miss when it comes to the curb appeal. You can replace or clean windows or make your front door serve as the focal point. It would also be a good idea to use a pressure washer to clean your driveway, repair wooden fences, trim hedges, and introduce pops of color with potted plants around the entrance.
Applying a new coat of paint is another great project for helping your home increase in value as it’ll make surfaces look brand new. However, you’ll want to be strategic about the colors you pick. If you have an eccentric taste, remember you’re moving out and trying to sell the home, not stay in it. So don’t pick colors according to what you like. Pick warm, neutral colors instead. You can also switch out the tile flooring for something more modern and aesthetically pleasing.
8. Add an Outdoor Space
Think about it for a second. If you’re a buyer looking for a new home, will the state of the garden influence your offer? If yes is your answer, you can see how adding an outdoor living space will help your home increase in value. There are different ways you can approach this project.
Building a patio or deck is a great way to increase the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your backyard. Ever since the pandemic, people have gained a renewed sense of appreciation for the luxury of spending time outdoors with their loved ones, even within the home. With a deck, entertaining guests becomes less of a hassle and much more interesting. Plus, you won’t have a hard time cleaning up.
If it’s within your means, consider adding a pool with the help of a local pool company. Few things beat the feeling of taking a dip in a cold pool that’s right in your backyard during the sweltering summer months. There’s a lot you can do with your outdoor spaces. Consult your local professional home remodelers for more ideas.
9. Ensure You Have a Home to Move To
After you’ve done what you can to get your property to increase in value and are now ready to move out, you’ll want to ensure your new home is ready for you to move in. If you need to make any additions, work with your local home builder to get them done before the day of your move. The idea here is to facilitate a smoother transition into your new space.
If there is still work going on in the home, it’ll feel like you’re in a never-ending cycle of renovations and repairs. You’ll already have a lot on your plate as you try to figure out how to arrange your stuff in the new space. So as you work on your current home to get it ready for sale, have the professionals perform any necessary work on the home you’re supposed to move to simultaneously.
Before putting up your property for sale and packing up your stuff to move it into your new space, you’ll want to look for ways to make it increase in value. There are different projects you can undertake to achieve this, but not all of them are created equal. Use this read as a guide to some of the things you can do to boost your home’s value.