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5 Home Improvements to Increase Your Home's Value Before Selling

When selling a house, every homeowner wants the maximum value for their property. Determining which home improvement projects can help you get the desired price can be tricky. If you’re planning to sell your house soon or want to grow your home investment, read on for the top five home improvements that can help increase your home’s value.

1. Improve Energy Efficiency

Energy-efficient upgrades can help lower the utility bills of your house and offer an appealing feature to buyers. Upgrades such as installing a smart thermostat to control the home’s temperature regardless of where the homeowner is helps manage energy use from anywhere.

Old appliances, such as water heaters, washers and tumble dryers, consume more energy to operate than modern models, so by installing a few new, modestly priced appliances, you can get a higher sale price. Other less costly methods like replacing broken windows and adding insulation also helps improve your home’s energy efficiency.

2. Upgrade Your Kitchen

Investing in your kitchen can significantly affect the value of your house. Since the kitchen is the central feature of a home, updating it with new appliances can help you garner more from a sale. A kitchen remodel is a hefty investment, and most homeowners may not get back each dollar they invest. Spend your money prudently on things that will affect the house’s value. If a complete kitchen remodel seems like a lot, you can start with minor changes such as replacing any old appliances, changing the cabinets or installing modern hardware.

3. Repaint the Interiors

Repainting your walls can dramatically improve the appearance of your house and help you fetch a higher sale price. Begin with repainting the rooms with old, worn-out wallpapers and outdated color schemes. Giving a new splash of colors to your interiors can lighten up your entire house and improve its value.

4. Update Your Bathrooms

Bathrooms are another crucial feature that affects a buyer’s decision and the overall value of your house. If your bathroom is outdated, investing in a remodel can help you get the desired value. You can start by removing the old wallpapers, upgrading faucets and shower heads and swapping out the hardware on closets, cabinets and drawers. Replacing old light fixtures and florescent lighting with LED bulbs and fixtures can also add a new look to your bathroom. Homeowners can consider the following latest bathroom trends:

• Modern paint colors

• Furniture-style vanities

• Free-standing tubs

• Modern flooring 

5. Focus on Your Exteriors

The exterior of your home is the first thing the potential buyers and appraisers will see. Keeping your exterior landscaped and well-maintained can create a good first impression. Even if your home looks spectacular from the inside and has all features buyers usually look for, an untidy exterior that requires work can negatively affect the buyer’s decision.

Consider keeping your lawn mowed, swimming pool clean and shrubs trimmed to give a balanced look to the exteriors. Outdated entrance doors and garage doors can be replaced to refresh the exteriors.

The Bottom Line

Each house is unique and requires different upgrades to reach its full resale profit potential. Since home improvements need a lot of time, budget and effort, evaluating which home improvements will significantly increase your home’s value can help you fetch the desired price.