If you’re looking to sell your home, or make some much-needed improvements, then there are some simple steps you can take to ensure you get the best possible results. From updating your appliances to revamping your yard, these easy home improvement tasks show that you don’t have to spend a fortune in order to make your home more desirable, and significantly increase its value. Click or scroll for more…
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Erect a garden room
What with the huge increase in homeworking, an outdoor garden room that is connected to mains electricity can increase a property’s value by around 5%. Plus, you’ll have garden views to inspire you while you work.
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Upgrade your appliances
Everyone loves brand new appliances, so if your home boasts an old HVAC system, an outdated washer and a grimy refrigerator, you could inadvertently be putting potential buyers off. Invest in high-quality, energy-efficient appliances and you could boost the interest in, and value of, your home. However, be wary of splashing out unnecessarily on pieces that don’t hold their value and keep your expenditure in line with the house itself – designer goods will always help sell a mansion but you may not recover your costs on a three-bedroom family home…
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Move the water heater
If your water heater is old or a little unpredictable, it might be worth upgrading it before you place your home on the market. If this is the case, relocating it to the attic, basement or laundry room will free up space. And, it’s not just aesthetics, a water heater move can improve results for hot water demand too.
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Reinstall a bathtub
Maybe you prefer showers more than a long hot soak but many potential buyers ‘switch off’ when they realize a property doesn’t contain a bathtub. It’s a bathroom staple, especially for young families where bathtime is part of a regular routine.
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Fix that fencing
If it’s located in your front yard, your fencing could be the first thing people see when they approach your home. So, if yours is looking a little worse for wear, then it could be time to fix that fencing for good. Unsightly, broken or shabby fencing panels can devalue a home and since they cost about the same amount as a simple restaurant lunch, replacing them is a cheap but easy way to transform your garden and add curb appeal to your pad.
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Get the decorators in
Often, house-hunters are put off if a property’s décor is old fashioned. Is your wallpaper peeling, or are your bathroom tiles looking a little drab? Well, you’ll be surprised how new plasterboards and a fresh lick of paint can totally transform your home. If you take the time to get a decorator in to help you fix any obvious issues, then you’ll be able to show off your property in the best light. Remember, keep it simple so that potential buyers can envisage the space as their own.
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Add a downstairs cloakroom
Squeezing a downstairs bathroom onto your ground floor is super-practical and nowadays considered a necessity in most homes. Whether it’s an under-the-stairs space saver, laundry room upgrade or an add-on to a new porch, a cloakroom is on many buyers’ wish lists.
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Utilize bedroom space
Property value can often hinge on the amount of bedrooms a home has. In fact, adding an extra bedroom could increase a home’s value by around 11%. Therefore, if you have a spare room that’s currently not being put to good use, there could be an opportunity for you to make your house more desirable. Clear out the clutter, add a bed if there isn’t already one, and turn that redundant room into an extra bedroom. With more bedrooms, you will be able to attract a broader range of buyers.
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Declutter your interior
The biggest, and arguably cheapest, improvement you can make to your house is to declutter. No one wants to see someone’s belongings strewn around or endless ornaments covering every surface. Have a clear-out and rid your rooms of junk. If you’re keen to keep hold of your personal effects, then move them out of sight so that they can’t be seen by any visitors or put them into storage until you sell the house.
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Convert your attic
If your attic space is big enough, then consider converting it into a dedicated bedroom. While converting an attic space is no simple or cheap task, it could seriously enhance your home. In fact, according to a study, attic conversions that provide an extra bedroom and bathroom can, on average, increase a home’s value by a whopping 21%.
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Make the most of your storage
With space at a premium, every inch of storage counts. If you have any secret storage spaces hiding in your home, whether a cupboard under the stairs or some extra attic space, don’t just use it as a dumping ground. Clear it out so that any buyer can see exactly how much space they will have to play with.
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Get gardening
A garden can add 10% to the value of your home. But in order to do so, the space really has to look its best. Overgrown weeds and out of control shrubs aren’t going to entice anyone, so make sure the lawn has been mowed, cut back any bushes that might make the space look smaller and have a general tidy up. Even just sweeping the paths will make a big difference!
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Add a sunroom
Adding a sunroom doesn’t have to cost a fortune. What’s more, that extra space will only add value to your property – typically around 11%. Plus, with extra glazing drawing additional sunlight into your home, your interior will be a bright and inviting space that’s sure to seduce buyers.
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Build an extension
Extending your home could add real value. Building an extra bedroom or transforming the kitchen into a spacious and practical kitchen-diner is pretty much guaranteed to increase your asking price.
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Spruce up the bathroom
According to property firm Trulia, the bathroom and the kitchen are the most important rooms when it comes to selling a house. Keep any improvements very simple. A chic floor and a bright, clean suite can do wonders. Ensure the faucets are well polished, consider putting in a heated towel rail and if you need a shower screen, opt for glass over a curtain.
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Knock down a wall
Make sure it isn’t load-bearing first! Generally, buyers are more impressed with how much usable living space they have, rather than the number of rooms (this doesn’t apply to bedrooms, of course). So consider knocking down a wall in order to create a bright, open-plan space. This will give you one impressive room, rather than two underwhelming ones. Then, sit back and watch your home’s value soar.
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Focus on the kitchen
According to most property firms, the kitchen is the most important room in the house when it comes to making a sale – it’s the heart of the home, not just where you make your food. As well as ensuring your appliances are all up to date, consider giving dated designs a budget revamp. Paint the cupboards, go for new cupboard handles and buff up the work surfaces to give your kitchen a new lease of life.
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Hang a mirror in the entryway
The hallway is the first part of the interior that buyers see. The trouble is, entryways are often the narrowest and darkest part of the house. Installing a mirror on either wall will make your space look much bigger and will allow natural light to fill the entire space. This will not only boost its attractiveness to buyers but also its value.
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Paint the outside of the house
The front of the house is the first thing a potential buyer will see, so it’s important to make a good first impression. Giving the outside a fresh lick of paint means you’re off on the right foot but also clean your windows, consider investing in some potted plants and hide any rubbish or mess away until the viewings are over.
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Refurbish the front door
There’s no point having a nicely spruced up exterior if your front door looks a mess. This is a really easy fix – you may get away with simply giving the doorknob and letterbox a decent polish but new stainless steel numbers or a nice, new knocker can also be a good investment. Plus, with a plethora of paints available, you can be as bold as you like when it comes to color.
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Create driveway parking
If you live in an area where parking is at a premium, then dedicated space to park in front of the house will likely be a big selling point. Not only will driveway parking entice more potential buyers, but it will also be far easier to maintain than endless flowerbeds – another plus point for house-hunters.
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Add a HVAC system
Adding a HVAC system to a property that doesn’t have one will always add more value than it costs. It’s generally considered an essential for homebuyers today.
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Improve the energy efficiency of your home
This is a big one for two reasons. Obviously, there’s the cash involved; if your home is energy efficient, you’re less likely to run up massive bills. But buyers today are more likely to be concerned about the environment. If your home is helping the planet, that can only help you sell it.
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Add in extra outlets
Most of us have a host of gadgets today, from laptops to tablets and game consoles. And they all need to be plugged in somewhere. Make sure that you have plenty of outlets on offer in areas where they don’t look ugly. You can even hide wireless chargers and retractable sockets inside cabinets and countertops, so you can provide extra power without affecting the look and feel of your home. You’ll also get extra points for wireless charging options and USB ports in power outlets.
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If it creaks or leaks, fix it
Go through each room of your house and see if there are any superficial defects on show, whether it’s a creaking door, a leaking faucet or a loose tile. Each and every one will dent the attractiveness of your home to a buyer, so go through and fix each one.
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Replace the windows
OK, this might not be cheap but it can be very important. Just as buyers view central heating as an essential today, the same goes for double glazing. Experienced property expert, Phil Spencer reckons it adds 5% to the value of a home.
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Give your floors some love
The floor is an often overlooked part of the home, but it’s a crucial selling point. Buyers will be turned off by old, stained carpets or wooden flooring that is horribly scratched. Replacing the floors entirely may be too costly but a little bit of work on the floors can go a long way or you could lay down some new rugs that you can take with you.
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Don’t forget roof repairs
A recent study found that replacing worn-out areas of the roof provided a 63% return on investment. The logic is simple: if the buyer thinks they might need to deal with a leak or the cost of replacing tiles, it will bump down the price they are willing to pay. Repairing a small area of tiling, as opposed to replacing the whole roof, should be a relatively cost-effective way to up your home’s value.
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Let there be light
If you want to really show off your home, you need to show it in its best light – literally. Make sure there is plenty of natural light in the property by opening curtains and blinds and giving all the windows a good clean and be sure to improve your light fixtures too. For any evening viewings, turn on ambient lighting to create a warm glow in any social spaces.
