Nick Rogers
Whether you’re in the market to sell your home or you’re just looking for ways to make your living space more inviting, there are lots of easy, affordable options to increase the value of your home. By investing your time, some elbow grease, and a little bit of money, you’ll be surprised at how much of a difference just a few changes can make.
If you work through this list over time and keep up with the maintenance of it, you won’t have as much to worry about when it comes time to sell because you’ll have already put in the work to increase your property’s value. Here are some of the simple and creative ways that you can invest in to make your home more appealing.
Refresh the bathroom features
It’s possible to overlook the bathroom when trying to think about ways to increase your home’s value because the other rooms of the house might seem more prominent. Bathrooms are still important to tend to and can make a big difference in how your overall house is perceived. A few of the things you can do for a couple hundred dollars or less are:
- Replace the faucets
- Add a built-in shelf or two
- Add a curved shower bar with a new shower curtain
- Update the shower head
If you live in a house that’s more than ten years old, chances are the faucets have some visible wear that isn’t easily cleaned. By spending a few bucks to update the faucets to a brand new pair in a modern style, you can transform the bathroom. For bathrooms on the smaller side, there usually isn’t much storage space available. You can resolve this issue by installing a shelf or two on the wall where you can store your products and leave the counter space open.
With showers that require a curtain, you can replace the traditional rod with a curved one to give the shower more space (also update the curtain to a fresh new one while you’re at it). The shower head itself can be swapped out with one that is shiny and new, or if you want something fancier, you can install a rain shower head or one that filters your water.
Update the exterior
The exterior of a home is what creates a first impression. It’s what you see when you come home, what your neighbors see, and what prospective buyers will eventually see. The upkeep of your yard can say a lot about the property itself and how you feel about your home. If the yard is full of dying or overgrown plants, it could be seen as a red flag for buyers who would be interested in a move-in-ready home. On the other hand, if your property has high curb appeal, you’ll attract new potential buyers.
Even if you’re not currently planning on selling, it’s still a good idea to keep up with your exterior because it’s nice to come home to a place that’s kept up with and welcoming. Some of the ways you can increase curb appeal and update your home’s exterior are:
- Add outdoor lighting
- Update the landscaping
- Remove oil stains on the driveway
The addition of exterior lighting can make a noticeable difference in the coziness factor of your outdoor space, especially if you use warm yellow bulbs and string lights. There are even options for solar powered outdoor lighting where you won’t have to worry about finding a nearby outlet. You can also update the landscaping to spruce up your home’s exterior. For example, adding in some decorative rocks, fresh mulch, or new plants can make your yard look much nicer.
If you or your guests park cars in the driveway, there is a good chance there will be some visible oil stains. To remove the oil, you can simply soak the stains with baking soda, vinegar, or laundry detergent then scrub it off after about 30 minutes. Stains in the driveway can make your home appear neglected and with a few minutes of scrubbing, it can appear like new. There are also some products you can buy that protect your driveway from new stains, but they tend to be on the pricier side.
Add some finishing touches
Rather than spending the money to replace cabinets or doors entirely, you can opt for the more affordable option of adding some finishing touches to what already exists. For example, a few things you can do to refine what you already have are:
- Replace cabinet door handles and knobs
- Paint your front door and add a new lock
- Add a backsplash to your kitchen
- Paint interior walls
- Add storage space to closets
- Add a budget-friendly chandelier
You can replace all of the knobs to your cabinets for usually under $50, and it makes an improvement to your decor. Adding gold handles and knobs can instantly feel like an upgrade when it’s relatively inexpensive to do. You can even add a new lock and handle to your front door to modernize your entrance. If you’re feeling like making your house stand out more, you can give your front door a fresh coat of paint — consider options like yellow, cobalt blue, and red if you want the color to pop.
Your kitchen walls can be easily upgraded with the addition of a backsplash. There are adhesive backsplashes that you can purchase to make installation cheap and easy enough that anyone can do it. Interior walls will have an impact on how your home is perceived by you, your guests, and potential buyers. It’s best to stick with neutral, light, complementary colors to make spaces appear larger. Adding a new fresh coat of paint can transform a room and is relatively inexpensive to do.
Another small to medium-sized refinement you can make is adding some built-in storage space to closets. Even if it’s as few as 1-3 shelves, putting in space to store items off of the ground can be a major upgrade. If you’re willing to splurge a few hundred dollars, you can purchase a chandelier and add that in your home — the entryway and dining room are strategic places for one.
Clean and keep up with maintenance
Aside from these additions and upgrades, you should also deep clean every few months and fix minor issues as they arise. For example, you can make it a point to clean all the blinds and window coverings, professionally clean your carpet, and repair small scratches and scuffs on the floor and walls.
By keeping your home in tip-top shape, you’ll be able to increase the value of your home to get the most for your property when selling. Learn more about how to sell your home with our step-by-step guide to selling a home. And if you’re not currently selling, then it’s just an added bonus for you to live in an aesthetically appealing place for the time being.