Eight Simple Ways to Boost Your Home's Resale Value
1 Refresh your kitchen The kitchen remains the heart of the home. Make sure your kitchen looks clean and reasonably updated. Simple low-cost enhancements include replacing the faucet, adding new cabinet door handles and updating lighting fixtures.
If you've got a slightly larger budget, give the cabinets a makeover. Rather than purchasing a completely new cabinet system, consider simple refacing. Your kitchen appear new with fresh paint, remove/refinish cabinet doors, boxes and drawers, replace damaged or stained countertops and add new doors and drawers.
2 Give appliances a facelift. Order new doors or face panels for your appliance to ensure they all match. Many dishwasher panels are white on one side and black on the other. All you may need to do is unscrew two screws, slide out the panel and flip it around. A cohesive looking kitchen makes a big difference in the home’s resale price.
3 Buff up the bath. Next to the Kitchen, bathrooms are the most important rooms to update. Simple things like a new toilet seat and a pedestal sink are easy to install and make a big difference in the look of the bath. Water conservation is an important consideration, so installation of a low or dual flow water tank is worth considering.
Replacing an old, discolored bathroom floor is also recommended. If your tub and shower are looking dingy, consider re-grouting the tile and replacing any chipped tiles. A more complete cover-up can include a prefabricated tub and shower surround.
4 Improve storage. Older homes are notorious for their lack of closet space. If you have cramped storage areas, to add wire and laminate closet systems to bedrooms, pantries and entry closets. Most closets can be updated in a weekend or less. Your closets will be more functional while you're living in the house and will make your home look more customized to potential buyers when you're ready to sell. It is very important at the same time to get rid of any extra clutter.
5 Clean Carpets. A professional carpet cleaning is an inexpensive investment, especially if your rugs are in good shape and are neutral colors. Don’t replace wall-to-wall carpeting right before you sell your house. The new homeowners may want to choose their own carpeting after they move in.
6 Keep it Light and Bright. Consider updating the room's light fixtures. If you have a ceiling fan and light, you can buy replacement fan blades (leaving the fan body in place) to update the fixture’s look. The installation of daylight “tube” system can be an effective and relatively inexpensive means of bringing daylight into a dark space.
7 Reframe your entry. A nice, big piece of hardware on the front door signals to newcomers that this is a solid home. If you have a basic steel front door, consider painting or faux-finishing it for more eye appeal. Remember to use a good metal primer approved for outdoor use over metal. For a cherry wood look use a burgundy base paint. After it dries, brush over the base-coat with a cherry wood stain. It can look amazing, and it only takes a few hours.
8 Consider curb appeal. What buyers see when they first drive by your home is tremendously important A nicely mowed lawn, a few well-placed shrubs and a swept walkway makes an important great first impression. Consider hiring a landscaper to install some new sod, plant a few evergreen shrubs and give your front yard a good cleanup.