Home improvement seems daunting, especially if you don’t know a hammer from a wrench. But it’s a project worth taking on when making a few simple fixes can increase its resale value.
Focus on the areas buyers find most appealing. Doing so enables you to increase your home’s value without blowing your budget.
- Improve Energy Efficiency
Making your home a little more green can lower monthly utility bills and attract eco-conscious buyers. Replacing an older water heater is one of the simplest fixes to make. It also reassures prospective buyers, since a water heater can be a huge hassle to replace. Installing energy-efficient appliances and a programmable thermostat will also reduce energy consumption.
- Upgrade Cabinets
The kitchen is the focal point in many homes, so making improvements in this room pays off. If a full renovation isn’t viable, give the kitchen a facelift: replace dated cabinet fronts with modern, self-closing doors and sleek new hardware. Glass-front cabinets may entice some buyers, but you can’t go wrong with modern, streamlined wooden doors.
- Bump Up Curb Appeal
The way a house looks from the street can have a make-or-break effect when it’s time to sell. Replace a rusted or cheap-looking mailbox, add modern metal house numbers and consider upgrading the door handle, sconces, and other fixtures. Adding color attracts buyers, too. That might mean painting the front door an eye-catching shade or planting colorful flowers in planters and window boxes. A short power-washing session should leave the house and walkways looking bright and inviting.
- Lay Down New Floors
Replacing dated flooring can be a pricey project, but it more than pays for itself once you sell the house. Getting rid of any linoleum or shag carpeting is a no-brainer. In fact, replacing any wall-to-wall carpet in living spaces may pay off: many buyers covet wood flooring.
What if your budget doesn’t allow for replacing several rooms’ worth of flooring with solid wood? Opt for cheaper bamboo planks or engineered wood that looks like traditional hardwood at a fraction of the price.
- Glam Up the Bathroom
Other than the kitchen, the bathroom is the most important room in the house to consider when trying to increase value. Buyers don’t want this space to be practical. They want it to be luxurious. Any add-ons that make a half or full bath feel more spa-like are worthwhile investments. Consider replacing:
- A small tub with a deeper soaking tub.
- Frosted shower doors with clear glass doors.
- The traditional shower head for a rain shower head, or go all-in and install a new shower with body jets.
- Older toilets for water-saving models. It’s a relatively minor expense that pays off aesthetically and financially.
Changing out the faucets and other hardware and softening the room’s lighting are other relatively easy fixes.
The home renovation partner you need
Ready to upgrade your water heater, kitchen appliances, and bathrooms? Start your home improvement projects today. WaterWork’s team of experienced plumbing experts can help you make your home the best it can be so that you can sell it for the most money possible. Call today for a quote!
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