If you are putting your home on the market and are looking for buyers, there is a way you can increase your chances of getting more for the property. Whether you have lived in this home forever or have recently moved in, getting the appropriate amount of money for your home is your right, and if you want to get a little more, you might want to consider a few budget-friendly home improvements. You might think that it makes no sense to put money in your home when you are already planning to sell it, but you do not need to stretch your wallet for these home improvements. These are budget-friendly ideas that will immediately improve the value of your property.

Before you begin, inspect your home thoroughly. Every home improvement will not be cosmetic, and you might have to hire a professional to handle it for you. There could be hidden problems that could hurt the home’s value, and even small problems can become big and cost money if ignored. Hence, before you jump into the home improvement ideas, check every little area of the home thoroughly.

Paint the rooms 

The easiest and the most cost-effective way of improving your home is to apply a fresh coat of paint. When the prospective buyer sees a freshly painted room, it will look clean and spell value. While choosing the paint colors, do keep in mind that most people like neutrals. It will make your home more desirable, and you can get it done over the weekend. If you plan to paint multiple rooms, spread out the job over a few weekends.

Cut down on energy costs

If you show a buyer that your home is energy efficient, they will be happy to pay more for it. The money you spend on energy costs each month could be a fixed amount, but several companies are offering free energy audits and this can help you save costs. Look at different ways you can make your home energy efficient, and it will make it a marketable asset in no time. It could be something like a new water filtration system in the kitchen or using an air purifier inside the home. The water filter will not only purify water but also reduce the grocery bills because you will no longer need bottled water. 

Make the outdoors prettier 

Patchy and overgrown lawns show that you have not paid any attention to the outdoors. It could make your home stand out in a bad manner. Hence, taming the jungle is the first step to take. You can either do it yourself or hire a professional lawn service company for the job. The curb appeal has to go from messy to maintained and it will immediately enhance the value of your home. Upgrading the roof can also impact the value of your home. When buyers enter the place, they will see a house with a brand new roof, and it will improve the curb appeal. Contact a roofing service provider to handle the job. Modern roofs are also highly energy efficient as compared to outdated roofs. They will offer better insulation, and buyers will have to spend less amount on cooling and heating costs. 

Increase the square footage (visually)

While it may not be possible for you to increase the square footage of your home, there’s a way around this. The visual space or how large the home feels will make a lot of difference, and you can increase the visual square footage by replacing the closed drapes with shutters or vertical blinds to let the light in. You can also add a single mirror to the room to double the space visually. 

Upgrade the bathroom 

Even a small bathroom upgrade will go a long way. It is always a smart move and will not cost you much. Even if you cannot afford a complete bathroom remodel, make small but efficient changes like replacing the old wallpaper with a textured finish or replacing the old lighting for a quick upgrade. You could also consider replacing the old plumbing or adding a new tile floor to effectively increase the home’s value.  

Update the kitchen

The one rule where any update pays is your kitchen. You do not need to remodel everything to make it look different. Make small but essential kitchen updates like swapping the stained sink or replacing the countertop. If you do not have the budget, simply change the lighting and add pendant lights or make a small appliance counter. Small updates add big value.

These are a few tried and tested ways to improve the value of your home without spending a lot of money on it. However, do remember to set aside a budget before you get started.  

Published by HOLR Magazine.