Adding value to your home can attract more serious buyers.
We all would love to fully remodel our kitchen or add another bedroom to our home. While these things can add substantial value to your home, they are also quite costly. To keep you from breaking the bank with expensive upgrades, I want to share 37 frugal ways to add value to your home and attract more buyers.
37 Frugal Ways to Add Value to Your Home
You may not add thousands of dollars of value for any one item on this list, but you will make it easier for your realtor to find buyers that will see the true value your property has to offer. A prospective homebuyer will likely evaluate the whole picture, and I want your home’s picture to be a work of art.
1. Clean Clean Clean. A clean home gives buyers the impression of a well-maintained home.
2. De-clutter. Find a place for everything and put everything in its place. Clutter signals to prospective homebuyers that there is a lack of storage in your home.
3. Add or build closet organizers for your home. This is a great idea for older homes.
4. Get the carpets professionally cleaned.
5. Get some rugs. Use them to help brighten a room and break areas into distinctive zones.
6. Apply a fresh coat of paint. If you can’t afford to repaint everything, focus on repainting trim and door frames.
7. Perform an energy evaluation. You can use a free tool from Energy Star. This is a great bonus to show to homebuyers, if your home is very efficient.
8. Install matching power outlets and light switches. Matching them all in color will bring continuity to your whole home.
9. Replace worn door knobs.
10. Remove wallpaper. It may look great, but people hate wallpaper because it is hard to remove. Take it down before a prospective homebuyer can complain.
11. Add lighting. Make sure the key features of your home are well lit. The more natural light the better.
12. Replace broken or worn screens.
Add Value to Your Kitchen
13. Replace older cabinet hardware to give your cabinets a face lift.
14. Remove a few doors from upper cabinets. Exposed shelving is becoming quite popular.
15. Find a new faucet, and replace the old one.
16. Clean or replace discolored grout. It provides a fresh clean look.
17. Order a new door for your refrigerator or dishwasher to make unmatched appliances match in color. Often, the front of an appliance is a slide-in insert that can be switched to change the color.
18. Make space. An eat in table may work great for you but can make the kitchen look small. The same goes for over-sized islands. Although an island is great for added storage and counter space, make sure your kitchen isn’t all island. Try a movable island for flexibility.
Add Value to Your Bathroom
19. Replace the faucet.
20. Hang a new mirror.
21. Refinish the current vanity.
22. Clean or replace grout. Use some bleach and bring out the shine.
23. Replace the bathroom fan or clean the current one. Make sure the bathroom is well ventilated.
24. Replace the toilet seat.
25. Remove extra toiletries from view.
Add Value to Your Bedroom
26. Spend some extra time staging the master suite. It should be an inviting and relaxing area.
27. Invest in a new bedspread and a few pillows.
28. Add a dimmer switch to allow for relaxed-mood lighting in the bedroom.
Add Value to the Exterior of Your Home
29. Mow your lawn.
30. Place new mulch in landscaped areas.
31. Power wash the exterior of your home.
32. Remove clutter. The backyard should be a living space not a storage area.
33. Trim trees and large hedges.
34. Repair any gates or fences.
35. Buy a welcome mat.
36. Repaint the front door.
37. Clean auto waste from your driveway.
Many of these ways to add value to your home are inexpensive and quick. Taking the extra time to add value to your home can help you sell your home quicker and for more money.
As a realtor, I am more than willing to discuss more ways to add value to your home without breaking the bank.
What inexpensive upgrades or repairs have you made to your home to give it more value? Have a question? Ask it in the comments.
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