Tried and Tested Ways to Improve Your Home’s Value

Even if you’re happy where you live, there’s a lot of value in putting a little effort into ensuring that the value is moving in the right direction. By making improvements that boost the value, you can not only protect your investment but also help to improve your enjoyment of your home.

It’s worth remembering that not every “home improvement” adds value to a property. A swimming pool, for example, can actually put home buyers off from making a bid. In this post, we’re going to run through some of the best home improvements you can make that’ll lead to an increase in value. 

Manage Cosmetic Issues

Cosmetic issues are rarely a deal breaker when an interested buyer is weighing up whether to make a bid or not, but they can be a factor. Plus, dealing with issues such as peeling paint, limescale in the bathroom, taps that drip a little, and dirty corners can simply impact your enjoyment of your home. 

Those problems won’t fix themselves, so spend a little time getting them into shape. Most material issues can be fixed within a day or two, and you’ll likely be able to do them yourself, too. 

Boost Curb Appeal

The front of your house isn’t as important as what’s on the inside, but there’s no doubt that it plays an important role. After all, it sets the tone for the rest of the property. Spending a little bit of time getting the front of your property into shape can help to make your home more attractive to potential buyers, since, after all, first impressions count for a lot.

You don’t need to get overboard in improving your home. Even small things, like upgrading your front door, adding a fence, and planting some flowers/plants can make a world of difference. You can turbocharge your curb appeal by adding an external lighting system, which will boost security and help to show off your home in all its glory once the sun has set. 

Upgrade Your Bathroom

Looking to add serious value to your property? Then look at improving your bathroom. If the general quality of your bathroom is still pretty high, then making small changes, such as upgrading the taps and regrouting, may be effective. Undertaking a bath remodel project is recommended if it has been some time since you last made improvements and it's beginning to show signs of wear and tear. In one study, it was found that 30% of homes sold within a single year had a new bathroom, which suggests that it’s one of the primary factors that home buyers are looking for. 

Add a Building to Your Yard

Most people don’t make full use of their yard. If you have ample outdoor space, then you’ll have a terrific opportunity to add a lot of value to your home. Even making cosmetic upgrades to your yard, as we’ll discuss later in the article, can make a difference. You can add even more value by adding an outdoor building to your yard. These structures can serve as guest rooms, outdoor offices, or spaces to indulge in hobbies, and will help to make your property more appealing to buyers. You usually don’t need to get planning permission to put these structures, either, though it’s best to check with an expert. 

Create More Living Space

The best way to increase the value of a home is to add more usable space. Ultimately, that’s what people are willing to pay more for! There’s no shortage of ways to add more living space to a home, though how you do it will depend on the type of property you own.

In some parts of the country, converting a garage into usable space or undertaking a loft conversion project can add as much as 20% to the overall value, since you’ll in effect be creating a new bedroom. The downside is that you’ll need to invest a pretty hefty sum to undertake these projects. 

Add Another Bathroom

We mentioned earlier that remodeling your bathroom was one of the most effective ways to improve your home’s value, but you can also look at adding another bathroom. This doesn’t have to be a full bathroom — even a small space with a toilet will do. This helps to create value because it can be an influential factor for families looking to buy a property. Plus, the cost of adding a toilet to the downstairs part of your home is usually pretty minor; one estimate found that it would cost around $2,000, yet can add as much as $30,000 in some areas. Plus, it can be a good addition even if you’re not planning to sell soon; don’t underestimate just how convenient having an extra toilet can be!

Improve the Energy Efficiency

Anything that helps to make your home more energy efficient should be welcome. After all, it provides multiple benefits — you’ll increase the value of your home, will lower your carbon footprint, and you’ll benefit from lower energy bills until it comes time to sell. 

In this day and age, there’s no shortage of energy-boosting projects to consider. You could go all in by adding solar panels, which one study showed can boost home value by as much as 4%. Solar panels have become much cheaper and more effective in recent years, making them a viable option for homeowners in all regions of the country, even those that don’t receive much sunlight. 

Focus on the Kitchen

Earlier we mentioned that it’s wise to upgrade your bathroom since it’s one of the most important rooms in the house and one that home buyers focus on the most. The other room that fits that description is the kitchen, which has rightly earned its reputation as “the heart of the home.” If your kitchen is showing its age — or was never that great to begin with — then look at making changes. Look at working with a kitchen remodeling company to make improvements that will add real value to your property. The general goal should be to make changes that bring your kitchen up to modern standards and make the most of all the available space. 

Use a Paintbrush

We’ve included some large project ideas on this list, but don’t forget that simple improvements can also make a difference. Refreshing your interiors with a lick of fresh paint can help breathe new life into a property, and while it won’t directly add value to your home, it’ll prevent it from losing value. 

You can paint the inside walls of your home yourself. If you’re really looking to make improvements, then take a look at painting the exterior part of your home, too. You’ll need to hire a professional to do that for you, but it’ll be worth the cost if the current paint job is below standard — one study found that an exterior paint project can boost home value by as much as 4%. Just be sure to choose a color that makes sense for the neighborhood; selecting an unusual color can actually cause the home to lose value. 

Transform Your Yard

Your backyard has a tremendous possibility to add value to your property. To do so, you’ll need to go beyond simply adding a few plants and flowers, and instead focus on creating an outdoor living area. This can really make a house more attractive to buyers, especially if the property is located in a sunny area. 

Adding outdoor furniture and a patio area is a good start. To go even further, look at creating what is in effect an outdoor living room, with decor, lighting, and a roof that can be pulled back on those warm and sunny days. 

Add More Storage

Did you know that car buyers are more likely to buy a vehicle if it has an above-average number of cup holders? For all of the car’s amazing design features, it’s this seemingly unimportant factor that has the most impact.

In a similar vein, while your house might look amazing, if there’s minimal storage space, then you’ll likely lose a few potential buyers — and in the process, likely lose value. Home storage has undergone a bit of a revolution in recent years, and today you’ll find a near-endless number of smart storage solutions at your disposal. For inspiration, take a look at this list of easy storage options from House Beautiful. Aside from making your property more attractive to buyers, you’ll find that more storage simply makes your life at home more enjoyable. After all, it’s much better to live without clutter! 

It’s worthwhile working to improve the value of your home even if you’re not planning on moving anytime soon. After all, your property is likely the most significant investment that you’ve ever made, so it’s paramount that you work on nudging the value in the right direction. Done correctly, your home will secure your financial future. By making smart improvements, you’ll ensure that your property provides a real windfall of cash in your retirement years. 

Related Article:

• The Impact of Architecture on Luxury Home Value
• How to increase the Value of your home