10 Ways to Add Value to Your Home

If you are planning on selling your home soon, there are ways to add value to your property before putting it on the market.

Some are simple while others are more involved but any of them will allow you to sell your house at a higher price.

Pool

If possible, you should consider adding a pool to your yard. If space does not allow for an Olympic-sized one, don't worry. Just do a search for "pool builders near me" and they will be able to go over options with you. 

Pool builders will work with the space you have and the money you have available and most offer financing plans. Don't forget that whatever you pay to install the pool will most likely come right back to you when you sell.

Even a simple feature like a waterfall will add beauty and tranquility to your yard as well as allowing you to ask a higher starting price when you list your house on the market.

Basement

Do you still have the creepy kind of cement basement that holds nothing but a furnace and laundry equipment? This kind of basement does not go over well with future buyers. 

Buyers prefer updated basements that are bona fide living spaces. Meet with a few contractors in your area to see what the possibilities are. It could either become another bedroom or a family entertainment area. Either would definitely add value to your home.

Curb Appeal

Increase your curb appeal by making some changes to the front of your house. Curb appeal can make the difference between prospective buyers choosing to look at your property or passing it by. It refers to how attractive your home looks as those doing home searches either pull up to the curb in front of your house or do it virtually online.

Whatever you have in front of your house, for example, flowers, shrubs or grass, make sure it looks its best. If it doesn't and you don't have the time to work on it, hire a landscaper to perfect it.

If you have a wooden front door, paint it a bold color that will get your house noticed. It will only take an afternoon and it could really pay off. If your house is contemporary, consider painting the door something bright and unusual like turquoise, yellow or even pink. A more traditional house will look great with bright traditional colors like red, green and blue.

Adding stone veneer to the whole front of your house or just to certain areas like the entryway is also a great way to increase both curb appeal and value. 

If your house has a garage, and the doors show a lot of wear and tear, consider replacing them. Not only will they look better, but they will also work better.

Bathroom and Kitchen

A few simple upgrades in the bathroom and kitchen can up the value and be appealing to prospective buyers. Something you might even be able to do yourself is to replace the old sink fixtures with modern ones. 

For the rest of the bathroom, try taking a cue from the Japanese. Japanese bathrooms are soothing and beautiful as well as efficient. Toilets, especially are high-tech. The lids go up and down without touching and some even play music. 

Bamboo is a clean look for the walls and floors. Also, there will usually be a hot tub-style bath but the shower will be elsewhere by itself. American bath/shower combinations are definitely looking old-fashioned.

Considers the costs, work and possible payoffs and then choose the areas of your home that you feel can use an upgrade the most. Talk to your realtor as well. They know what prospective homeowners in your area look for the most and how much they're willing to pay for it. 

You might even decide to stay where you are once your home has these upgrades!