- Consult with a Professional: Invite an interior designer to evaluate your home. Consult with several local designers; their standard hourly fee is typically less than $100. In just an hour, they can provide numerous suggestions for improvements. Even minor recommendations, like paint colors or furniture arrangement, can significantly enhance your home’s aesthetics.
- Enhance Curb Appeal: The exterior of your home is the first impression for potential buyers. A well-maintained landscape and an inviting front door can make your home stand out. If your home lacks curb appeal compared to your neighbors, consider planting flowers or repainting the front door. Once the exterior is appealing, focus on updating key areas like the living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
- Fresh Coat of Paint: Painting is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to improve your home. Freshly painted rooms look clean and modern, which adds value. Neutral colors appeal to a wide range of people, making your home more desirable. With a gallon of paint costing around $25 on average, you’ll have enough left over for other supplies.
- Reduce Energy Costs: Your monthly energy costs may seem fixed, but many utility companies offer free energy audits for their customers’ homes. They can help you maximize your home’s energy efficiency, saving you money that can be used for other updates.
- Upgrade to Smart Devices: Safety-enhancing gadgets are at the top of the list for “smart” technologies that buyers want in their new homes. These include thermostats, fire detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, security cameras, door locks, and lighting.
- Maximize Visual Space: The perceived size of your home can affect its value as much as its actual square footage. The goal is to make each room feel larger than it is. Replace heavy draperies with vertical blinds or shutters to let in more light. A single large mirror can visually double the space in a room.
- Organize Your Space: Consider hiring a professional organizer for a day. They can show you how to organize various rooms in your home and teach you tricks for keeping it organized.
Financing Your Home Improvements When considering how to finance these improvements that increase value…
How to pay for improvements that increase value
When thinking about how to increase home value, remember updates rarely recoup 100% of their cost, but they can make your family more comfortable and even help your home sell faster.
If you cannot pay for home improvements in cash, be sure to choose the right method of financing for you. Options include:
- Credit card
- Personal loan
- Home equity loan or line of credit
- Cash-out refinance