When a homeowner decides they’re no longer going to be living in their current housing arrangement, they usually put their home up for sale, and just about everyone would like to get the most out of this.
It’s no secret that buyers love seeing homes that are in top-notch shape and have all the bells and whistles, meaning that a lot of sellers resort to repairs and decorations before listing their homes on the market.
However, some of these improvements simply aren’t worth the amount you’ll be paying for them, and at the end of the day, they will do little in terms of increasing the property’s value, so maybe it’s best to stay away from them.
We’ve compiled a list of the improvements you can do to increase your home’s value, and we’ll go over them in this article, so just keep reading and learn everything there is to know about making a sale that’s always in your favor.
Determine your goals
You can’t set out to improve something without first knowing what it is you’re trying to improve, and the same rule applies to your home, as you’ll want to know your goals for the future before committing to some major work.
This way you can get a better idea of what renovations will actually make sense for your home, whether you’re planning on living in it or selling it on the market.
Of course, if you’re just looking to make a quick buck, you’ll want to choose the renovation and improvement that’ll be the kindest to your wallet, which is usually just some minor repairs, small landscaping projects, and painting some damaged surfaces.
On the other hand, if you want to increase your property’s value exponentially and over time, you’ll want to look into some bigger renovation plans, and if you’ve got the funds for it, maybe you could even do a complete overhaul of the property.
Set a budget
The key to being financially responsible is having a budget you’re working with, and you’ll want to know exactly how much you’re willing to spend before you even think about starting any renovation job on a property.
Essentially, you should expect to spend anywhere between $15 and $60 per square foot for some smaller-scale projects, although these numbers can go up drastically for bathroom and kitchen renovations, where a single square foot can set you back almost $250.
Instead, if you’re just set on getting the most out of the money you’ve got right now, you can focus only on the more important rooms, which are usually the bathrooms, kitchen, and living room.
It’s important to note that you should never put these large projects on a credit card unless you’re absolutely certain you can pay it back on time, meaning that a personal loan may be the better option here, as they’re paid back in monthly installments, albeit with better interest rates than a card.
Select a project
You can’t just start your work all over the place, and you’ll want to devote all of your focus to a single project before moving on to the next one.
Home improvement is a complex endeavor and every detail can count in the long run, meaning that you’ll want to narrow down your choices and set priorities for them as soon as possible.
In fact, you may have already had a timeline for the projects before you’d even set a budget, and if it’s one you’re confident your finances can handle, it’s probably the one to go with.
Interior painting is one of the cheapest methods to modernize a home, and it’s a huge bonus for buyers who might’ve taken the project upon themselves if they’d planned on buying your home from the very start.
With only a couple hundred dollars to work with, you can complete a painting project with ease, although you should focus on the bathrooms and the kitchens, as they’re usually the spaces that take the most damage over the years.
Landscaping, on the other hand, could set you back tens of thousands of dollars if you’re planning on carrying out some bigger projects.
However, bigger isn’t always better, and you may be able to attract buyers with just some flower planting and mowing the grass often enough.
Make a plan
Finally, once you’ve laid everything out, the next step is to make a plan for how you’re going to carry out all of the repairs/improvements you’ve got in mind.
This also includes deciding whether you’ll be bold enough to take a project this size on by yourself or you’ll hire a contractor to do it, with the latter usually being the better option, even if it’s not the most cost-effective one.
This will depend entirely on your skill level and budget, so don’t take it as a rule that you can’t do it on your own, as you may be able to complete any of these projects just as well as someone who’s paid to do it, so long as you’re determined enough to do it right.