A home is most likely the greatest financial investment you will ever make, and it makes sense to treat it as such, even if you are living in it and call it your home. In the last few years, real estate has really been rebounding and prices have been gradually growing, even skyrocketing in certain areas. Therefore, apart from the service you get out of it by living in it, a house can be a wise investment that appreciates with time and you can later sell to either invest in something different or cash out altogether.
However, there are a few ways to pad your home’s value without investing huge sums of money into renovations, additions, and updates. These small fixes can sway a buyer into thinking that there is more value in this home than an appraiser might think, and give the appearance of a well-kept home without the hefty price tag.
- Tend to the Yard
Driving up to a green, luscious lawn or beautifully landscaped garden is much more appealing than stepping onto yellow, burnt-out patches with huge weed clumps. Before they even properly read the house number, the viewer will be thinking “what a dump”. If you are not big into gardening, it’s still worth your time and a couple of fertilizer treatments earlier in the season to give a good first impression, something either you or a lawn service can do. Though your front lawn is your greatest worry, don’t forget to care for the back. Couples with kids will love the idea of their kids running around barefoot in the summer, and it’s up to you to fuel the illusion.
- Switch Our Your Door
Yes, you can technically rip off all the siding and completely redo your front porch, but that costs serious money. A new front door, however, is much less expensive and draws the attention away from all the imperfections that might be costly to properly fix. Invest in exterior door systems that add curb appeal to your home, while keeping you secure and benefitting your quality of life while you’re still living there.
- Upgrade Your Lighting
Lighting can make a great difference not only to how your house is illuminated, but can also influence the mood and overall style of the living space. Switch out your standard fixtures for interesting and beautiful pieces, getting standing lamps for areas where there is no chance in easily installing ceiling fixtures. Just remember to keep your old stuff for when you decide to move out. Your cool new items can come with you if they fit the theme of your new house and you can reinstall the older fixtures!
- Organize Your Storage
Many buyers look at size when buying a home. And though there’s no way to inexpensively increase the square footage of your house, you can create an illusion of a bigger house by being organized. If your basement is very cluttered, they might not even realize how big it is, just like a well utilized bookshelf can keep more than books off the floor. Invest in storage boxes, utility shelves, bins, and more. Not only will it be easier for you to move later, you will visually increase the size of your home, making it more desirable.
Taking care of your investment makes sense, even more so when it gives you daily utility like a home does. Improve your own quality of life by bringing on these inexpensive changes which will in turn give you a great payout when you do decide to move. Though sometimes it takes money to make money, there are some little shortcuts that boost your value without too much of a financial investment.
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