Top 10 Ways to Maximize Your Home’s Value

Making some simple, low-budget improvements to your home can reap big rewards when it’s time to sell. Smart and constructive upgrades you make on your home can pay off big in terms of the boost in its value. Here are our 10 best ways to increase the net equity in your home:

1. VISUAL SPACE: The physical size and square footage of your home dramatically affects its value, but visual space is also critical to the perception of your home overall. The key is to make each room in your house feel larger. Replace heavy, closed draperies with vertical blinds or shutters to let light in — a sunny room feels larger and more open. Also, try adding a single large mirror to a room to visually double the space. Finally, de-cluttering and de-personalizing are essential steps in beginning the home staging process that lets you actually see your home's spaces.

2. CLEANLINESS: A house can never be too clean. Cleanliness is welcoming and attractive to a potential buyer. Keep your house clean by preventing dirt and clutter from building up over time. Things like mold can become a nuisance if allowed to spread unchecked. Old items and junk should never have a chance to build up. Don't move your junk around; get rid of it! When it's time to sell, you will feel confident about what you are presenting to the buyer.

3. PAINT: Lighten up your home with neutral paints such as white or very light tones of beige, browns, or greys.

4. REGULAR MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS: Walk around your home and make a list of all the little things that are broken or in need of repair. Individually, small repairs might not seem important, but if every room has just one thing wrong, those small things will add up to create the impression that your home has been neglected. If you don't feel comfortable tackling the repairs yourself, hire a handyman for a day and watch your "to do" list disappear. Staying on top of maintenance today eliminates problems down the road when you decide to sell.

5. LIGHTING: Replace all lighting with LED and make sure all light fixtures are working properly.

6. KITCHEN CATCH UP: The number one upgrade for the greatest return on investment is the kitchen! A modern and updated kitchen tops the list of ideal home features for many buyers. If you plan to sell, you don't have to tear down your kitchen to the studs; a smaller, mini-remodel investment can have serious impact. Explore your options, such as replacing old appliances with a suite of new ones — stainless steel is a hot ticket item for buyers. You could also install new countertops — quartz is a winner! — and new flooring to give your kitchen a fresh, coordinated look. Applying a fresh coat of paint to the walls or cabinets or introducing a tiled backsplash can also breathe new life and warmth into the space.

7. BATHROOM UPDATES: An even cheaper room to invest in would be the bathroom. One simple, cost-effective change — like replacing an outdated vanity, old plumbing, and lighting fixtures or adding a new tile floor — will guarantee a lot of bang for your buck and give your bath an updated, modern look.

8. CURB APPEAL:  For many buyers, what your house looks like on the outside is just as important as what it looks like on the inside. Does your home look attractive, welcoming, and structurally sound at first glance? As a test, walk across the street, turn around, and critically look at your home from this new perspective.  Make a list of ways to enhance the positives and eliminate the negatives. Accentuate a nice, curvy walkway with flowers or lanterns. Look for cracks in the walls and patch them up. If you’re on a tight budget, simple things like cutting the grass, raking up leaves, removing weeds, and trimming hedges can make your home more appealing from the outside. A new mailbox, some potted plants, and a few bags of mulch are fast fixes that can spruce up your home’s appearance without busting your budget. The first impression of your home draws buyers to it, which could be the difference between selling your home quickly and spending months on the market.

9. DROUGHT TOLERANT LANDSCAPING:  There's no question that shrubs and colorful plants will add curb appeal to any home, but when shopping at your local garden center, make sure that you "think green." Purchase plants that are native to your region or plants that are drought-tolerant; these require less water and maintenance, which means more savings to you and more green in your wallet.

10. INTERIOR DESIGN: To receive higher offers from potential buyers, showcase your home in the most favorable way by enlisting the help of an interior designer/stager to assist in home preparation and presentation. The Aaronson Group provides this service to our clients free of charge!

To take advantage of our free interior design stager service, please complete your home evaluation to get started.

Kevin Aaronson did a fantastic job helping us sell our house and then find and buy our new home in a very low inventory and difficult market. We sold our house at top dollar and bought at a great deal. Kevin is extremely forthcoming, professional and energetic. We never had a moment where we felt he was slow in responding or getting work done. Our family would highly recommend him to anyone considering his group. - Ryan & Chiara