Real Estate10 Easy Tips to Maximize the Value of your Home

When it comes to maximizing the value of your home there are many factors you can’t control including location, area traffic, or even climate, but there are just as many factors that you can. Small improvements can really pay off and give your home instant “wow factor “. Whether you plan to put your home on the market soon or to stay in it for years to come, there are many easy home improvement projects that will enhance both its present comfort and its long-term value.

Check out these 10 Tips for Improving your Home’s Value:

1) Update faucets & fixtures. If your home still has those brass faucets, shower surrounds and light fixtures that were popular in the 1980s, replacing them with more fashionable styles and finishes is an easy way to update. Today’s popular finishes include chrome, brushed nickel, satin or oiled bronze.

2) Enhance lighting. Standard “builder grade ” lighting can be giving your home that “ho hum ” feeling you just can’t put your finger on. Frosted, flush-mount fixtures, brass chandeliers or boxy fluorescents in the kitchen can all be affordably replaced. Updated lighting can give your home a modern, elegant feel you won’t believe.

3) Add crown molding or beef up the existing moldings. Although this may be the most challenging of the do-it-yourself projects, this is potentially the least expensive and its return on investment and sweat equity is huge! Mastering a mitre saw might require a few practice pieces of wood, but after that, installing crown molding is a cinch. This “crowning touch ” brings a polished look to any room, and the more intricate the molding, the more dramatic the result so this is no place to skimp.

4) Clean, Clean Clean! Never underestimate the value of a really clean home. This is a must for keeping everyday allergies at bay such as dust, pollens or pet hair. Not to mention, keeping a clean home helps appliances operate more efficiently especially your furnace. Make a bi-annual commitment to scrubbing baseboards and windows, dust ceiling fans, and clean closet clutter.

5) Upgrade the kitchen by doing a “mini-remodel “. To avoid the steep costs of doing a complete kitchen remodel, focus on the smaller more affordable elements. If the cabinets look worn, consider painting instead of replacing them. Replace the cabinet hardware. This can freshen up even the most dated kitchen. For added pop, install a tile backsplash – there are many affordable, modern options that you can easily install yourself. If the budget allows, upgrade to stainless steel appliances. You can replace them over time or when an older appliance fails.

6) Patch walls and paint. If you recently removed or rearranged the artwork in your room, don’t leave those old nail holes and scuff marks visible. Patch and touch paint to keep your rooms looking fresh. Choose one or two neutral colors to paint for your entire house to create a spacious, cohesive feel.

7) The finishing touches … small details are important. Replace old, yellowing or cracked switch-plate covers with new ones. Likewise, swap out old brass doorknobs and hinges and replace them with something more up-to-date. Use a critical eye to make small, affordable updates throughout your house.

8 Sometimes you don’t realize that what’s making your home feel dated is outdoors … not indoors. Overgrown hedges, flower beds overgrown with weeds, or trees with a canopy so large it blocks light and views all need to be pruned and trimmed. If your home doesn’t provide ample area to plant flowers, add inexpensive pots to the porch or edge of sidewalk and fill them with flowers and lush greenery.

9) Make an impression with the front door.

Don’t overlook this easy place to make an inexpensive, eye-catching improvement to your home’s value. Replacing a front door can be a pricey update, but adding a fresh coat of paint and new door hardware may be all you need.

10) The “oh my ” factor. “What’s that? ” It’s whatever area of your home you continue to overlook or turn a blind eye to because it just doesn’t bother you (1950s wallpaper in a 1930s bungalow, a broken front step or cracked threshold). If you’re planning to sell, this might be the time to get the impartial advice of a friend who can tell you what’s drawing attention in your home for all the wrong reasons. Sometimes this might include a do-it-yourself improvement project you did tried with less than stellar results. Be prepared to make the necessary correction or to hire a professional. Don’t let these things drag down the value of your home.

Spend some time looking at your home with a critical eye and tackle projects in the way that makes the most sense for you in terms of time and budget. Whether you do one thing on the list or all 10, you will love discovering how even small improvements can maximize both the comfort and value of your home for years to come.