How to Increase Your Home's Value
I'm often asked what the best way is to get more money for a home when selling. My answer is usually the same, paint and cleaning. Have the home painted in a fresh neutral color by a professional, if it is not a talent you have, and make sure it is spic and span. If a house looks and smells fresh and clean (clean smelling, not a ton of air fresheners) and uncluttered, you will get the best return. Of course, if there are repairs that need to be addressed before listing, it is a good idea to take care of those as well. For instance, the shingles need to be replaced on your home and it costs you a few thousand dollars to have a company come in and re shingle for you or you do the job cheaper if you are able, it will make your home more sale-able. You won't get more money than the same house down the street that had their shingles done a few years ago, but it could prevent you from getting a lot less or worse being passed up on the sale. Buyers look at houses with a money list running. They mentally tally up the costs of buying which include repairs. Buyers will always insist on way more than the repair is worth in the offer or they will move onto a similar home that doesn't need these repairs. Try to walk through your home with a critical eye to spot what the buyer will see. I've often told people to pretend that their overly critical in-laws are coming to inspect the home before you list, what would they say? Another area to consider is the personal touches you have brought to the home, they do look beautiful, but you want buyers to see themselves in your home, not you. I've had several clients spend the showing looking at family photos and decor instead of the house and not too often have my nosy buyers offered on a house they didn't really look at. If you want to do some major projects before listing, below is a return on investment for some of these projects. They may not make you a ton of money, you will probably not get your full investment back, but it will make your home more sale-able. In the end, it just makes good sense to maintain the home while you are there, keep the repairs up and it will show when you sell.
Project (average cost recouped, national) according to Realtor Magazine:
Minor kitchen remodel (88%)
Bathroom remodel (85%)
Major kitchen remodel (81%)
Family room addition (80%)
Deck addition (77%)
Master suite (75%)
Attic bedroom (74%)
Siding replacement (73%)
Window replacement (69%)
Home office (55%)