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A home or real property is one of the best investments you can own. This is in part because in most cases, real property appreciates in value. However, the overall value of your home may depend on a wide range of other factors apart from its age; including size, design, curb appeal, functionality, maintenance requirements, and its overall upkeep condition, among others. Whether it’s the home that you currently reside in or it’s an old property you’ve just bought, there are various measures you can take to boost its market value. Even in your own home, it may reach a point where you need to use it as collateral for a loan or tap into your home equity, in which case the loan amount you manage to secure will depend on the current market value of your property.
In a nutshell, there’s a myriad of reasons why anyone would want to increase the value of their property. But the big question is, how exactly do you go about it? What are some of the things you can do to make your property more competitive in the real estate market? Ranging from simple updates to more sophisticated changes, here are some simple hacks and ways you can raise the value of your property.
1. Clean and Declutter
Especially if it’s on the market, one of the simplest and inexpensive things you can do to boost your property’s value is to keep it clean and free of clutter. A clean house that is free from unpleasant odors will obviously be more attractive in the eyes of investors and buyers alike. Consider performing an overhaul cleaning job every once in a while, targeting dirt, stains, mold, and junk buildup in various parts of your property, including the exterior. Adopting this routine will also make it easier for you when it’s time to sell your property.
2. Upgrade Your Roof
We all know how important the roof is, especially when it comes to safety, security, and comfort. Additionally, the roof is one of the things that buyers in real estate scrutinize before making their purchase decision. This is mainly because it’s the first features potential buyers notice when they lay their eyes on your property, even from miles away and for this reason, the roof is a major dictator of property value. But then again, the roof constantly receives a proper beating from various sources, including heat from the sun, rainfall, wind, storms, ice, dust, and so forth.
With time, the integrity of your roof could suffer, thus affecting your property’s value. And on this note, one of the ways to boost your property value is to repair or replace your roof. Kyle, Project Manager at Rapid Restore Roofing, says that to extend the lifespan of your roof, proper installation is a must, and maintenance is paramount. Depending on the current form of your property’s roof, minor updates such as repairing the gutters, installing siding, or sealing leaks, to major projects like replacing the entire roof can dramatically increase the value of your property.
3. Work On Your Landscaping
Well, after the roof, your landscaping is the other important factor that can be used to judge your property. There’s a common saying that what is seen from the outside reflects what’s on the inside. Consider a property with an untrimmed hedge, overgrown lawn, discolored mailbox, and walkways that are unattended to. Now, consider another property whose lawn is mowed, the hedge is well-trimmed, there are ornamental plants at the sides of the walkway, and the mailbox looks attended to. Which of these two properties would attract you more? Of course, it’s the second one, and these are landscaping tasks that won’t cost you much but will significantly increase your property value.
4. Renovate Your Kitchen and/or Bathroom
Well, the kitchen and the bathroom are two of the most essential rooms in a home. Making improvements in these rooms automatically increase the value of your property. Depending on your budget, your needs, and the overall look and feel of the room, what you can do in your bathroom or kitchen remodeling projecting may range from simple improvements such as reglazing cabinets, to adding new ones, installing new lighting fixtures, appliances, sinks, baths, faucets, flooring, and even wall art. Sometimes all you need is a few changes in the room’s layout. As far as your property’s value is concerned, you will never go wrong by professionally remodeling your bathroom or kitchen.
5. Consider Repainting
Sometimes all you need to bring your property back to life is a fresh coat of paint. Your property’s exterior could be dull, faded, stained, or outdated, and nothing is appealing about this in today’s real estate market. To make it attractive to a wide range of prospective buyers, try going for neutral colors, especially for your outdoors.
6. Changing or Upgrading Your Doors and Windows
Apart from ensuring security and functionality, your property’s windows and doors can go a long way in determining its worth on the market. To boost your property value, you could consider changing your doors and windows and upgrading them with versions that guarantee a higher security level while opening up space, allowing more natural light in, and improving your home’s overall aesthetics.
7. Add Energy-Efficiency Features
In this age and day, energy conservation is a global phenomenon. Everyone wants an energy-efficient home, which means that adding energy-efficient features can greatly work to your advantage as far as property value is concerned. Some common upgrades you can do to make your home or property more energy-efficient may include:
- Switching to energy-efficient windows
- Planting a green roof
- Adding enhanced attic insulation
- Installing energy-efficient HVAC system and appliances
- Switching to LED lighting
- Sealing cracks and spaces in your home
These are just a few of the many projects you can take up to improve energy efficiency and increase your property’s market value.
In summary, the value of your property will be determined by a wide array of factors. And in all honesty, there’s always something you can do to increase your property’s resale value. In addition to the ones above, for instance, you could update your flooring, install wallpaper, add smart-home features, install CCTV, and the list goes on and on. All in all, you will need to develop a workable plan, start with priority improvements and take it slow. Hopefully, you can borrow ideas from one of two of the hacks above!