Property is undoubtedly one of the most valuable assets that a person could own. However, if you’re planning on selling and settling somewhere different, you’re going to want to know how to make your house more valuable and appealing to sellers to make back on your investment.
Today we’ll be looking at the five best methods of adding value to your property – we never said it would be easy or inexpensive! But remember, good investments pay for themselves. Following our tips will certainly help you make your house more attractive to potential buyers.
Tip #1: Get a Room!
Converting your house’s cellar, loft, or garage can add anywhere from 15 to 30% value to your asking price. So, creating a new living space in any of these spaces can be very valuable. Loft conversions are very popular and add another bedroom so that you can appeal to more buyers.
Cellars are often turned into bedrooms or dens and these can be very popular among families with children or teenagers. Garages are excellent for storage spaces or ‘man caves’. Converting these spaces can cost as little or as much as you’re willing to pay, but a higher investment is sure to get you more valuable.
Tip #2: Spruce Up the Place
Redecorating is one of the most popular ways of making your house more valuable, according to the team at ourfamilyplace.com. In fact, they mention that it often doesn’t cost as much as the other options and it can also be really fun! If you enjoy painting and completing projects, get your thinking cap on and think up ways that you could make your house more interesting.
White walls are becoming more popular among buyers because they like a blank canvas to start off with. A deep red feature wall might appeal to you but it is not as sought after among sellers. So we would recommend giving the entire house a fresh coat of paint to hike up the value.
Walk around the property and see if there are any imperfections. Is there mold beginning to grow in the bathroom? Limescale around the appliances? Dirt around light sockets and the skirting boards can be easily missed by your household but unmistakable to potential buyers.
Clutter can also be very off-putting to buyers. While it might feel homey to you, a room that is too cluttered can be very busy and anxiety-inducing. If a potential buyer feels unsettled in your home they’ll be much less likely to put an offer in. Peaceful and organized rooms are much better for adding value to your property.
Tip #3: Stop the House Falling Down
Structural issues can be very expensive to fix and therefore will greatly decrease the value of your property. To ensure that your property is structurally sound you should enlist the help of a professional to check everything out for you. Alternatively, you could check it out for yourself.
You should ensure that the roof is sealed and leakproof, there are no structural cracks or collapsing floors, and that you eliminate any insect infestations and damp. Rotten wooden joists and timbers should also be replaced.
If you don’t want to spend too much money adding value to your property and only want to follow one of our tips – make it this one. No one is going to want to buy a house with structural defects and they will reduce the overall value of your house dramatically.
Tip #4: Don’t Neglect the Outside
If your house has a garden, keeping up with its management can be very appealing to potential buyers. Mow the lawn, trim the hedges, and keep any flowers watered sufficiently. Gardens add value to a property in themselves, but making sure that it’s clean and tidy will boost the value even higher.
Tip #5: Upgrades, People. Upgrades!
Upgrading the house can greatly improve the value of a property, and it can refer to a number of things. Upgrading the kitchen or bathroom appliances will be beneficial to you in the long run. Again, the more money you put into your upgrades the more you’re going to get in return.
You can also upgrade the heating system and electrical wiring. These should be checked periodically anyway, but upgrading them before selling attracts more buyers and therefore will increase the overall value.
Summary
We hope that you’ve found some valuable insights on how to increase the value of your house. Sometimes giving it a fresh coat of paint and giving the rooms a makeover is enough, but other times call for big investments such as fixing structural issues.