North Sound Valuation

How to Increase Your Home Value: Tips From an Appraiser

Whether you’re planning to sell your home soon or just want to increase its value for your own enjoyment, there are several steps you can take to boost its worth. Here are some tips and tricks for increasing your home’s value.

Keep up with maintenance and repairs

Increase home value - home repair

Regular maintenance and repairs are important to keep your home in good condition and prevent small problems from turning into bigger, more expensive issues. If you address issues promptly, like leaky faucets, cracked tiles, or peeling paint, you can prevent further damage and save yourself money in the long run.

Exterior maintenance is particularly valuable as it can provide a high return on investment. This includes pressure washing the exterior, repainting or re-staining the front door and exterior walls, and replacing or repairing damaged or missing roof shingles or siding. These upgrades can make a home look newer and more attractive, and can increase its value by up to 5%.

In addition to preventing further damage and improving curb appeal, regular maintenance can also increase energy efficiency, extend the lifespan of your home’s systems and components, and boost its market value. By keeping up with repairs and maintenance, you can help to maintain and increase your home’s value, making it more appealing to potential buyers.

Update the kitchen and bathrooms

How to Increase Home Value - New Kitchen

The kitchen and bathrooms are crucial rooms in a home and can greatly affect its value. If they look outdated, potential buyers might be turned off. To make them more modern and functional, you can update them with modern finishes like granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and updated lighting fixtures.

These upgrades can give your home a modern and appealing look that is more attractive to buyers and increase the perceived value of your home, potentially leading to a higher selling price and faster sale. Updating your kitchen and bathrooms can also lead to improved energy efficiency, which can save on energy costs and appeal to eco-conscious buyers. Generally, buyers give a lot of importance to the kitchen and bathrooms when making a decision, and by updating them, you can increase the resale value of your home and make it a more attractive investment for potential buyers.

Add curb appeal

How to Increase Home Value - Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is crucial when selling your home. An attractive and well-maintained exterior can create a positive first impression and increase the perceived value of your home. Homes with good curb appeal tend to attract more potential buyers, leading to a faster sale and potentially a higher selling price. In addition, a home with good curb appeal can enhance the overall appeal of the neighborhood, positively impacting the value of nearby homes as well.

Regular maintenance of your home’s exterior, such as painting and repairing siding, can also improve the longevity of the property, prevent costly repairs down the line, and increase the overall value of the home. By investing in the exterior of your home, such as by painting the front door, adding new landscaping, and keeping the yard tidy, you can boost your home’s marketability and potentially increase its value by up to 10%.

Increase energy efficiency

How to Increase Home Value - Solar Panels

Energy-efficient upgrades not only help reduce your carbon footprint and save money on energy bills, but they can also increase the value of your home. Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances or systems, such as installing a programmable thermostat, upgrading insulation, or adding solar panels, can improve a home’s energy efficiency and lower utility bills. In fact, these upgrades can increase a home’s value by up to 3%.

One of the most significant benefits of energy-efficient upgrades is lower energy bills. Potential buyers find a home that is cheaper to operate more attractive and may be willing to pay a higher selling price. Improved comfort is another advantage of energy-efficient upgrades. Sealing air leaks can reduce drafts and improve indoor temperature consistency, leading to increased comfort for residents and potential buyers.

Another benefit of energy-efficient upgrades is a reduced carbon footprint. Eco-conscious buyers see an energy-efficient home as a positive feature that may increase the perceived value of the home. Additionally, homes with high energy efficiency are becoming increasingly popular, and buyers are willing to pay more for a home that has lower energy costs. Therefore, energy-efficient upgrades can increase the resale value of your home.

Finally, government incentives are available for making energy-efficient upgrades to your home, such as tax credits or rebates. These incentives can help offset the costs of improvements and increase the value of your home. In conclusion, investing in energy-efficient upgrades not only benefits the environment but also improves the value of your home, making it a smart financial decision.

Create additional living space

How to Increase Home Value - Attic

If you’re looking to increase the value of your home, consider adding additional living space. Converting unused space into a finished basement, attic, or other functional room can provide a high return on investment, with estimates ranging from 50% to 80% or more of the project cost. The benefits of adding living space are numerous: it increases your home’s square footage, functionality, and marketability, making it more attractive to buyers. Additionally, homes with more living space typically have a higher resale value, giving you a better return on investment. Extra space also provides flexibility for future use and can increase the comfort and enjoyment of your home. With all these benefits, it’s clear that adding living space is a smart investment for homeowners.

Upgrade flooring

How to Increase Home Value - Flooring

Replacing old, worn-out flooring with hardwood or high-quality laminate can instantly improve the look and feel of a home and increase its value. Not only does updated flooring enhance the aesthetics of your home, it also increases functionality and comfort, while providing a competitive advantage in the market. In addition, new flooring is often seen as a valuable investment that can improve the overall quality of a home and increase its resale value. With the right type of flooring, you may even be able to improve the energy efficiency of your home, which can be an added selling point for potential buyers. Upgrading your flooring can provide a good return on investment, with estimates suggesting that it can increase a home’s value by up to 5%.

Add smart home features

How to Increase Home Value - Smart Thermostat

Smart home features are becoming more popular among homebuyers and can greatly increase the value of your home. Adding programmable thermostats, smart lighting, and security systems can provide numerous benefits to both homeowners and potential buyers. Estimates suggest that adding smart home features can increase home value by up to 5% or more. These benefits include increased energy efficiency, enhanced security, increased convenience, improved home automation, higher resale value, and a competitive advantage in the market. Upgrading to smart home features can not only make your home more appealing to potential buyers but also provide added comfort and convenience to your daily life.

Paint the interior

How to Increase Home Value - Painting

Adding a fresh coat of paint to the interior of a home can do wonders in terms of increasing its value. Here are some ways in which interior painting can impact home value: Firstly, a freshly painted home can dramatically improve the appearance of a room, making it look brighter, cleaner, and more modern, which can be appealing to potential buyers. Secondly, a well-painted home can make a positive first impression on potential buyers, making it more marketable and easier to sell. Additionally, a well-painted home can be perceived as being of higher quality and better maintained, which can increase the perceived value of the home.

Neutral colors are a great option as they appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. Painting can also be used to cover up imperfections, such as cracks or water stains, which can make the home appear well-maintained and well-cared for. Lastly, painting is a cost-effective way to update the look of a room or home compared to other renovation options, making it an attractive option for homeowners looking to increase the value of their home without breaking the bank.

Maximize natural light

How to Increase Home Value - Skylight

Maximizing natural light in your home can do more than just enhance the aesthetic appeal and livability of your space; it can also increase its value. There are several ways to maximize natural light in your home. One option is to add more windows. Installing larger windows, skylights, or even a glass door can significantly increase the amount of natural light that enters your space. Choosing lighter or sheer window treatments such as blinds or curtains can also allow more natural light to filter through. Another option is to use light-colored paint on walls and ceilings, which can help to reflect natural light throughout a room, creating a brighter and more inviting space. Trimming back trees or bushes outside of windows can also help to let more natural light into your home. Glass walls or doors can be used in areas like hallways or staircases to let more natural light into the interior of your home. Finally, for rooms without access to natural light, consider installing light tubes. They can be installed in a roof or wall and use reflective materials to bring natural light into a room. By maximizing natural light, homeowners can create a more comfortable, welcoming space while also potentially increasing their home’s value.

Create outdoor living space

How to Increase Home Value - Outdoor Living Space

If you’re considering making improvements to your home, creating an outdoor living space can be a smart investment. Not only can it enhance your quality of life, but it can also increase the value of your home. The extent of the increase in value will depend on factors such as your location and the local real estate market. In general, homes in areas with milder climates where outdoor living can be enjoyed for more months out of the year may see a greater impact on home value.

In areas with lots of rain, such as the Pacific Northwest, outdoor living spaces may not be as desirable as in sunnier regions. However, well-designed outdoor spaces that offer protection from the rain, such as covered patios or outdoor structures, can still be appealing to buyers and add value to a home. In sunny areas like the Southwest or Southern California, outdoor spaces can be a major selling point, especially if they feature amenities like pools, outdoor kitchens, and built-in seating areas.

Creating an outdoor living space can increase the usable square footage of your home, making it more appealing to potential buyers and increasing its perceived value. Additionally, it can provide a functional space for entertaining guests or relaxing outside, adding an extra benefit to your home. A well-designed outdoor living space can also greatly enhance your home’s curb appeal, making it more visually attractive to potential buyers.

The addition of an outdoor living space can increase the overall value of your home. The value of the space itself, along with the added functionality and aesthetic appeal, can result in an increased home value. As outdoor living spaces have become increasingly popular and sought-after by homebuyers, adding one to your home can effectively increase its resale value by appealing to a wider range of potential buyers. Furthermore, creating an outdoor living space can be a cost-effective way to improve the value of your home, as outdoor living spaces can be customized to fit any budget.

Final thoughts

Increasing the value of your home requires effort and investment, but the results can be well worth it. By following these tips and tricks, you can boost the value of your home and create a more enjoyable living space. Ultimately, the value added will depend on the local market, the quality and design, and the preferences of potential buyers. A professional appraiser or real estate agent with knowledge of the local market can provide more specific information on the value added in your particular area!