Considering what’s been going on in the world for the last several months, there are probably quite a few people who are considering selling their home and finding one that better suits their needs.
Maybe that’s a house that’s bigger than what you have now to give everyone space to spread out, or maybe it’s one that has a home office, or maybe it’s one that has a big backyard and space for kids to play, or maybe it’s one that away from a city center that just gives you more room to grow.
If that’s the case, you’re probably looking for the highest sales price possible on your current house, right? Ideally, you’d maximize your return on investment on your current house and put that money toward buying a house that checks every box on your list.
And while extensive renovations may significantly boost your home’s value, making over an entire house is expensive.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to maximize your home’s value without breaking the bank. Here, we’ll explore some do-it-yourself home improvement projects that should help push your sales price higher.
Let’s start inside the house.
Interior Home Projects
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Declutter your space:
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be restricted to the spring. There’s never a bad time to streamline your life and home, ridding yourself of items you no longer need or use. Take the items that still have usefulness and donate them to those who need them more than you do. Everything else can be thrown away. You’ll be surprised by how liberating it can be to rid yourself of some of those old things. Plus, a cleaner house will be more appealing to buyers since it will easier for them to imagine themselves in the space.
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A coat of paint goes a long way:
One way to make your home more appealing to buyers is to paint the rooms. Over time, your walls may be grungy or scratched up, or maybe the current paint color is out of date. Either way, patching up those small holes and scratches and adding a new coat of paint can go a long way to improving your home’s appeal to buyers. Choose either a light and bright color scheme or a neutral one that will appeal to plenty of different buyers.
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Modernize that hardware:
Changing out some of the hardware and fixtures in your house is an easy way to make a home look more current and modern. Swapping out older cabinet and drawer pulls, towel bars, mirrors, doorknobs, curtain rods, and other hardware items for modern ones will do wonders for your kitchen, bathrooms, etc. and make them look new and dare we say, fancy.
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Paint those cabinets:
While you’re changing out that hardware, painting your dated cabinets with a more modern color palette can also bring your kitchen or bathroom into this decade. One popular option for the kitchen is two different paint colors for the upper and lower cabinets. Consider pairing a bold color (but not too bold…you don’t want to scare anyone off) with a crisp white for a modern look.
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Bring your house to life:
One way to make your home feel more inviting and alive is to add some life into the equation, literally. Add some plants to your home to brighten up dark or dingy spaces. You don’t have to have a green thumb either. Just make sure you buy plants that are tough and don’t require a lot of attention. If you’re worried about keeping the plants alive or stricken with serious allergies, there are a quite a few solid artificial greenery options that look appealingly real.
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Use some elbow grease:
Cleaning things like grout or tile may not seem like the most exciting endeavors, but many buyers can be turned off by things like gross grout or dirty tile. Scrubbing down bathroom spaces like showers and bathtubs, or even refinishing a bathtub, can help turn your dated bathroom into the spa-like experience many buyers want.
But don’t ignore the exterior of your house. Curb appeal is key for attracting a home buyer. Let’s look at some projects you can do outside as well.
Exterior Home Projects
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Address the landscaping situation:
One way to make your home more appealing from the street is cleaning up or upgrading your landscaping. Remove any weeds you may have, address any bare grass patches with new seed or sod, trim your trees and bushes, and make sure your walkway is clean. You can also add in some color by incorporating some flowers into your existing landscaping.
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Give it the once-over with a power washer:
You’d be surprised how much dirt and dust your home has picked up over the years. Taking a power washer to the exterior of your house can take years off the property and make it look like new, especially if your home has a brick exterior. If you don’t have brick, make sure your siding will withstand a power washing as the last thing you want to do is damage your siding right before you try to sell your house. You can also power wash your patio, driveway, or any other concrete or brick surfaces.
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Clean those windows:
When was the last time you cleaned your windows on the outside? If you’re going to be power washing your brick or siding, don’t forget to address those windows. That process will have to be a little more hands-on than the siding though. You won’t want to clean your windows with a power washer. The last thing you want to be doing is cleaning up broken glass and replacing a window. Instead, focus on cleaning the windows by hand, which will only help the house’s curb appeal.
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Make your home smarter:
Smart home features are a big draw for many home buyers these days. Adding a doorbell camera and additional WIFI-connected cameras at strategic points around the house add a sense of security, which will make buyers feel safer about buying your home.
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Create a welcoming entrance:
You’d be surprised how much small things like a new doormat, some greenery, or a bench in the entryway can make your home more inviting to visitors. And that’s what prospective buyers are, right? You want them to feel welcome and comfortable when entering your home for a tour. Never forget that first impressions are important.
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Don’t ignore the backyard:
While the tendency may be to focus on the front of your house when selling it – it’s called curb appeal for a reason, right? – you shouldn’t overlook your backyard. While your yard likely isn’t visible from the street, you can bet that buyers will want to look at it during a home tour. All the things you did to your front yard like pulling weeds, addressing the grass, and cleaning up can be done for your backyard too. You can also clean and set up your patio to make it more appealing to buyers.
Each of these projects should help you sell your home for more. Then you can take that money and buy your next house. But don’t feel like you need to do all of them. Only take on what you can handle and what makes sense for your particular situation. But, remember this: every little bit helps.
And when you’re ready to buy your next house, New American Funding’s team of mortgage professionals is standing by, ready and willing to help you.