As the weather starts to warm up and the days get longer, your motivation for those home improvement projects begin to roll in. Maybe it is just the pressure from your significant other who very politely has reminded you a million times of the growing to-do list. Or maybe you’re preparing to sell your home in the summer months and have a few tasks to complete first. If you fall into any of these categories, especially the “sell your home” category, keep reading to learn of a few ways you can add value to your home.
Curb Appeal
Start on the outside and work your way in. The outside of your house is what most people will see and trust us, chipped paint and trash in the yard will have all your nosy neighbors talking. And not in a good way! Trimming bushes and refreshing the mulch in your flower beds are two of the easiest ways to increase the curb appeal of your home. In addition to landscaping, fixing any visual or structural damage to your home and painting the house can help it catch a buyer’s eye.
Update Appliances, Add Smart Tech.
Especially in older homes, the appliances may be outdated and updating them is a fairly quick way to add value to a home. If you don’t want to spend an arm and leg on brand new, look at your local trading stores or consignment shops on great deals for used appliances. In addition to updating appliances, smart technology has taken the world by storm. Because of how efficient new technology is, and the convenience it adds to our lives, adding a few tech tricks around the house can help increase the value of the home as well.
Renovation Projects
For those of you wanting to jump into a project, try renovating some areas of your home. Now this may take some extra time depending on the extent of the remodel, but it can really bring value to an outdated home. Or, if you’re looking for a short commitment, here are our top, quick and easy renovation ideas:
- Baseboard upgrade, add paint, make them more of a statement – the sky is the limit!
- Frame, or update existing mirrors – no need to buy new, just add trim to current mirrors
- Paint a dated ceiling fan and update lighting fixtures – brass can make a statement, unless it’s everywhere!
- Add color to your ceiling – make a room pop by adding a splash above your head
- Paint the front door – technically this adds curb appeal, but why stop at just the front door?
- Create an accent wall – if a pop up above isn’t your thing consider adding an accent wall in the main suite or your living area
Build On to Your Home
Adding on to the original footprint can add LOTS of value to your home. A little more room can change the entire atmosphere of the house. Even just adding extra square footage to a preexisting room can really help. Before you set anything in stone or take out your sledgehammer, schedule an appointment with a contractor. Poorly constructed additions can lower the value of your home and cause future homeowners more headaches down the road. An experienced homeowner likely knows what to look for and a poorly planned project, or sloppy upgrade can hurt your resell potential.
Whether you’re simply wanting to do some updates or are trying to increase the value before you sell, now is as good a time as ever to start your projects. In fact, a Home Equity Line of Credit, or HELOC, may be exactly what you need to get started. Learn more at https://centralnational.com/mortgages/heloc.asp.
