People across the world have been spending more time at home to practice self-isolation. This has given people an excellent opportunity to do some home improvements. Thankfully, home improvements are a great way to stay busy all while being in the safety of your own home. Although many home improvement projects can be very expensive, there are some that are affordable. Even better, there are many home improvements that may raise the value of your house.

Home Improvement Projects That May Raise Your Home’s Value

If you decide to take on some home improvement projects while you are spending time at home, there are some things to keep in mind. First, if you plan on staying in your home for a while, you should try to avoid design fads that are generally only popular for a few years. This is because the trend will likely be out of style by the time you sell your home. Second, you should ensure you stick to your city’s codes and do everything properly. This way, your home should pass inspection when it is time to sell it. Now that you know these two important considerations, you are ready to start your home improvements!

1. Paint

Painting your home is by far the most inexpensive home improvement that can add value to your home. If you have any rooms in your home with bold colors, it may steer buyers away. Also, with a modern paint color, you can tie your whole home together and make it look brand new. When repainting your home, consider neutral shades such as beige, gray, or off-white. These colors tend to have the best resale value and typically don’t steer buyers away.

If you do want some color on your walls, consider doing a light blue shade in the bathrooms. Or, consider doing a blue-gray color if it complements your home’s fixtures and cabinetry. Both of these shades are relatively neutral in color, but they do add a nice pop in the room the color is in. No matter which neutral shade you pick, repainting can produce more than a 109%¹ return on investment. So, pick a great shade that everyone can love.

2. Landscaping

Doing some basic landscaping while you are spending time at home can help your home’s value. The outside of your home is the first thing people will see when they view it. With that being said, drab curb appeal can immediately turn off potential buyers. However, neat and classy landscaping can lead to a great first impression on people. This can potentially cause multiple people to be interested in your home, which can lead to someone offering more than asking price.

Some inexpensive landscaping ideas are planting flowers, tearing out dead bushes, and trimming hedges. Although these may seem simple, it can add great curb appeal for your home. You can also go on Pinterest or look at a home magazine to get inspiration for your landscaping. Mimicking what you like about other homes is an excellent idea for planning your home’s landscaping improvements. Be careful, because landscaping can get very costly depending on the types of flowers or greenery you purchase.

3. Replace Dated Fixtures

Many homes still have brass fixtures in them. Unfortunately, brass fixtures can give the appearance that a home is very dated. However, replacing fixtures can be a relatively inexpensive home improvement when compared to the value it provides. Simply replacing dated brass can cost very little per fixture, while completely changing the appearance of a home.

Keep in mind that you do not have to replace your fixtures with luxury materials. While many newly built homes include black steel fixtures, you do not need to splurge on this. There are many affordable chrome and silver options that you can use in your home. See what is the most popular in your neighborhood and look for an inexpensive option at a home improvement store.

4. Clean and Fix Your Flooring

Another simple way to increase the value of your home is to clean or fix your flooring. Over many years of use, carpet can be the subject of many stains, tears, and smells. With that being said, if buyers see stained carpet, it can turn them away completely, or they will want significantly less for your home. This is why cleaning your carpet with a commercial-grade carpet cleaner is an excellent way to add value to your home. Also, fixing any tears you can in your carpet can be beneficial.

If you have tile flooring with cracks or chips, consider fixing that as well. With tile flooring, it can be relatively easy to replace a single tile, however without the right tools, you may need to hire a professional. Or, if you have cracked caulk, that should be fixed as well. Be sure you have the right shade of caulk, or else the two won’t match. This is always very obvious, especially for potential buyers.

5. Replace Your Lightbulbs

Lightbulbs are another way to stop your house from looking dark, dingy, or dated. Without bright, high-quality lighting, buyers may think your house is not attractive. With that being said, consider purchasing bright, LED light bulbs that mimic sunlight or are white in color. This will help your home to appear bright and cheery, which is always a great quality for a home to have. Additionally, great lighting can make your space appear bigger, which is always great when trying to sell your home. If you have any spaces in your home without great natural lighting, this is even more important. You don’t want to have to lower your home’s price because people are turned away due to bad lighting.

Doing Home Improvements

Hopefully the above tips help you decide which home improvement projects to take on. When it comes down to it, think about what would make you not want to purchase a home, and see if your house has any of those traits. Anything that can steer buyers away can decrease the value of your home, or result in no one wanting to purchase it. So, keep that in mind when improving your space.

 

¹ “Selling Your Home? These 7 Renovations Offer the Best Bang for Your Buck” Christy Bieber The Motley Fool, April 09, 2018