Renovating your home to put it on the market comes with plenty of difficult decisions you’ll need to make. It’s best to know upfront what renovations are worth the time, effort, and cost involved so you can prioritize them accordingly. With less time and a smaller budget, the decisions become even more difficult. However, not every renovation needs to cost an arm and a leg or involve construction equipment to make your home more valuable. There are several simple home renovations that add value, and this list will help you choose which ones are right for you.
A Fresh Coat of Paint
One of the simplest ways to make your home more attractive to a potential buyer is to spruce up the main living areas with a nice new paint job. Whether you hire someone to do this or paint it yourself, a bright new wall color can be surprisingly effective at increasing the value of your home. If you are doing this step yourself, keep a few things in mind. Try not to go overboard with your color choice, as this may alienate potential buyers if they do not like the color. Sticking to neutral colors will help you more in the long run. Also, remember to mask off doorways and windows to keep paint lines clean and separate, and go for a couple of coats of paint to make sure the surface is even.
Outdoor Renovations
While this can, at first, seem intimidating, it does not require large construction equipment and digging up your whole yard. Simple outdoor renovations are one of the best things you can do for your home before putting it up for sale. Replacing dead plants and adding small gardens can make the curb appeal of your home much more attractive. Additions like decks and patios have very high return-on-investments as more and more people prefer to stay home for vacations. While you can add a deck or patio on your own, especially for the handier sort of person, it can be beneficial to hire outside help to make sure the deck or patio is up to code. Your house will not gain any value with a deck that is not safe to stand on.
Finish the Basement
In the chillier areas of the country, basements tend to be a more popular addition to a home. Even unfinished basements can add a little bit of value as it provides more heated floor space. However, finishing a basement with proper furniture, paint, and lighting is a great way to make a home feel more cohesive, thereby adding more value. Your basement is simply additional floor space that you do not need to spend money on like you would if you were expanding the house in any other way. The great thing about basements is that every buyer will possibly see a different use for it, allowing more space for them to get creative with their own design.
Brighten Up Your Rooms
Lighting can make all the difference in the world if designed correctly. The brighter a home is, the more attractive it will be. Consider updating your lighting fixtures to more modern varieties to create a more up-to-date look. Adding lighting to places that may not normally have it is a simple way to increase value without much extra cost. Places like the patio or deck, the basement, the stairwell, and even under kitchen cabinets are all areas that some people may overlook but can have a big impact if generously lit.
Roofing That Lasts
While roofing can seem like a large task, it also has a respectable return-on-investment, especially when considering the long-term ramifications. The costs of replacing damaged roofing can quickly skyrocket, so it is important to get out ahead of the pack by being proactive. Looking at more effective roofing methods, like metal roofing, can increase the long-term value of your home as it becomes one thing that a new buyer will not have to deal with. This also has the added benefit of making your home more energy-efficient, useful for you, and attractive to potential buyers. Distinctive Metal Roofing has the highest-quality metal roofing in PA, and we are happy to work with homeowners that understand its unique appeal.
Stick to Minor Remodels
Big, sweeping updates to important rooms like the kitchen or bathroom can quickly become out of control when it comes to time invested and costs associated. On the other hand, smaller renovations can have large impacts without breaking the bank. Replacing fixtures like cabinet doors and their handles is a small task that you can do yourself, but it also updates your kitchen’s entire look. Adding a backsplash, either to your kitchen or bathroom, is another simple renovation that really makes those rooms pop out at buyers.
Making It Smart
As advances in technology continue to march ever forward, it is slowly making its way into more and more of our home’s fixtures. Smart technology is becoming a very attractive offering to have in your home. These updates do not need to be anything overly complicated, either—something as simple as a doorbell that allows you to see who is at the door is just one device that increases the value of homes. Other devices that make your home smarter and more convenient are smart light fixtures controllable from your phone, water control valves that will automatically detect leaks and cut off water at the source, and smart electrical outlets that reduce electricity usage. Giving your home a brain is just one more way to really impress someone inspecting your home for resale.
Renovating your home to make it its best, resplendent self does not have to be a long or stressful undertaking. Hopefully, this list of simple home renovations that add value can help you get the most out of your home while you live there and when you are putting it up for sale. Many of these home renovations are possible to do on your own, with a few others that may need the help of professionals. Distinctive Metal Roofing is dedicated to helping in this endeavor. We hope that the next time you want to update your home to add in that extra little bit of value, we can be there to help.