Increasing Your Home’s Value

Selling your home is an expensive business. So too is buying a replacement, especially if you are moving because you are looking to upsize or relocate to a more costly area. Therefore, it stands to reason that when you sell your current property, you want to get as much money as you can for it. One of the best ways of doing this is to increase the value of your home. 

You may think that adding value to your home will require a significant upfront investment, and in some cases, this is true. Nevertheless, there are also many smaller, less expensive ways to ramp up the value of your property. The important thing to remember is to choose upgrades that are a wise investment – the cost of implementing them should be less than the value that they add. Here are 5 ways to boost the value of your home. 

 

Attic or Cellar Conversion

If you have attic or cellar space that isn’t currently being used for anything other than rough storage, you could consider converting them into proper rooms. The options for using this space are endless, from turning your 4-bed into a 5-bed, to creating a study, a playroom, or workshop. Studies estimate that an attic or cellar conversion could add as much as 30% to the value of your home provided that the build cost per square meter is less than the price per meter of the area. Before you get started, you may need to check that you don’t need local area planning permission. 

 

Update Your Kitchen or Bathroom

An amazing kitchen or bathroom can be a real feature and major selling point for your home. These rooms are also considered to be some of the most valuable since they contain fixed furniture/appliances that would be costly to replace for someone who is just coming into your home. If your kitchen or bathroom is looking a little tired, revamping it could offer around a 50% return on your investment, as well as making your home appear much more desirable – something which could lead to higher offers and a prompt sale. 
 

Make Your Home Energy Efficient

An increasing number of home buyers are passionate about green living and reducing their carbon footprint. This means that homes that are energy efficient are much more desirable. There is an increasing number of ways in which this can be achieved, from adding more insulation and ensuring your windows and doors close properly and without gaps, to investing in smart home technologies like motion-detection lighting and smart thermostats. 

 

Make a Great First Impression

You only get one chance to make a first impression, and if you fail to make a good one, you could put potential buyers off from even entering your home for a viewing. Kerb appeal is essential, so make sure that the frontage of your property is clean, tidy, and appears well cared for. You could invest in a gardener to maximize the appeal of your lawn and any flowerbeds you have and make sure your front door is freshly painted with your house name or number visible from the road.

 

Make space

Perceived value is just as important as actual value when it comes to selling your home. One of the ways that you can increase the perceived value of your home is to create as much space as possible. Space sells and the more your property has, the more desirable your home will be to potential buyers. Remove any unnecessary furniture, clear clutter, and use bright lightbulbs to create the impression of as much space as you can. Don’t be tempted to throw items into storage cupboards and closets as if they are fixed, your potential buyers may want to look inside to check out space for themselves.
 

For more information about how to increase the value of your home, please contact our office:

Phyllis Cyphers, Realtor

Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty

DRE#01810454

C 714.323.1175

pcyphers@pacificsir.com