10 easy ways to increase your home’s value

Boosting the value of your home doesn’t have to involve expensive extensions or a complete kitchen overhaul. Today we look at some simple changes that will set your home apart from others on the market – and get it sold for more.

First step: declutter.

You want the future owners to be able to picture their own belongings in the home and not be distracted by your mess. Sort through all your old clothes, books, magazines, trinkets and toys. Store everything you don’t need on a daily basis out of sight, or give unwanted items to charity.

Add some storage space.

Buyers love seeing extra space for storage. Add overhead racks and more shelving to your garage, build slide-out storage for kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and attach shelves or hooks to the back of wardrobe doors.

Create extra seating.

Having a second seating area can add instant value to your home. Look indoors for free space for a formal dining setting, or buy an outdoor table to create an additional area for entertaining.

Makeover the spare room.

Think about who the likely buyer will be and give your spare room a makeover according to their needs. For families, a children’s room or guest room would be ideal, while a home office is perfect for professionals.

Do some landscaping.

But not of the heavy duty variety. Some light landscaping and a few seasonal pot plants are enough to make the front entrance to your home more inviting.

Give it a fresh coat of paint.

Give yourself a weekend DIY project to paint the main bedroom, living room and kitchen, which are considered the most important rooms when showing the home to prospective buyers. Choose neutral colors and be consistent to maintain a fresh, smooth feeling throughout the property.

Look at the lighting.

Still got tacky dressing-room-style lights from the ‘80s framing your bathroom mirror? It’s definitely time for a change. Go for simple, modern fixtures and replace anything that feels dated or tasteless.

Hang mirrors in the hallway.

Some clever decorating with mirrors can make a narrow hall look much larger. Adding a full length mirror at the end of the hallway will open up the space.

Fix the floors.

Now’s the time to get rid of that old, stained carpet and update it with a modern look. Consider getting wooden floorboards or brand new carpet installed if it is within your budget. Otherwise hire a professional cleaner to get the floors looking as good as new.

Upgrade your kitchen.

Consider installing granite counters or, if money is limited, laminate countertops that have the look of stone. Replacing or repainting the cabinets are another easy way to update the look of your kitchen.