Let’s be honest, if you’re preparing to sell your home you are hoping to receive top dollar for it. While most people don’t have the cash to update the flooring to top-of-the-line trendy wood floors, or to get the yard professionally landscaped before selling, there are simple updates you can do to increase the purchase price. Intrigued? Read on for some cheap ways to increase home value before putting it on the market.
Paint It
It takes a little bit of work, but a fresh coat of paint goes a long way in improving the perceived value of your home. If you haven’t painted since the last trend in paint colors (tan or brown walls anyone?) then giving them a refresh also makes your home look newer and up-to-date.
Painting the walls is very cost effective (calculate it here) and adds the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to increasing home value before putting your house on the market. Choose a simple neutral in a fresh white, greige, or gray and prospective home buyers will be able to easily see themselves living in the home as-is — no one likes to try to move AND repaint an entire house. Save them the trouble and earn the money back easily in the sale price of the home.
Bonus? Lighter shades of paint will make your space feel larger and sticking with neutrals will help your home appeal to a wider range of potential buyers. Take the time to paint and use drop cloths, you don’t want any expensive carpet replacing or cleaning issues before listing a home.
Curb Appeal
How is your front door? Could it use a fresh coat of paint or a quick sanding of the worn down frame? The front porch is the first thing a prospective buyer will see and sets the tone for the whole home tour. Don’t set the stage for a poor first impression with a crumbly porch or run down door. For some more cheap ways to increase home value in the front entry consider putting beautiful flower planters or an eye-catching wreath on the door. Little things that cost relatively little money can go a long way in creating a welcoming front entry that catches the eye.
Don’t forget to take in the whole curb appeal of the front yard. Make sure not to draw attention to cracks in the payment by allowing weeds to grow and don’t let buyers come to the house with overgrown unruly bushes. Take a moment to look at the front of your home through fresh eyes — what plants need pruning? Where can weeding make a difference? Add a little mulch, freshly mow the lawn — all of the little, inexpensive things you do add up to create a greater perceived value for your home.
Toss the Junk
Start with the yard — does your 20 year-old yard furniture add to the appeal of the backyard? Or detract from it? If you don’t plan on moving it with you, then it’s a good thought to get rid of it now because the cracked empty pots or the sagging patio furniture aren’t adding to the perceived value of your home.
Take a look inside the house. The same rule applies here: If it isn’t moving with you consider getting rid of the junk before you even list your home. Part of listing a home is creating an environment that potential home buyers can see themselves in and tossing old furniture and extra stuff that clutters up your home is a cheap way to increase the perceived value of your home.
Update Inexpensively
Not all updates have to come with a huge price tag. Could you update knobs on the cupboards? Switch out some outdated light fixtures? Scrutinize each room of the house and ask yourself what simple improvement would make a difference for that room. Another cheap fix would be to switch out old or broken blinds, replace a window screen, or update an old faucet fixture.
Pay careful attention to ways you can improve the kitchen area; this is a room of the house that can make or break a sale so it should get extra consideration when it comes to spending money on little updates.
Deep Clean It
Don’t underestimate the power of a professionally cleaned house. Not only will the house smell great (especially if you have pets), but the walls will be brighter, the carpets cleaner, and the bathrooms will likely look better than ever. A little bit of money for a professionally cleaned house shows your home in the best light possible for potential buyers or for the professional photos for online showings.
Beyond what a cleaning company will do, look at any part of the home that a traditional clean wouldn’t cover — could your garage use a trip to the dump? The backyard need some major TLC to organize the wood pile and clear debris? Deep clean your home to add sparkle and shine to increase home value before listing your home.
Add Details
Architectural details make your home stand out from the crowd. While a little more expensive than other solutions listed here, consider adding crown molding to your walls. Real molding is typically made from solid wood or plaster so the price can vary greatly, but if you’re willing to do a DIY then some pine molding and a little effort will make a big difference in the appearance of your home and increase home value.
In a market of cookie cutter houses having a high-end feature like crown molding sets your house apart from the crowd and stays in the mind of the buyers. If you have experience with this type of home renovation then consider adding these architectural details to add value to your home on a budget.
What if My Home Needs More Help?
If you’re in a situation where the repairs and problems with your house are more than a paint job and a deep clean can mask then you’ll have to fork out more money before listing your home because houses with big issues do not do well on the market traditionally.
Don’t have money for repairs? Talk to Gary with Gary Buys Houses, a reputable house buying company in Utah. Gary will buy a house in any condition and can give you a fair cash offer right away. Don’t waste your time painting and updating little things if you know the big things will stand in the way of a sale. Let Gary buy your house and close in as little as a week. Contact Gary today.
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