Real Estate Appraisal

Home Improvements That Increase Value

As a Real Estate investor, you always want to be looking for ways to not only increase the value of your primary residence, but also your investment properties. There are many low cost ways to make your home worth a lot more. Some homeowners end up making too many extensive upgrades or additions and they think they are going to recoup their investment. What people don’t realize is, it doesn’t matter how much you spend to make your home shine, the neighborhood is still going to set the value. Here are some tips that will help the investor increase the value of their home and still profit:

Two Tone Paint. By using colors that make your home feel warmer, use light or earthy tones. Sometimes just by painting one wall and the trim or doors a different color, you can make a difference for one room. In the past, most people just used white paint because buyers liked to use their imagination. Now color seems to be the tone of things and can make your home appear more cozy and warm.

Make your home squeaky-clean. People want to know that are moving into a clean home. Make sure walls and floors and bathrooms are as clean as you can get them. Also make sure the carpets are clean or replace them. Let lots of light in the home and make sure the windows are also clean. By letting light in your home, it makes the home look cleaner and larger.

Front Doors. The front door is the first thing people are going to see when they come in your home. Is it a nice door or does it look shabby? You may want to replace it, or even consider a nice storm door. It the door is decent, you may want to paint it an earth tone color to match the home.

Smells. Does the home have a funny odor when you walk it? Many people will not purchase a home just because it smells funny. The home may have been residence to smokers, or pets. If there have been puppies, chances are you may have to replace the carpets. Once odors get into the pads, it is pretty hard to get them out. Let the home air out a lot once you have it all cleaned. Once you have your open house, just before people come, bake some cookies in the oven.

Front Yard. Having a nice front yard does not necessarily improve the value; however, people coming to look at it will get an initial feel for the home by it. If the yard looks uncared for, they may be concerned about how well the home has been cared for.

Custom Lighting. Putting nice lighting in your home can also light up a room quite a bit, and give it more character.

Upgraded Bathroom Fixtures. Some of the fancier bathroom fixtures can really make your bathrooms look fancier.

Upgraded Door Knobs. Nice elegant doorknobs can also add that extra touch that the home may need. Believe it or not, many people notice doorknobs because they are always opening and closing doors when they inspect the home.

By Editor