5 Home Improvements You’ll Love And Will Up Your Home’s Resale Value

Making improvements to your home is hands down a win-win situation. For one, they make your home look and feel more beautiful and make it more enjoyable to live in. And two, home improvements increase your home’s resale value as well. So whether you’re planning to sell your home soon or in the far future, making upgrades is always a good idea. Don’t know where to start? Below, we rounded up five home improvement ideas that pack a punch in terms of beauty and value, plus some home improvement tips to keep in mind.

Add a fresh coat a paint

You’d be impressed by how an improvement as simple as a new coat of paint can instantly liven up your home and make it feel fresh and modern again—this goes for both the interior and exterior. Painting is typically inexpensive, and you can even do it yourself and make a fun day out of it. Pro tip: Stick with neutral paint colors. They make the space feel big and airy, and they are more appealing to potential home buyers.

Up the curb appeal

First impressions are everything, so making an effort to elevate your home’s curb appeal is a worthy investment. For example, repair any cracks in the driveway. Get a shiny, new mailbox. Replace the windows or front door to give it a more modern touch. It’s the little details that make a big difference. And don’t forget about the landscaping. Pull out the weeds. Keep the grass neat and the shrubs manicured. Adding in more greenery can also add to the curb appeal. If you don’t have a green thumb, opt for easy-to-maintain plants, like succulents.

Get rid of clutter

It doesn’t matter if you’re planning to sell your home in a few months or a few years down the road, clutter makes your home feel stuffy and dated, which is not the ideal vibe to live in or one that buyers will be intrigued by in the future. Getting rid of things will make the space feel bigger and brighter. As organizer extraordinaire and author of the best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up Marie Kondo says, if it doesn’t bring you joy, it’s time to let it go. The result will be an edited and beautifully curated space you’ll love to live in and be proud to show off when it’s time to sell your home.

Make wow-worthy renovations

If you’re planning to stay in your home for many more years before selling it, a bigger renovation project could certainly add to the home’s resale value, and you’ll get to enjoy the luxe additions in the meantime. Think of wow-worthy projects that will set your home apart and entice home buyers, such as a custom walk-in closet in the master suite, a basement transformed into a cozy media room, an attic converted into an office, solar panels installed, or an additional bathroom. These renovations can be a bit more of an investment, but they typically have a high ROI when you sell.

Update the finishes

To keep your home improvement budget low but still increase your home’s resale value, updating finishes is a great way to go. They’re easy on the wallet and will modernize the space in just a few easy steps without needing to tear everything out and start from scratch. In the kitchen, for example, replace or resurface the cabinet doors and add new hardware. Give the bathroom some love by splurging on a new vanity and adding fancy light fixtures. In the main living areas, stain or refinish the hardwood floors to give them new life and add crown molding for a polished look.

Home improvement tips

Now that your home improvement creative juices are flowing, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you decide what improvements to make:

  • Don’t stress about making major changes. Let go of the pressure of making big improvements. Minor improvements can go a long way on their own, and there’s also value in maintaining the home’s original charm. Plus, many home buyers typically want to make their own renovations when they move in anyway.
  • Choose home improvements you love. If you’ve got your resale hat on, you may decide on improvements that you think potential buyers will love but aren’t necessarily your style. Always opt for upgrades you’ll personally enjoy, especially if you’ll be living in the home for years to come before selling.
  • Talk to a real estate agent. If you’re unsure about what improvements to make, chat with a trusted real estate agent. They’re usually privy to what types of improvements buyers are looking for at the moment. This will give you confidence that you’re spending your home improvement dollars the best way possible.
  • Stay on top of maintenance. Making improvements is great, but one of the most important things is that you stay on top of things that need caring for around your home. Don’t let them pile up. If you neglect them, small problems can become bigger problems in the future and cause more stress and money to fix when it’s time to sell.

More articles