Best Home Improvements for Resale

If you’re getting ready to put your house on the market, you may be considering some renovations and upgrades to help increase your home’s value. There are so many things you could take on, but if you want improvements that will give you the best bang for your buck, consider the following projects.

Bathroom

If you do a small update to your bathroom, enough to make a tangible difference without overhauling the entire space, you could get your money back and then some in increased home value. Consider replacing things such as the tub, the tile surround, sink, toilet, fixtures, and maybe even the vanity. These upgrades will do great things for your home value, putting more cash in your pocket when that “for sale” sign turns to “sold.”

Kitchen

Another space where a minor renovation has big returns (and, often, even bigger returns than a full remodel), is the kitchen. Consider things like re-facing the cabinets, installing a new wall oven or range stove, laminate countertops, resilient flooring, and sinks/fixtures.

Landscaping

Curb appeal is very real. If the outside of your home could use some TLC, giving it the attention it deserves will help increase your home value in a way that reaps serious returns. Replace overgrown shrubbery and plants with more refined greenery and blooms. Mix colors, textures, and heights for an even more powerful effect, and create a charming focal point, like a walkway to your porch or front door or a fountain, or maybe even a porch swing if you’re feeling particularly Mayberry-ish.

Basement Remodel

Let’s face it – a LOT of homes have unfinished basements, and while that’s fine, there’s a lot a basement remodel can do for your home’s value. After all, it adds another attractive living space for potential buyers. Another benefit to choosing this home value-increasing project is that you’re spending a lot of time around the foundation of your home, forcing you to face any foundation problems that may exist there before you get too far into the selling process and realize there are major structural changes to be made. Consider adding things like an entertainment center, a wet bar, a bathroom, and some new flooring. Those things can transform something dark and dingy into the perfect party-hosting space, making it extremely attractive to buyers interested in having family and friends over often.

There are a lot of things you can do to get your home more market-ready and increase the value, thus increasing your potential asking price. Plus, if you’ve made improvements and they resonate especially well with even just a few potential buyers, you have created the opportunity to get even more than your asking price. Of course, before you go too crazy remodeling and upgrading, make sure you get your foundation inspected by a professional to ensure you’re dealing with a structurally sound home and don’t need to divert your renovation money toward necessary repairs.