If you’re thinking about selling your home now or in the future, you’re probably wondering what you can do to increase your home’s value. A lot of homeowners invest money into areas that they think will raise the value of the home but in reality, they continue to put their own personality into the house instead of neutralizing it. These are some of the ways we have seen clients successfully add value to their house at McInturff and Co.

Replace carpet with new flooring:

Is your carpet looking worn? Did you decide to install beige high-pile carpet years ago to help hide stains? Well, we are here to break it to you: carpet is out. It can often look worn and outdated, which is why it is being replaced by sleek, easy-to-clean, hard surface flooring. We recommend replacing most of the carpeting throughout a house before listing it on the market (or, giving it a professional cleaning at the very least). We have found that many buyers find carpet to be dirty, dated, and ultimately a “project.”

*Remember, carpet is completely okay in spaces like bedrooms so make sure you prioritize gathering spaces over those. For an alternative to carpet, we love easy-to-install LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) flooring for a look that is durable and timeless while also being much more cost-effective than traditional hardwood flooring. Keep in mind that you will get what you pay for in LVP products as far as durability and finish go, so make your final flooring decisions carefully!

Install new trim:

Trim has the ability to add personality and tons of charm to a room. Similarly, dirty or damaged trim can make a space look drab and dated. We believe that fresh trim can be the icing on the cake for a house and skipping over it is a mistake. If you are replacing your current trim, make sure the trim you choose matches the design theme of the rest of your house (craftsman, crown molding, colonial, etc.) Pro Tip: if you have an old historic home that has beautiful original trim work, we recommend refinishing it instead of replacing it. 

Paint the interior and exterior:

Nothing offers more return on investment than interior/exterior paint. It is a relatively inexpensive project that can give your home an entirely new feel. Fresh neutral interior paint acts as a blank canvas, helping future buyers envision themselves in the home. If the exterior has an outdated color that has been cracking slowly over time or just really needs some love, make sure you focus on repainting the exterior to increase its value. Curb appeal is real! Tackling exterior paint can feel like a huge project for potential buyers so help them address that up-front– you may be surprised with the higher offer that you receive!

Update appliances:

Whether it’s finally switching out your old coil stove or upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, this is a helpful way to increase the perceived value of your home. Upgrading appliances is not a huge expense in the grand-scheme of things, but it can give a potential buyer the perception of a well-taken care of home where all the details are attended to. Pro Tip: If you buy new appliances, make sure to keep the manufacturer warranties, so you can pass that along to the new homeowner!

Install a generator:

Funny enough, this is a great way to set your home apart from others. Today’s home buyers aren’t only looking for cosmetics but for homes that will last them through the years. You cannot put monetary value on the peace-of-mind someone would have with an in-home generator during the next storm or power outage. Bonus: Most home insurance companies even offer discounts to homeowners who purchase generators, as long as they can provide proof of installation.

Bonus: Install new hardware and light fixtures in high-traffic areas:

While it is proven that kitchen and bathroom spaces have the highest ROI for remodels, sometimes you simply don’t have enough time or funds available to do a full-scale remodel. If that’s the case, a great compromise is to replace the lighting fixtures and hardware in these high-traffic areas. Pull out those old wobbly ceiling fans, stained kitchen drawer pulls, tarnished sink faucets, and dated lights and replace them with timeless pieces that reflect the era and design of the home. Seriously, timeless sconces, brass-finished knobs, and fresh plumbing fixtures are some of our favorite ways to make a space stand apart.

These are our tried and true ways of increasing the value of your home. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and share the ways you have loved upgrading your home– we would love to hear from you!