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Improving the Resale Value of Your Home

The one thing that every homeowner worries about at some stage is the resale value of their home. Whether you are looking to sell soon, or to ensure that the improvements that you make now will pay off in the future, there are some tricks that you can use to really improve the value of your home – and make it more comfortable to live in!

The Kitchen and Bathroom – Where You’ll Gain the Most Resale Value

These two rooms are the most important rooms in the house and therefore it is vital to focus on these when making any improvements to your home for resale. The kitchen is where many families congregate after a long day, and it is also the primary area for food preparation.

When it comes to kitchens, the more space the better. The last thing anybody wants is a cramped cooking space. Storage is also vitally important and this can be as simple as installing a few extra cupboards. If you plan to completely renovate the kitchen, be aware that it can be expensive and do not overcapitalise otherwise you may not get all the money back when you sell your home. The following tips may be helpful:

people like kitchens that are close to living and dining areas in the home
the kitchen should be close to the backyard for outdoor entertaining and should be relatively close to the home’s front door
ensure that all of the wiring and plumbing are in sound condition
if you are not completely renovating, ensure that the countertops, flooring, cupboards and drawers are in good condition
a new splashback can completely rejuvenate the kitchen

After the kitchen, the bathroom is probably the next most important area in the home. If your bathroom is impractical for your own use, then it is probably worthwhile undertaking a complete bathroom renovation, just so you can use the bathroom comfortably. Like the kitchen, you are likely to get the money back that you spend on renovations when you sell the home.

However, if you are just after some relatively cheap fixes, things such as a new sink or toilet seat can make a massive difference. Re-grouting the bathroom tiles and replacing the chipped tiles will also improve the look of the bathroom. Consider updating fittings such as tapware to make the bathroom look modern at a minimal cost.

Improve Resale through Landscaping

When it comes to a home’s resale value, the landscaping is very important as it creates the home’s “street appeal”. A house that looks appealing from the outside is far more likely to attract buyers than a home with a yard that looks neglected or even too high maintenance. A fairly failsafe plan is to landscape the yard in a low maintenance style that is visually appealing. Some tips to improve your home’s street appeal include:

laying fresh turf
planting a garden with flowering plants for instant appeal and ambience
if you have a site that is shaped irregularly, landscape it so that it appears to be more level or have a distinct rectangular or square shape – this will make it more desirable
keep it simple and avoid installing or planting anything that looks too overwhelming or gaudy
a swimming pool may look appealing but unless you’re sure that it will increase your resale value significantly, it may not actually be worthwhile spending the cash to get one put in
ensure that the exterior of the house looks fresh – use a fresh coat of paint where necessary

Fresh Carpet Will Attract Home Buyers

Simply by steam cleaning your carpets, you can update the home and make it feel fresher in an instant. If there are signs of wear and tear, it is easy to cover the more worn spots with rugs. Most estate agents will not suggest replacing the carpet completely unless it is truly awful.

Home Buyers Want Storage

How often have you gone to look at a home only to be turned off at the last second by a serious lack of storage space? Don’t let that happen in your home too. Many houses suffer from a lack of storage space but it can be as simple as installing some new cupboards or wardrobes into a conveniently shaped wall niche or re-designing the storage that you have so that every square inch of it is usable. There are many systems that can fit right into a wardrobe - to organise your wardrobe – such as baskets, racks, and so forth.

A Fresh Coat of Paint – An Easy Way to Appeal to Home Buyers

A simple coat of paint is one of the easiest ways to update your home, make it feel fresh, and have it appeal to home buyers. Whether your paint is looking tired and worn, or you have a customised colour theme throughout your home, returning your home to neutral colours will help buyers to see the possibilities in your home and it will act as a blank slate for the potential buyers to view themselves in your property.

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