If you’re someone who has made the decision to put your house on the market, then we’re sure there’s one thing that you want to come out of the sale: as much money as possible. However, before you can put a (realistic) price to on your home, it’s a good idea to hire an appraiser to give your house a full inspection. That will help you to come up with a price that is profitable but also fair; so that it will sell quickly.
If you’re curious to know about some of the things that you can do that will actually help you to increase your home’s value even before the appraiser arrives, we have provided you with five great ways that will help you to earn at least a few thousand dollars more below:
Do some professional landscaping. Before someone can even get into your house, they have to get past your front yard. And being that first impressions are important, it’s a good idea to do some professional landscaping. Get the lawn cut. Prune your trees and shrubs. Add some flowers and a water feature. Oh, and if your mailbox looks like it’s seen better days, it can’t hurt to purchase a new one of those as well. That will provide a good impression with your appraiser and prospective buyers too.
Create more space. As more people are becoming energy efficient, open floor plans are becoming more popular. That’s because they help the air to circulate better throughout your home which ultimately reduces your energy costs. If you have a lot of walls in your house, something that you can do to create more space is to knock out a wall, maybe between your kitchen and dining room or your living room and foyer. Just make sure before making this kind of decision that you consult with a professional contractor so that they can help you to make a choice that is best for the layout of your home.
Add more light. The more light there is in your home, the more your appraiser will take notice and the more chances you will have of getting offers on your house. So, add some motion-sensor lights for the outside of your home. Put a couple of solar tubes in your hallways. Have a skylight built into your kitchen or master bedroom. And don’t forget to put some LED light bulbs into all of your other light fixtures. It will illuminate the rooms in your house while keeping your energy costs low too.
Get some eco-friendly items. Homes that have eco-friendly upgrades are definitely an attention grabber. Although it would be ideal if you upgraded your kitchen with appliances that had the Energy Star label on them, if you’re on a tight budget, at least consider getting a low-flow showerhead and toilet as well as an automatic faucet for your bathroom. Those three things alone can save you as much as 30-40 percent annually on energy costs and will help to raise your property value, for sure.
Conduct an energy audit. No one wants to live in a house that has air or water leaks, missing pieces of insulation in the attic or appliances that are not up to par. And you can be sure that if you have any of these issues, an appraiser will catch it. The good news is that there is something that you can do, free of charge, to fix these issues (while also checking for mold which can ultimately eliminate stale air due to mold infestation). You can conduct an energy audit. The Daily Green is one website that will show you how. Just go to the site and put “DIY energy audit” in the search field. After you make the necessary repairs, your home will be ready for an appraiser to inspect. Plus, we’re sure that you will have done what was needed to raise your property value too.