The housing market has been leaning in favor of sellers and it’s not likely to change any time soon. So if you’ve been thinking about selling your house, the time to do it is now.
Although homes have already seen a 5.6% increase in value over the past year, you could get even more by making a handful of simple design improvements. Here are ten tips to increase the value of your home for sale in Arizona.
1. Faux Stone Panels
The addition of faux stone panels as both interior and exterior renovations offers a simple and affordable project you can do on your own without having to hire any contractors. These add an element of realistic texture and can be used as a great focal point or accent wall in any part of the house.
2. Upgrade Appliances
If you want your home to sell sooner and at a higher price, start with appliances. Stainless steel appliances are in high demand among homebuyers.
According to a recent real estate report, you can increase the value of your home upwards of 7% simply by adding brand-new appliances such as a stove, refrigerator, and washer/dryer set.
3. Invest in Energy-Efficient Features
Homeowners are always looking for ways to reduce their monthly costs. This is a great selling point for buyers when they learn the house has energy-efficient features. Smart thermostats or a water-saving toilet can make a huge difference.
4. Improve Your Landscape
There’s a fine line when it comes to improving your landscape. Although curb appeal is vital, you don’t want to deter the buyer by suggesting the yard work on the property will be too complicated or time-consuming.
Simply add a few shrubs and bushes, mow your grass before an open house, or plant a tree, and you may improve the general look of the property without hard labor.
5. Always Improve the Kitchen First
The kitchen is a communal space and can easily persuade a buyer either to make an offer or pass altogether. According to NerdWallet, kitchen renovations can result in up to an 83% return on investment.
This is the space you should focus on first if you decide to do any renovations to increase the value of your home. You could upgrade the countertops or cabinets, and even take a wall down to convert a separate kitchen and living room into an open and shared space.
6. Upgrade Your Bathrooms Second
The next biggest selling point for buyers is the bathroom. Little things like tiling the floor and walls of the shower or replacing the sinks can make a huge difference. If it’s done right, you can receive upwards of a 50% return on a bathroom upgrade when you sell, depending on the local housing market.
7. Declutter and Depersonalize
This is the simplest and most affordable item on your renovation checklist. First appearances are huge: People ought to feel as if they can see themselves living in the space as soon as they walk in.
Large, bulky furniture or photos of your son’s graduation on the wall won’t allow visitors to exercise their imagination. Take the time to purge unnecessary items or get an early start to your packing by putting away any personal items.
8. Paint the Walls
A fresh coat of paint can go a long way toward making a room feel fresh and new. It’s also an affordable way to improve a space.
Make sure to use light, neutral hues. You can add an accent wall to add an extra splash of color.
Avoid using anything dark, because that can make the room feel smaller as well. On the other hand, bright, vibrant colors may not be as versatile.
Remember, the prospective buyer ought to be able to envision any room to his or her liking. Just because you’ve set up a room as an office doesn’t mean someone else won’t see it as a possible nursery.
9. Hire Professional Staging
Staging a home means you set up the furniture and decor to make the space appeal to as many possible buyers as possible. If you don’t have the knack for design, we strongly suggest working with a professional staging company.
They can provide all the furniture you can rent during the sale process, and set it up in a way that will make you the most money when the sale happens.
10. Improve the Lighting
Lighting is key when you’re trying to make a space feel larger, yet cozier. If you don’t get a lot of natural light, invest in quality light fixtures or stand-up lamps. Add LED lights to assure your visitors that they can save money on their monthly energy bills as well.
Summary
Increasing the value of your home might mean you’ll have to commit to an initial investment. If you don’t have the funds for these types of upgrades, just remind yourself that some renovations might not even require any expenditures. Just make sure the space is clean and free of clutter.
