One of the most important responsibilities as a homeowner is to continue to improve their home in order to add value. No matter the age of a home, there are various ways to improve on its value without having to break the bank. In fact, you don’t need an entire overhaul of the home to begin seeing value. The best approach to increasing the value of your property is to do it over time. Here are a few ways you can begin to accomplish this within your own home.

Keep It Maintained

Perhaps the easiest way to increase the value of your home is to make sure that nothing goes wrong in the first place. It is often the reality for most homeowners that their troubles begin not from faulty equipment but a lack of regular maintenance.

So, what areas exactly should you be concentrating on? Although you should make it a point to check every area of your home, it is recommended to pay special attention to the costly areas such as the plumbing. Plumbing issues often begin within your walls or the ground and may not show signs of distress until it’s too late.

You may also consider bringing in a home inspector once a year to have accurate data regarding the state of your home. This does come at a cost, but there is no comparison between paying an inspector a few hundred dollars and paying thousands for a plumbing repair job.

Focus on Small Improvements

Your home should never feel like a giant home improvement job. It is a place where you come to rest, relax, and build memories with your family. Thus, it is highly recommended to avoid constantly looking for big projects to work on.

If you simply focus on small improvements, you can snowball larger issues over time. For instance, you can begin to add more storage into your kitchen space. The kitchen is a big selling point and having ample storage space can no doubt place you ahead of other homes on the market. So, next time you’re getting a late-night snack, look around, find areas you can reasonably add storage areas to. These may include floating shelves to converting closets to pantries and everything in between.

Look at Other Homes in the Area

When real estate agents are looking to find homes for their clients, they don’t usually look at one home per block but the whole block itself. This is because they want to get the best deal possible for their clients, and it all starts by comparing your home to the rest of the neighborhood. So, if your home is priced higher than other homes on the block, but with fewer luxuries, you might be forced to lower your asking price. The best way to avoid this is to look at other homes in your block and attempt to come up to their standards or even above them if you have the time and budget.

Modernize Your Appliances

After the initial investment in a home, buyers will then turn their attention to necessary appliances such as the fridge and washing machine, to name a few. These, when purchased at the same time, can be quite an expensive investment and might even make the difference between having an offer or people walking away. So, in order to add value to your home and entice more people to consider purchasing, it is highly recommended to modernize your appliances over time. One year you may upgrade your washing machine, another you can add smaller appliances such as a modern microwave.

Don’t Overlook Your Landscape

If there is one place, you should consider concentrating most of your efforts on your home’s landscaping or “curb appeal.” Curb appeal is one of the top three selling points of a home alongside the kitchen and master bedroom. A large landscaping project can set you back thousands and thus not advised if you’re not planning to sell your home for some time. Instead, do small projects such as making sure that weeds are not growing out too large and ruining your driveway. You may also consider adding plants to your backyard. Plants in your backyard have many benefits beyond adding value to your property.

Keep Wood Materials Looking Fresh

Wooden materials are often the go-to choice for homeowners who are looking to add a splash of sophistication. However, wood can easily lose its color and strength if not taken care of properly. In addition, they are one of the most expensive parts to replace in a home. Thus, in order to not only increase your home’s value but maintain it, you should consider fixing small cracks, removing dirt and polishing wooden floors on a regular basis.

Add Technology to Your Home

The next wave of home buyers is going to be the millennial generation. As the generation who grew up partly with technology, it would be quite difficult and frustrating for them to go back. Thus, it is paramount that you install various forms of technology into your home. This can range from automatic garage doors to smart home technology that can utilize voice to turn on and off lights. Fortunately, many of these items are relatively affordable and thus provides you with the ability to add them over time with almost no obstacles.

Cut Energy Costs

What you spend each month on utilities may seem like a fixed price amount, but the reality is that energy companies will increase their prices within busier months such a summer. This is no doubt something that comes across the minds of potential buyers. Thus, you can actually add value to your home by making sure you take the time to find ways to cut energy costs around your home. This can be in the form of caulking windows or installing insulation on your garage door.

Have a Finished Basement

There was once a time when most homeowners needed a basement for storage only. However, since many are now downsizing the number of things they keep as well as the size of families, a finished basement can really increase the value of your home. Consider first simply painting your walls to make it feel more welcoming. You may then start to add other luxuries such as carpets little by little.

Making sure that your home’s value keeps increasing is your number one responsibility. However, this first begins by being proactive. Utilize the tips above to begin adding value to your home when the time to sell comes.

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