Whether you’re thinking about selling your home in the next year, or you’re planning to refinance, there are plenty of things that you can do to improve the value of your property. Now that temperatures are dropping and we’re moving into the more temperate fall months, here are a few ways that you can take advantage of the pleasant weather to improve your home’s value this fall.
Focus on Curb Appeal
While it might not seem like it will have as much effect on the value of your home as some of the other items on this list, curb appeal is vital if you’re planning on selling your home. They say you only get one chance to make a first impression, and curb appeal is your property’s first impression on potential buyers. While we can’t say that no one will want to buy a house that looks run down and haunted, those properties only appeal to a very small subset of buyers. The better your home looks, the easier it will be to sell.
Simple things, like having a front door that stands out instead of blending with the home’s color scheme, can help make your home more appealing.
Remodel One Room at a Time
Remodeling your entire home is a costly proposition and one that might leave you in even more debt. Instead of tackling your house as a whole, if remodeling is in the cards do it one room at a time. Start with the popular rooms, like the kitchen or the bathroom, and work your way around. That way you’re not dumping a ton of money into projects if you’re going to turn around and sell the house.
While you likely won’t recover all of your costs, you can expect to recover between 50 and 83% of the costs as long as you’re smart about your expenses and don’t spend more than you have to.
Upgrade It’s Energy Efficiency
Having an old home doesn’t mean that you’re stuck with excessive energy bills or outdated add-ons that might damage the value of your property. It just gives you a place to start when you’re trying to increase your home’s value. Take a look at your home and see where you can improve its energy efficiency. This might mean replacing outdated appliances, replacing single-pane windows, or just installing insulation in the attic or crawlspace.
On average, the act of installing insulation in your attic can net you a 116.9% return on investment. Not only will you be improving the value of your home, but you’ll be reducing your monthly utility bills and shrinking your carbon footprint in the process.
Add a Deck or Other Outdoor Space
If you don’t already have an outdoor space attached to your homes, such as a deck or paved backyard grilling area, consider adding one to increase the value of the property. A decently sized deck will set you back anywhere from $1,200 to $10,000 or more, depending on the materials you choose and whether you’re paying a contractor or doing most of the work yourself.
A new deck or outdoor space can provide up to a 75% return on investment when you sell your home. Don’t splurge on things like pools or water features that require a lot of upkeep. Instead, go for something simple — a deck where you can barbeque or a fire pit surrounded by a circle of outdoor chairs where you can enjoy the cool fall weather and the kids can roast marshmallows or hot dogs over the fire.
Enjoy Your Hard Work
Once winter rolls around, it’s going to be more challenging to make any big changes to your home, especially if you need the help of a contractor. Autumn is the perfect time to start turning your home improvement projects into reality, especially if you’re concerned about increasing the value of your property. Take a good hard look at your home to see where you can make changes that will provide the highest return on investment, such as improving the energy efficiency of the house. If you’re planning to remodel the entire house, tackle it one room at a time to keep costs in check and prevent you from spending more than you’ll ever make back. Finally, just enjoy all of your hard work and all of the value that you’ve added to your home.
