Top 10 ‘value-add’ tips and tricks

Top Ten Tips to Add Value to Your Home When Selling

Welcome to Part 2 of our series on how to add value to your home. Last week we covered off a few guidelines to consider when you’re thinking of selling (you can read that blog post here), and this week we’ll look at the top 10 value-add tips and tricks. So, let’s start our way from the outside in.

  1. Street Appeal

We all know that first impressions count, and it’s no different when selling your home.

Depending on the age and condition of your home, an external makeover doesn’t have to break the bank; it can be as simple as cleaning the roof, tidying up the garden or giving the fence a new coat of paint. A well-maintained property will give buyers more confidence that the home has been well looked after and, according to Domain, improvements to the front of your home are among the biggest value-adds for your property.

Here’s a few more tips on improving your home’s street appeal:

  • Make your front door pop – paint your front door in a bold colour that accentuates and enhances the other exterior colours of your home.
  • Embrace symmetry – patterns of symmetry create focal points that can make your home look more put together. Place some potted plants on either side of your front door, or garage door.
  • Give your mailbox a makeover – ditch the dated mailbox and opt for something more stylish, but make sure it also complements your home’s exterior. While you’re at it, upgrade your house numbers too.
  • Crack out the gurney – it’s so satisfying seeing the build-up of dirt just wash off your driveway, pathways and walls – it will be more appealing for a potential buyer too.

  1. Entryway Revamp

The entryway is the first glimpse of your home’s interior when a potential buyer walks in. This is your chance to create a wow factor. Here are our top tips to revamp your entryway:

  • Let in the light – lighting provides a more welcoming atmosphere and creates ambience when your guests walk through the front door. Opt for natural light if possible – remove heavy curtains and blinds and replace with sheer blinds instead. An added skylight or a well-positioned mirror can also help to add extra natural light.
  • This is perfect spot for a feature pendant light or chandelier (just make sure your ceiling heights are suitable for such a fitting) or for a more subtle look, choose a table or floor lamp with a soft glow bulb.
  • De-clutter – this tip applies to the whole of your home when selling – less is definitely more!
  • Use furniture to stage your entryway if possible – a bookcase or side table will give you somewhere to set your keys and mail when you come inside.
  • If your entryway is too small for furniture, consider painting a feature wall or investing in some wall art to bring attention to the foyer, without adding clutter.

  1. Give your walls and ceilings some love

A new coat of paint on your walls and ceiling will go a long way to freshen up your home. It’s probably one of the most cost-effective things you can do. If you’re happy to do the painting yourself, here’s some tips:

  • Tackle one room at a time
  • Choose a warm, dry day to start
  • Move the furniture into the middle of the room
  • Paint your first coat in the morning, and you should be able to paint your second coat later in the day.
  • Consider using sugar soap to give the skirting boards, doors and frames a good clean – you might find they don’t need painting after they’ve been cleaned.
  • If you have some extra budget, consider getting in a professional to the ceilings – it’s hard going on your neck!

If you’re looking for any more tips on painting, preparation or colour selection, check out the Resene website. 

  1. Clean or change your flooring

Outdated flooring can decrease your home’s overall impact, while a new set of flooring can make your home feel more modern, luxurious and clean.

Carpet is becoming less popular outside of the bedroom. Instead you could opt for hardwood or tiled flooring, or even laminate timber flooring – there’s an endless range of laminates now on the market and they feel softer under foot than tiling and don’t let in the cold like some timber floors.

  1. Quick and easy Kitchen Fixes that won’t break the budget

The kitchen is the heart of the home and definitely worth investing in when you’re thinking of selling. Kitchens don’t normally require a full re-model to feel fresh again, instead you can follow these tips for a freshen up:

  • Fit new taps and fittings
  • A fresh coat of paint
  • New cupboards and countertops (check out the latest fromCaesarstone and Laminex.
  • Replace the splashback

Try not to overspend on your kitchen makeover – remember to keep your eye on the prize when it comes to renovating, or you might find yourself reaping only half of what you sow.

  1. A bathroom makeover

As with the kitchen renovations, it’s easy to overspend. However, depending on the condition of your bathroom(s), it’s not necessary to spend a fortune when you’re looking to add value:

  • Clean the grout in between the tiles (or replace the grout altogether)
  • Give the tiles a good clean with sugar soap, or consider re-tiling. You can even buy tile paint if you’re going the full DIY route
  • Fix any small repairs or chips in the bathtub or sink
  • Replacing taps and fittings can give an ordinary tired bathroom a more modern feel
  • Replacing the toilet gives the impression of cleanliness
  • Replace old light fixtures with more user-friendly and energy efficient models.

  1. Give your old light switches the flick

Have you noticed how standard white light switches can tend to yellow over time? You can give the whole house a lift by replacing these old switches. Pick up all the supplies from your local hardware or electrical store and get an electrician in to replace them. It’s not a costly exercise but can make your home feel more modern.

  1. Give you garden a good grooming

With all this rain we’ve been having on the Sunshine Coast lately, it’s a great time to get in and clean up the garden. If you find gaps in planting that need tending to, consider buying more established potted plants to fill the gaps, as you can then take them with you when you sell.

Don’t forget to get the gurney out again and clean down the pathways around the house and out the back. Clean the barbie and your outdoor furniture (maybe add some new outdoor cushions too!)

  1. Landscaping

Buyers love an attractively landscaped yard and it doesn’t cost a lot to do a fix and tidy. Consider the fact that an unkempt yard can indicate an unkempt home; dead plants, messy gardens or yards with poor lawn are a big turn-off.

An appealing yard will help sell the property because buyers can picture themselves spending time outside – and on the Sunshine Coast, who doesn’t want to be enjoying our magnificent weather!? Also consider garden lighting – some buyers will only be able to drive around at night – night lighting will create a modern, chic look for your garden.

 

  1. Keep your home clean

It’s a pretty simple one, but an important one – make sure you keep your home clean and well-maintained. Whether you’re thinking of selling or not, a clean home will go far in keeping your home maintained and looking good.

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Well there you have it. Our two part series on how to add value to your home when selling. If you’re looking to sell and considering building your dream home, come and have a chat with Beachside Construction. Likewise, if you’re thinking of renovating your home we can help with that too!

Good luck and we hope you sell your home for a great price you’re happy with.