Five things you can do to improve the value of your home

A year ago, after weighing the pros and cons of buying versus renting during a transitional stage of life, we opted for a 10-year-old house in an established neighborhood with decent property values. After seeing prices drop over the last twelve months, we may have called the wrong side of the coin. So now the question is, how do we increase the value of this house without investing too much? This is not our forever home, so we stick to a five-pronged conservative approach.

make it pretty

We have chosen to spend the most money on beautification. Attractive, well-designed landscaping can add 15% to home value; experts suggest that a return on investment of 100-200% can be expected. Mature trees, shrubs, flower borders, and well-placed herb and vegetable gardens all add to the curb appeal. If it looks good on the outside, potential buyers are more likely to take a look inside, so it’s worth every dollar we spend.

keep it efficient

We were concerned about heating and cooling costs for a two-story house, especially after looking at the utility bills from the previous owner. To save money, we’ve blown extra insulation into the attic, added 3M tinted film to the west-facing windows, and installed programmable thermostats. The savings were immediate.

Keep going

Taking care of the little things increases the value by 1% per year. Furnace filters are replaced monthly, gutters are cleaned before the rainy season, driveway and decks are pressure washed annually. Leaky faucets repaired. The holes are patched. Carpets are cleaned and baseboards are cleaned. Minor repairs are made as needed rather than ignored. Keeping maintenance records provides buyers with proof of owner care: that this is a home that has been appraised, thus a value home.

quality over quantity

Since we are not here long term, any remodeling would be a waste of money. So we will opt for short-term fixes. Replacing cabinet handles, switch plates, and door handles are relatively inexpensive weekend projects. Bathroom vanity lighting, dining room ceiling pendants, fluorescent lights under kitchen cabinets, they’re all budget-conscious DIY projects. Walls can be cleaned to remove scuffs, dents repaired, and then coated with today’s favorite neutrals. We choose quality hardware and accessories over quantity and make sure the job gets done right.

select and conquer

Every year, we walk through the house and garage, separating the items we haven’t used in a year into three piles: give away, save, or throw away. After clearing out clutter, cabinets, closets, and cubbies are straightened out and organized. Those things of value stay and each item has its place. The living and storage spaces reflect order instead of chaos, thus creating a more harmonious environment.

In the long run, it’s not just about improving the value of our home. It’s about making this house a home, even if our time here is short.