Eight ways to increase the value of your house

Whether you are planning on growing your family or preparing to downscale as your adult children leave home, there are clever ways to increase the value of your house before putting it on the market. Some home improvements can be costly but there are ways to get your house in show day shape without breaking the bank. The good news is that your return on investment when it comes to home improvements almost always increases the value of your home and makes your property more attractive to buyers.

Here are eight fail-safe tips for increasing the value of your home before putting it on the market:

Get advice from an estate agent

Estate agents are well versed in what makes a home sell faster and what turns prospective buyers away. They can take a critical look at your home and give you quick wins on how to make your home more attractive to buyers. They will also give you advice on how to set up for your show day. Your house is unique so getting a professional in to advise you is a good starting point. 

Give dull rooms a fresh coat of paint

Fresh paint on the interior and exterior of your home is probably one of the most cost-effective ways to increase the value of your home. There are also colours to avoid like bright blues and pinks, even some greens, while the softer more natural colours are more versatile – making it easier for the new owners to move their furniture in without worrying about colour clashes. Remember, dark colours make a space look smaller, and lighter colours make the space look bigger. If you have dark interior walls that you don’t want to paint, invest in some mirrors to help make the space look bigger.

Deep clean and declutter

A cluttered or untidy home is an instant turn off. There are companies that can come in and do a deep clean for you but you still need to take care of clutter. If you are serious about moving, now is a good time to go through your house, room by room and set aside what you want to give away, sell and keep. When it comes to selling your home, less is more. With less clutter you reveal more open space, which also shows that you are not trying to hide cracks or defects with clutter.

The kitchen and bathrooms sell a house

You can ask any real estate expert what the number one upgrade with the greatest return is, and the answer will be the kitchen. It is the central point of any home and probably the most used space. It must be functional and all the plugs and utilities must work, such as the stove, and the basin. Your bathrooms are also an important feature. Both your kitchen and bathrooms must be spotlessly clean. Dirt and grime can become embedded between tiles very quickly. It’s worth freshening it up with new grout. And remember, major bathroom remodels have an average return at resale of around 90%.

Invest in good security

Good security in South Africa is a major drawcard for buyers. It may cost you to get cameras installed, garden beams as well as an alarm and possibly electric fencing but these features are extremely important to any buyer. Even if you tell them that your area doesn’t have much crime, they will feel safer in a home that is secure – especially if they have children.

Energy-efficient features

Load shedding is getting everyone down but huge electricity bills are even more depressing. If you have LED lightbulbs installed throughout your house, a gas stove and gas geysers, your home will be a lot more attractive to prospective buyers. A fully functional solar system, though it is quite pricey to install, will be a huge drawcard.

Turn your garden into an oasis

A low maintenance, beautifully landscaped garden will turn the heads of any prospective buyers. And this doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg if you take time on the weekends to landscape and maintain your garden. This includes having a braai area, because as you know, us South Africans love nothing more than a braai with family and friends on the weekends!

Work on your curb appeal

You may think that the outside of your property is not that important. The truth is that if it is beautifully manicured with green grass and immaculate garden beds it is the prospective buyer’s first impression. And as you know, first impressions are lasting. Imagine seeing a beautiful curb, then walking through a magnificent garden. By the time you get to the house you are already sold! Don’t underestimate the power of the curb!