57 Ways To Increase The Value Of Your Home In A Tough Market

For many Americans, their home is their most valuable asset and, unfortunately, for many that asset has been losing value over the last few years.  While real estate agents and mortgage lenders are trying to kick-start their business by selling this as a “buyer’s market”, sellers don’t have to take all this punishment laying down.

So, what can you do to maximize the return on the investment you have made in your home?  Or how can you keep the number of days your house is sitting on the market to a minimum? 

Here are 57 tips and ideas we have compiled to help you maximize the sale of your home in this extremely difficult housing market.

First things first…

1. Add appeal with more storage space in the kitchen, bathrooms, and garage.
2. Replace old, leaky faucets with new ones.
3. Replace old light bulbs with new, brighter bulbs.  Bonus points for choosing energy-efficient light bulbs and fixtures.
4. Give your cabinets some appeal with paint, refinishing, or even just cleaning them.
5. Clean your carpets.
6. Make sure all your latches and dead bolts are operating correctly.
7. Clean and/or replace the blades in your ceiling fans.
8. Make your furniture more appealing or cover stains with throws or pillows.
9. Have a plumber and electrician inspect your wiring and pipes before you get all the way to an issue during the buyer’s inspection that may derail your sale.
10. Keep those nooks and crannies in your house free of dust and cobwebs while you have it available for showings.
11. Degrease your oven and clean your stove tops.
12. Clean out your refrigerator.
13. Keep your home smelling great (especially those bathrooms!) with fresh air and scented candles.
14. Clean and replace the filtration of your air conditioner(s).
15. Rearrange your furniture and/or storage to create the sensation of large spaces if it is possible.
16. Adding mirrors creates the sensation of a bigger room.
17. Get rid of those litter box and other pet odors. 
18. Use plants and flowers to add color and scents around the house.
19. If you have to do upgrades or paint, use classic and neutral colors that won’t dissuade potential buyers.
20. Clean your fireplace and accentuate it.

Superficial touches…

21. Make sure your appliances are matching in color.
22. Replace your bathroom floors if they haven’t been updated.
23. Regrout and replace chipped tiles in your shower or bathtub.
24. Replace your toilet seats and make sure your toilets are operating perfectly. 
25. Make sure your bathroom fan is working.
26. Put in new towel rods and toilet paper holders.
27. Fresh paint on all your walls can make your rooms feel warmer or brighter while also killing odors.
28. Make sure your house defended against water and wind penetration. Look for broken roof tiles/shingles and blocked drainpipes.

Out with the old…

29. Replace your old countertops with granite or tile..
30. Add an island to your kitchen if there is space to do so.  If you already have one, look at options to make it bigger or more useful for storage.
31. Replace kitchen stoves, ranges, and microwaves for more energy efficient cooking and newer designs.
32. Replace that old bathtub or shower with contemporary fixtures, styles, and materials.
33. Increase bathroom storage, if possible.
34. Make your kitchen and bathroom not only environmentally-friendly, but also safe to use for children and the elderly.
35. Upgrade ot the latest market requirements in flooring material, from exotic hardwood to heated tiles.
36. Consider adding a Jacuzzi tub.  Buyers seem to seek these out, though if you ask most of your friends, it seems like nobody actually uses them.
37. Finish out any basement space into a gameroom, gym, or even a wine cellar.

Amazing new spaces…

38. Think about turning any half baths into full baths if room is available.
39. Can you turn your attic into an extra bedroom?
40. In states with great outdoor entertaining weather, patios and outside decks are great investments for the value of your home.

Be beautiful on the outside…

41. Landscaping, landscaping, landscaping…
42. Attend to those broken boards and paint your fence.
43. Paint, refinish, or simply clean your front door.
44. Make sure your doorbell works (and isn’t some idiotic chime)
45. Is your street address apparent…and maybe even a little stylish?
46. Update your mailbox or spruce up the old one.
47. Make sure your driveway doesn’t have any huge cracks or weeds growing up out of it.
48. Get rid of any dead plants, bushes, or shrubs. 
49. A nice welcome mat can set the tone.  Don’t buy one with a little saying that you think is funny, because chances are most everyone else will think is idiotic.
50. Wash all of your windows.
51. Clean the roof.
52. Prune tree branches that are close to your structure.
53. Outdoor lighting effects can make your home look appealing in the dark from the outside.

Some project management concerns…

54. Always get necessary permits and check local zoning laws to find out if you are allowed to remodel or make alterations.
55. If adding features that may create additional insurance costs or liability (like a pool), check with your insurance company and maybe your attorney.
56. You may want to run any construction or update planys by a professional appraiser and Realtor in
your area to check if all the changes you’ve chalked out are worth it in your market.
57. While all this updating can be exciting and seem like you are printing money on the investment’s return, be careful that you don’t exceed what a house can actually sell for in your neighborhood.