How to Increase the Value of Your Home without Remodelling

When you’re considering selling up your home, the last thing you probably want to do is pour money into a home you’re going to leave. Yet giving your home a makeover can not only increase its value but give you a quick sale. By making some small D.I.Y changes you can increase your return on investment without having to spend a fortune on remodelling.

The two rooms in your home which determine whether a buyer will commit or backout are the kitchen and bathroom, as these rooms normally cost the most to repair and replace. Other rooms may just need an aesthetic makeover but kitchens and bathrooms that are old and dingy will knock thousands off your asking price.

Kitchen

Starting with the kitchen just replace the front of older cabinets with new doors and replace the handles. This is a lot cheaper than buying a new fitted kitchen but it will look as though the whole kitchen has been updated. If you have dark wooden doors, paint them a lighter colour such as an oat or cream which will instantly uplift the room and make it look more spacious and airy. If your kitchen countertops are chipped or stained you can replace them with laminate countertops which are inexpensive and can be installed yourself.

When it comes to lighting remove any sunken spotlights which can make the room look dim and dingy. If the lights are low and dangly then replace these as they will make the room feel more closed in and smaller than it really is. Get rid of net curtains and heavy drapes in the kitchen and replace with a roller blind. This will encourage natural light to flood in and open up the kitchen space making it appear bigger.

Paint the walls a neutral colour and remove any clutter and ornaments. Your home has to look like a showroom as much as possible so that the potential buyer can envision themselves living in the property.

Bathroom

Keep the bathroom looking fresh and glistening by firstly giving it a deep clean. Clean in between tiles to keep the grout looking fresh and re-grout tiles which need it. Rather than changing all of the tiles, add tile stickers to random tiles. Don’t have towels, sponges or toiletries on show as the buyer wants to feel as though no one else has been there and it could be their space.

Remove old rugs and buy a new shower curtain to give the place a bit of sprucing. Light a cotton scented candle in there before buyers come round to give it a fresh clean feel.

Living Room

Give your living room a feeling of warmth and charm through your choice of heating. A fireplace can actually add value to your home as not many homes now have fireplaces they’re highly sought after. Fireplaces give the feeling of warmth and add character which people are naturally drawn to as they make the place feel cosy and homely. Potential buyers could see themselves curling up around the fireplace with their loved ones. Fireplaces giving people a feeling of warmth metaphorically and literally.

Statistics say that having a fireplace can actually give you an 11% return on investment. The National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB) survey found that 77% of homebuyers want a fireplace in a family room where they’ll spend a large amount of their time relaxing and entertaining.

If you’re unable to have a fireplace in your home, then you could incorporate traditional radiators into your home such as school or cast iron radiators which will add character and charm giving your home a usp. If you have a period property they are a great way of setting your home into context.