How to Increase the Price of Your Home Before Putting It Up for Sale

While you may be in a rush to sell your current home in order to move on to the next phase of your life, it’s very important to take a little extra time fixing up your property in an effort to maximize your sale price. Start by figuring out what your property is worth by hiring a professional appraiser or using an online estimate tool. Next, set a goal price that reflects your market so you can establish a budget for home projects based on what you can afford and what makes sense for the type of buyers attracted to your neighborhood — it can be helpful to consult your agent during this process. Maximize your efforts (and your ROI) with the following top realtor and industry expert-approved tasks.

Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations are King

The best way to increase your home value is by starting with the kitchen and bathroom. Some of the most valuable projects to consider include hardwood floors (or a DIY-friendly vinyl version if cost is an issue), painting the cabinets, updating hardware and faucets, installing granite or quartz countertops, replacing a dated backsplash, upgrading the lighting fixtures, and repainting. But it’s not worth going through that effort if you have dated appliances that won’t match the refreshed space. While there’s no need to go overboard (you won’t be able to recoup the costs), talk to your real estate agent to discuss the best updates to the kitchen for the neighborhood and price point.

In terms of the bathroom, keep the style simple, as anything too trendy can have stylistic depreciation in as little as five years. Upgrade the sink, shower, vanity, and toilet, and replace the tile if it’s dated or dingy. Don’t paint the walls stark white, as it’s known as a buyer turnoff and can decrease the value of your home.

Curb Appeal Counts

Whether buyers are looking at the exterior of your home in the listing’s photos or viewing it in person, curb appeal matters. Peeling paint and a yard that looks like a jungle won’t win over any potential buyers, so put some effort into making the exterior of your home shine by boosting its curb appeal. All it takes are a few simple touches, such as trimming shrubs and trees so they’re not blocking the home, adding flowers in the planters on the front porch, replacing the welcome mat, and repainting the front door. To make an even greater impact, power wash the outside of your house (you can rent equipment for this), upgrade lighting fixtures, freshen up the foundation and trim with a fresh coat of paint, add a fence, replace the mailbox, and make any necessary roof repairs.

Deep Cleaning Is Key

Potential buyers want a home that looks new, so one of the best ways to do that is by hiring a pro to deep clean your entire home. These seasoned experts know how to master stubborn spots such as the grout in the kitchen and bathroom, baseboards, walls, blinds, and ceiling fans — all of which will be looked at with a fine-tooth comb. This is a great investment for the return and typically costs anywhere from $25 – $50 per cleaner.

The Latest Tech Helps

The right app can help to facilitate a faster sale and help you determine the right asking price. It can even save you money by eliminating the need for hiring an agent. For example, SQFT allows you to list your home for free, and you’ll only need to pay a listing and transaction fee after selling the home. Most real estate apps are available for both iPhones and Androids, but you may need to upgrade your phone to meet compatibility requirements. If you’re long overdue for an upgrade, you may be able to trade in your old device for the latest model based on what features you want, how much you want to spend, and what’s getting the best reviews. If you’re going to be regularly using real estate apps, you may want to switch to a wireless plan with unlimited data to avoid costly overage charges.

What you’ll get back on your investment depends on the value of your house — and homes in your neighborhood —  the current state of the housing market where you live, how soon you sell after making improvements, and the quality of the work. It’s important not to rush through any projects, as your efforts can backfire. Even if you weren’t able to afford to make every upgrade on your list, make sure you properly stage your home on open house day to highlight the good features and conceal the less desirable ones.