LOOKING TO SELL? HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME.

The amount of equity in a home is determined by the value of your house minus the amount you owe on your mortgage or home loan. The more value you add to your property the more your equity increases. This can be done by making improvements to the property. The kind of improvements that you do and to which extent will all depend on your personal situation. However, if you are looking to add equity and make money off it, make sure you don’t overcapitalize on the expenses and leave yourself in more debt than intended. Here are some tips that could potentially add value to your home:

PAINTING YOUR HOUSE 

Painting your home can transform the overall look and feel of the property, especially those older properties that might have more hippy-retro feel,  transforming it with a fresh coat of white and neutral 21^st-century pallets can make all the difference. This can be quite an inexpensive way to add value to your property if you are prepared to put in the work. If your budget allows get professional painter to do the ceilings and higher areas. However, if you are doing it the DIY way, make sure you approach each room one day at a time. Another great way to add value would be to paint the façade of the property, which you could turn exposed brick into the modern 21^st century render look that is in trend and high demand at this day and age.

UPDATE FLOORING

Firstly, getting carpets cleaned can make a huge amount of difference to the look (and smell) of the property, there are many local professionals that offer these services at an affordable cost (Normally around $30 per room). However, if carpets or floorboards such as vinyl or wood planks have expired past their use- by date then no amount of cleaning is going to fix it. If planks or floorboards are presenting wear and tear and lifting from the ground, they can be deemed as un-structurally sound which can delay the settlement process of selling your home or even lose you the sale all together, which is why its best if you amend these issues beforehand. If floorboards are showing a little too much wear and tear, have them re-sanded, which opens lots of options as you could have them lime washed, stained, painted or simply resealed.

REVAMP THE FRONT EXTERIOR

Real estate agents talk about “curb appeal” for a reason because first impressions really do count and have a big impact on the sales value of your home. It can be the reason potential buyers decide to even look at your house in the first place. Affordable landscaping and other modest enhancements to the front of your exterior can help increase its value to both appraisers visiting your house and potential buyers. For example, adding a fence can be costly but might not add value, whereas fixing a fence that’s broken around the property could add the value back. The most appealing landscaped yards always find a balance by incorporating the right types of plants, having colourful flowers is a great way to make your home feel more welcoming and appealing. Some other great touches to add could be a nice table and chair set to sit on the porch or even consider using pavers to line pathways and have them interposed with round stones (a popular landscape design today.)

SIMPLE SWAPS

Small, but modern updates can elevate the whole appearance of a room. Simple things like swapping tap or handles can make all the difference.  Some other great tips would be to use online marketplaces to either source materials to do DIY or even source second-hand furniture or deco that could add a modern pop to the property. You could also hang larger mirrors in the bathroom, switch up shower curtains and deco in the bathroom, illuminate the bathroom or kitchen with inexpensive drop lights, or hang some modern or aesthetic art that compliments the wall colour.

REVITALISING YOUR OUTDOOR AREA

Australians often have an affinity for the great outdoors, so investing in your garden can significantly add value to your home. Some great ways to improve your garden are cutting back your overgrown gardens, whether that be Cutting back hedges and trees, removing fallen palm leaves and pulling out weeds or unwanted plants it will so help neaten up the look of your garden. After doing this it could be a great idea to add new vegetation especially areas that are now bare and if you wanted to go a step further adding garden beds, or other features like solar lighting, ponds and fountains can add interest to an otherwise average garden. Be careful when choosing these products through to ensure they don’t cost too much in the long run and are worth the investment.

RENOVATE THE KITCHEN AREA

The kitchen/dining area is essentially the heart of your home and the most used area of the house, where family and friends gather to socialise enjoy each other’s company and eat good food. Any improvement to your kitchen, no matter how big will add value to your property. Here are some examples:

1. Add an island bench. This is an instant value booster. Not only will a new island provide another work surface, but it will give you a serious storage boost.
2. Update your benchtop. The kitchen benchtop is one of the first things buyers see when they step inside your kitchen, so it’s well worth upgrading to a quality style. Hard-wearing laminate is one of the best benchtops options especially if you are on a budget as it can mimic the look of just about any material, such as marble or stone, which can be very costly.
3. Install hanging drop lights to create a feature piece of the kitchen and creates a contemporary feel with minimal outlay
4. Update the handles and tapware. They may seem insignificant, but these touches can make a big impact on your kitchen’s appearance and style. Especially if you choose Matt black tapware that has become popular since 2020.

Overall, there are many ways you can add value to your property without breaking the bank and loosing the equity you have built up on your property. No matter if it’s as small as a paint job, all the way to renovating your kitchen or remodelling your landscape, all these alterations are going to stand out to potential buyers and add value to your property.