6 Cheapest and Fastest Ways to Boost the Value of Your Property
If you're getting ready to put your home up for sale, or you simply want to boost its value in case you want to sell up, then you're probably looking for ways to maximise your return. This could be an issue if you only have a limited budget, however. You might have to reconsider major projects like remodelling your bathroom or major room conversions, but you should know that there are tons of simple and inexpensive ways to both increase your home's value and make it more attractive on the market. Let's take a look at some of the cheapest and fastest ways to boost the value of a property.
Add a Tree
Adding a tree to your property can be done for well under £1200 and it will be installed in less than a day. This is a great option if you need to sell the property fast and want to get the most bang for your buck. This is the kind of addition that will make your house instantly stand out in listings and increase its kerb appeal. And it’s one of the most sure-fire additions you can make.
It's estimated that planting a tree in your front garden could add as much as 7% to the value of your property, which is pretty impressive for such a quick modification. You have to make sure that you pick the right tree, however, and try to privilege varieties that are popular in the region. Try to pick varieties that are grown locally too as they will be less expensive.
Repaint or Replace Doors
People often underestimate the power of doors in home decoration. Changing internal doors could be all that it takes to instantly elevate the look of your home and make it look more luxurious. Pick interior doors with a nice finish and a complementary colour and add moulding if you want to tie the whole look together. These high-quality interior doors would be perfect for this and won’t set you back too much, so check out different options and see which ones would fit your decor.
Another thing you should consider is changing the front door. Painting it could be enough too. It has been estimated that changing the colour of the front door to blue could increase the value of your home by as much as £4000. Yes, you read that right. So, don't underestimate the power of colour psychology and ask your realtor which colours are the most popular in your area or appropriate for your house for the best results.
Consider Landscaping Improvements and Fixes
You should also check if there are any issues with your landscaping and fix them right away. You don't want people to see cracks in your driveway, so if you see any issues there, this will need to be a priority. If the driveway is still salvageable, then you can fill cracks and holes and have it resurfaced. But if it's very old and has some structural damage, you'll have no choice but to go for a full replacement.
If you want to elevate your landscaping on the cheap, then consider things like adding a container garden. Having a container garden on the facade is a great way to create instant kerb appeal and adding one to a garden can showcase its potential while still allowing visitors to build their own landscape.
Make Small Kitchen and Bathroom Modifications
The kitchen remains one of the most important rooms when trying to showcase a house or increase its value, so you have to check if you can make some modifications there. One of the easiest things you could do is change the fixtures on the cabinets or replace them altogether. If replacing all the cabinets is too expensive for you, then you could remove one only and replace it with a transparent door. You might be surprised by the visual impact this simple change can make, so don't overlook that option, and make sure that you pick the most important cabinet door for the modification.
Other things that can be done include adding a backsplash on your counter, changing light fixtures, and adding some storage space. Or you could get better appliances. This would allow you to increase the perceived value of the home during visits, and you'll be able to take them with you once you leave, so this is one of the investments that could give you the best returns at the end of the day.
The bathroom is another room that can make or break any sale and it will have a significant impact on how much you can ask for. Making major renovations there can be very expensive, however, and you’re never really sure if people are going to like them.
This is why going for simple modifications is much safer. Again, ask your realtor what the trends are at the moment, and consider doing things like replacing door fixtures and window treatments, as well as adding a new mirror or framing the one you have currently.
Repaint the Interior
Painting remains one of the most efficient ways to increase the value of a property on a budget and it can be done all on your own, so check if any rooms in your house would need a do-over and see if paint might do the trick.
Try to be creative too, but don't try to be too trendy. Trends change very fast when it comes to colour palettes, so stay away from unconventional colours and finishes. You can, however, do things like paint the walls a different colour than the ceiling, and even use things like decals in the case of a child's room.
Remove the Clutter
Having lots of stuff laying around is just a bad look if you’re trying to sell a property. It would be a good idea to look for a self-storage facility near you and see if you could tuck away some of your unneeded stuff there.
Try to see if you can strip down the interior decor of your house too. People will be willing to pay more for a house if they can imagine themselves living in it, so if you have a lot of very personal items, then they might not be as inclined to give you what you ask for. Anything that has to do with religion, for instance, should be removed. Anything that has to do with politics or could be viewed as culturally offensive could be an issue as well. The choice is up to you, but if you want to appeal to as wide an audience as possible, try to make the space as neutral as you can.
Install Some Decking
If there is one modification that everyone should consider if they want to instantly increase the value of their own, it is building a decking area. Most owners would love to have decking on their property, and, if yours doesn’t have any, some visitors may be disappointed. Decking is pretty reasonable too, and you could even build it yourself with moderate skills, so if you want a project that will improve your DIY skills and get a nice return on top of it, this is the one to try.
These are all things that you could do right now if you need to boost the value of your property quickly and on a budget. Look at them all in detail, and see which ones would work the best for your market and property.