Increasing your home value may take effort but is essential in the long run. Everybody is looking to make money, be it the real estate agent or the investor or the home owner. The best way for achieving results for all concerned would be to add value to your home through home improvements. However, the key to adding value is not necessarily by incorporating mere aesthetic changes but through home additions and expansion of actual space such as building lofts, cellars, annexure as well as developing garden plots.
The curb appeal of a home is how attractive a house looks from a distance or the 'attraction quotient' while driving past it. From the paint job to the aesthetics to the proportions of the home are aspects all factored in, making it valuable and easier to sell. While as a homeowner you are proud to have maintained such a home with tremendous curb appeal, it remains lucrative even from the perspective of the real estate agent.
Listed below are some pointers to add value to your home:
Maintaining a clean and polished look- This is one of the most basic and essential requisites adding value to your home. Moreover, it is something you can do yourself with least expense. If you are unable to do this yourself, then hire a handyman or a professional at a small fee. Start with cleaning the driveway, clearing the clutter of the yard and removing unused items from the front of the house. The next step would be to keep the siding clean. Sweep off dirt from the walls starting from the eaves to the base. Cover all stone and brick walls, planters etc. with plastic sheeting so as not to spoil anything. Hose the walls with water and brush them off with a non-phosphate detergent.
Painting- The above mentioned point can be supplemented with a smart paint job. Although, a trifle expensive, it can bring life back into the house with a fresh, clean new look. You can even be innovative and paint only the trimmings in a bright color to liven it up instead of the whole exterior.
Green and Clean- Your front lawn is the key to how the rest of your house is likely to look. The impression created by a well maintained front yard with a neat carpet of grass will be the first and lasting one. Regular mowing, raking, edging, weeding, and watering will go a long way in preserving a great look. Pay special attention to landscaping. Prune trees and shrubs, accentuate the aesthetics by framing the house with tall as well as brightly colored flowering plants and keep ungainly items like garbage cans hidden away.
Decorative details should be visually attractive- All items like fences, arbors, mailboxes, front lights and porch furniture should be appealing to the mind and the eye immediately. It is these that add aesthetic value to your home. Moreover, the pathway leading to your house should be well paved and safe with no loose stones or bricks sticking out. These minute but important details led credence to your style and thought of planning and reflect your personality, whether it be simple or smart, casual or elegant.
Outdoor lighting - is another very effective ingredient in ensuring curb appeal of your house. The lighting should be bright and accentuate the ambience to make it more alluring.
Garages- Use the garage for what it is meant to do- housing your cars. Try not to use the garage as a shelter for unused items leading to keeping cars in the driveway. It clutters and spoils the view.
Remodeling and home additions with a little effort from the home owners will help in increasing home value in the long run. Typically home improvements consisting of home additions will not allow you to recover your investments in the short run or if you sell your house within a year. Revamping should be done with a long term view in mind. The longer you stay in a house, the more care you are likely to take and more money you are likely to make when the time to sell draws closer.
If you fancy a change in your garden but you are not sure what to do, why not consider a complete garden landscaping project? It will completely transform your garden and it will allow you to have great pleasure in something that you have created. It could even add a lot of value onto your home so it is certainly worth considering!
Giving a Little Face Lift
Sometimes it is the smaller things which make all of the difference and so if you do not have a lot of time, just doing a few bits and pieces will really make a difference. Things such as tidying up the garden by removing all weeds, rubbish and debris will give an instant change and raking the lawn to get rid of any leaves will also really help.
If you have a patio it could be worth thoroughly cleaning it or perhaps even replacing it if you do have the time and the money. Often stones do not cost very much so it could be worth purchasing different colors to really add that little something extra to the garden. If you also have a fence it would be a great idea to repaint it. Giving garden lights something a new lick of paint can often make all of the difference as it makes it look a lot cleaner and newer too. So, buy a can or two of paint and you will notice the difference instantly!
Add New Flowers
By adding new flowers to the garden you will also find that this makes a real difference. New colors and patterns will really brighten the garden up and make it look that little more homely. Always remember however that various flowers need different things. So, before you rush out and purchase a load, ensure that you know what they need and how much space they need too. It is important that you do not plant some flowers too close together otherwise they will die.
So, take care of the flowers that you do get and you will be rewarded with full blooms and plenty of color. It is always best to pick flowers which you think compliment your home and your personality. Everyone will love different flowers so fill your garden with all of your own personal favorites. You may even like to add a few shrubs too as they do really well and they are generally hardier than other plants are.