Increase the Value of Your Home in 2023 Before Selling

If you are preparing your home for sale, consider taking steps to increase the value of it before listing. You can make the most of your home sale by boosting its value with these tips. You can do this on a budget, without investing significant money in a renovation or home improvements, just allowing your home to put its best foot forward.

Clutter may not seem like it should affect a home's value; after all, you will be bringing all of the stuff with you when you move. However, your potential buyers will likely interpret clutter (even if subconsciously) as a sign that the home was not well-maintained. Clutter can also distract from the best features of the home, so that potential buyers do not notice what might be major selling points. When you leave too many personal belongings out during the showings, your home will feel much smaller and more crowded

⦁ Children's toys

⦁ Shoes, jackets, and bags filling the entryway

⦁ Pet toys and supplies

⦁ Stacks of paperwork or miscellaneous belongings on a counter or desk

⦁ Calendars, reminders, and kids' artwork on the refrigerator

⦁ Crowded closets or pantries

⦁ Anything that makes the hallways feel cramped, like hooks and baskets that store everyday belongings

⦁ Toiletries and other items left on bathroom counters

After decluttering, it will be easier to give your home a deep clean. Consider hiring professionals if you do not have a weekend to dedicate to the job, which should be more thorough than your regular house cleaning.

For this deep clean, go above and beyond your normal housekeeping, paying attention to often neglected parts of the home like:

⦁ Light switches

⦁ Baseboards

⦁ Kitchen appliances (inside and out)

⦁ Laundry room, including between and behind the washer and dryer

⦁ Inside closets, cabinets, and drawers

⦁ Light fixtures

⦁ Window coverings and ledges

⦁ Carpet (shampooing, not just vacuuming)

⦁ Tile grout

You likely already understand the importance of curb appeal. Make sure to address the entire exterior of the home to allow it to put its best foot forward. In addition to basic yard work, consider staging an outdoor seating area or adding landscape lighting along pathways. You can also add potted flowers or a new welcome mat.

Painting requires an investment of some time and money, but can go a long way toward attracting better offers. This goes for both interior and exterior painting, though exterior painting will cost a bit more and likely require you to hire professionals.

Take a look at the condition of the paint in the home and pay careful attention to rooms that have chipped paint or are a bold color that may not appeal to most potential buyers.

The garage door is a home renovation that has one of the highest ROIs, generally allowing sellers to recoup about 94% of what they invested. This upgrade will give the exterior of your home an updated look, and you can advertise the home improvement on your home's listing to attract more buyers.

A well lit home tends to sell better and for higher offers. Make sure all the bulbs in your home are fresh, and consider upgrading the lighting fixtures if any are outdated.

You can also optimize the natural light in the home by trimming any trees or plants that are blocking the windows, or by installing a solar tube to draw sunlight through the rafters into the home.

You do not need to invest in a whole bathroom remodel to update the space all make it more appealing. Simply upgrading the hardware and giving it a fresh coat of paint is a great way to make your home stand out.

Little details in the home can give the impression that it was either well maintained, or is in worse condition that it really is. Pay attention to these details to allow your home to make a great impression during open houses and showings, including:

⦁ Tighten door knobs and hardware

⦁ Replace any cracked or damaged light switches or outlet covers

⦁ Fill in any caulking that needs it

⦁ Address leaky faucets

⦁ Regrout tile

⦁ Stage unused rooms or spaces