7 Home Upgrades That are Most Likely to Pay Off

Have you decided to sell your home? Great! When it comes to real estate, selling it right means you get your property’s worth, and the buyers get the home they want. And while it’s not always easy, one of the many reasons you can increase the value of your home is by investing in some improvements that can make the property more appealing and eventually attract more buyers.

If you’re interested to learn more, here are some home improvements that you could use to your advantage and are most likely to pay off:

1. Repainting

Repainting the walls and some other parts of your home won’t cost much especially if you do it on your own, but it could make the most improvement in the overall vibe of your home. It can immediately transform your home’s interior and exterior into an upgraded look, depending on the style you prefer. We recommend choosing neutral palettes though to let your home décor pop and highlight the property’s space.

Speaking of budget, an average gallon of coat coverage paint costs around $35 to $38, and you can just add a few bucks to buy rollers and brushes. However, if you don’t have time to do it on your own, you can also hire laborers for a very minimal cost.

2. Minor Bathroom Remodeling

A bathroom is a place of comfort for many so improving this part of your makes so much sense. A minor bathroom remodeling usually consists of updating fixtures, toilets, counters, mirrors, and more, which could yield you a return of 70.1%. If your bathroom is small, one good tip is to replace old shower doors or remove them to add an illusion of space.

You might also want to future-proof your bathroom and make it universally accessible. This means widening doors for wheelchairs, lowering light switches, and putting support bars near the toilet. This could be attractive, especially for older homebuyers or those who have an older family member with them.

3. Kitchen Improvements

When purchasing a home, some homebuyers consider the kitchen a dealbreaker. Those who love to cook prefer a nice, spacious kitchen without shelling out so much, which is why kitchen renovations could be the most valuable home improvement that could justify your home’s price tag. Your kitchen renovation should highlight this part of the home’s functionality and accessibility, which could mean upgrading the cabinets, sink, faucet, and flooring.

A minor kitchen improvement could recoup around 81% of its cost in average resale value, while a major renovation will recoup about 53.5% of its price. Another simple kitchen upgrade that could increase your home’s worth is adding or replacing backsplash tiles. These could protect the wall behind your stove from heavy grease and cooking stains.

4. Window Replacement

 If you have old windows, you might want to consider replacing them to amp the property’s resale value. New windows can freshen up the appearance of your home and instantly give it that fresh, brand new look. You can even make it eco-friendly by choosing low-energy vinyl windows.

If you have drafty or inoperable windows, a replacement is necessary for it not to become a red flag during the buyer’s inspection. This might be on the pricier side, but it’s an excellent investment for your divestment. Replacing windows can cost around $10,000, depending on the number of windows in your home.

5. Switching Lights

Another way to future-proof the house you’re selling is to make it energy efficient. It could be a game-changer for potential buyers since you could help them cut costs on electricity – another great selling point for you. Change lighting to your home to LED lights to save around 15% of an average home’s electricity use, which translates to about $225 in energy cost per year. LEDs use up to 90% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

If you have the budget for it, go with high-quality products with the ENERGY STAR seal for your indoor and outdoor lighting. You can even add controls such as timers and dimmers to kick that home value up a notch. It’s a valuable and marketable asset in the long run for home sellers and buyers.

6. Garage Door Replacement

The garage may not be a huge factor for some, but for car lovers and space enthusiasts, it matters. For a sturdy garage door, opt for those built from durable materials like steel, wood composites, or aluminum. You can also choose a garage door that has high-performance additions like energy-saving glazing and insulation. Replacing your garage door could yield you about 98.3% in recouping costs. Now that’s money well spent. If your garage door isn’t that old or doesn’t require replacement, repainting it could also do the trick.

7. Adding Pieces of Art Everywhere

Paintings, vases, sculptures, and other pieces of art could add more personality to your home and increase its value, especially if they’re one of a kind. If you have some that you don’t want to bring to your new place or want to keep for yourself, you can leave them in the property you’re selling and let them add to your home’s worth.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to home improvements, it’s wise to keep track of what you add to make sure that you’d make the most of them while being transparent with your buyer. Be sure to do your own research to make the best improvements that add value to your home and assess which ones are most likely to be attractive to your target market. Selling your home can be a complex and emotional process, so doing everything within reason and budget is essential.

Meanwhile, if you don’t have the time or budget for upgrades and need to sell your home as soon as possible, you can reach out to a home investor like Shorefront Investments. We buy properties as they are, even without repairs, and close deals within one to two weeks. We provide cash offers often within 24 hours and process the paperwork on your behalf, without commissions. All you need to do is fill out a form, wait for us to reach out to you, we’ll schedule the viewing, and we’ll calculate the no obligation cash offer from there.