5 Ways to Increase Your Home’s Value

If you intend to sell your home, or if you're even vaguely considering it, you'll naturally want the best possible price for it. While some factors are out of your control, such as location and state of the market, there are plenty of ways you can improve your home to increase its value. The type of improvements you should consider will depend on how long you're planning to stay in the home and how much you can afford to invest, but not every home improvement needs to be expensive.

 

Of course, there are good reasons to make home improvements beyond selling it. You'll also increase your personal enjoyment of your home, and improvements are one of many ways to build home equity. Here are some of the best projects worth considering to boost your home's value.

 

Add a Pool

 

Let's get the most expensive and difficult one out of the way first. Having a pool is a dream for many homeowners looking to turn their backyard into a personal paradise. If you're planning to stay in your home for a long period, hiring Sarasota pool builders can be a great investment for your family, and a pool can significantly increase home value under the right circumstances.

 

If you live in a warm climate, like Sarasota, and especially in an upscale neighborhood where pools are common, it shouldn't be hard to find a buyer interested in having a pool when the time comes. With custom pool designs, you can build the pool of your dreams with whatever water features and other extras you like. Just remember that it's a lifestyle investment as well since you'll be responsible for pool maintenance.

 

Improve Energy Efficiency

 

No one likes a big electric bill, and energy-efficient upgrades can make your home much more valuable. While you can always go big with new appliances or even solar panels, some small changes can make a noticeable difference as well. Switching over to LED lighting is a great start, as is replacing your insulation. Even getting replacement windows can greatly help with cutting down on heat loss during the winter. Double-paned windows are arguably the best window type since they offer more protection against the elements and reduce outside noise pollution.

 

Add Square Footage

 

Making your home bigger is one of the most tried-and-true ways to increase value. You can certainly do this by adding a room, and you may need to do this at some point if your family gets bigger. If you don't want to take on that project, you can always consider adding a deck or patio. A patio is only suited for even terrain, but they're cheaper to build and easier to maintain. You could likely have a glass patio door installed along with new windows as well. Decks are more expensive, but they offer the advantage of more space, higher resale value, and they can be built almost anywhere.

 

Boost Curb Appeal

The outside of your house makes the first impression on your potential buyers, and it needs to be a good one. A pool and deck can certainly help with this. Additionally, you'll want to keep up proper lawn care, and you might consider planting some bushes or flowers for some added exterior colors. A fresh coat of paint on your front door and new house numbers can make a noticeable impact as well. Your curb appeal is really one of the easiest things to improve, but it too often goes overlooked.

 

Add Smart Technology

 

As smart homes become more common and popular, adding tech definitely increases the appeal of your home even if it doesn't outright increase the value. This still makes your home easier to sell, and tech enthusiasts will be more likely to pay more for advanced features. If you're looking for the best smart home devices, safety features like smart carbon monoxide detectors, fire alarms, and security systems are great to start with. Smart lighting and thermostats are also extremely popular convenience features.

 

Before investing in an expensive project, consider how long you plan to stay in the home. It's not often that you'll recoup all of your investment from home improvements, so choose ones that will most likely improve your experience and add appeal for future buyers.