Originally published at Second Nature.
Increasing your home’s value can you maximize what you get in resale.
The purchase of a home is one of the most important investments you can make in your life. When looking for a place to live, you want somewhere that feels right for you, but you also want to make sure that its value will go up when it’s time to move elsewhere.
That’s why it’s important to increase the value of your home by any means possible. Thankfully, it’s not nearly as labor-intensive as it sounds. Here are six relatively simple and surprising ways you can increase your property’s value.
A Fresh Coat of Paint
Nothing makes a room shine like a new paint job. Simply painting your room its original color can make your room seem cleaner and newer. Though, depending on your walls, it might be worthwhile to consider a completely different shade, since some colors can actually decrease your value.
Keep Everything Clean
While a fresh coat of paint might make your house seem cleaner and more inviting, you know what else serves that purpose? Actually cleaning your property regularly. Dirt and grime can build up, creating headaches when it’s finally time to move on to your next home. So keep your home clean, and you’ll see your effort rewarded handsomely.
That means cleaning everything. Cleaning your windows, for example, brings in more light and brightens up the space. Making sure to replace your furnace’s filter regularly improves cleanliness and air quality. And, obviously, vacuuming and mopping on occasion can keep your floors spotless, impressing guests and potential buyers.
Embrace the Outdoors
Landscaping and general curb appeal matter greatly for homes on the market. A well-kempt, properly lit lawn can work wonders on the value of your property. A clean, crisp outdoors space helps establish your home as a warm, welcoming place, while a poorly maintained lawn comes off as dirty and disinviting.
Additionally, if you have space, a relatively simple renovation, such as adding a patio, can be an extremely worthwhile investment. Patios serve as a great place to take in sunny summer days, while also adding a great amount of value to your home.
The Right Address
Now you might not have much say in the matter, but certain numbers actually can help move your property once it hits the market. If your address has a 6, 8 or 9, it can be particularly valuable as they are lucky numbers in some cultures, such as Chinese culture. The number 8, in particular, can send your property values skyrocketing. On the inverse side, the number 4 is viewed as unlucky. So if your address happens to be 444…well, maybe don’t think too much about this particular tip.
Make Your Front Door Black
You might think that something as simple as having a front door that’s some shade of black wouldn’t make that much of a difference, but you’d be surprised. In fact, Zillow determined in 2018 that a black door, on average, can increase your housing value by over $6,200. This might very well be the easiest trick you can use in this entire article.
Smart Homes = Smart Money
Homebuyers love few things more than seeing a home that is wired with the latest in smart tech. Smart thermostats, smart smoke detectors, smart lights and smart locks are just a handful of ways you can bring your home into the 21st century, which in turn will make your house much more attractive to a 21st century buyer.
There are, naturally, many other ways to make sure your house is worth as much as possible, but if you stick with these simple steps you’ll find your home will be a worthwhile investment whenever you are ready to recoup.