Getting a home ready for sale is one of the most daunting tasks for a homeowner. If you are like most homeowners, you will have likely scoured Google reading articles about renovations that provide the best return. You will see the costs and then think “I will pass on that”. The truth is, you don’t have to go through full-on renovations in order to maximize the value of your home and our Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home will prepare you for just that!
Now, you might want to take the approach of saying “If someone wants my house, they can take it as is”, but you might not realize just how much harm that can be done to the sale of your home. Consider this, if you were to purchase a used car, would you buy it if it wasn’t polished and detailed on the inside? Unlikely, and if you did, you would want a discount! You can sell your home “as-is” while also doing some low-cost work that can add a very big return.
Our Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home will walk you through some of the most impactful things you can do before listing your home. This list has been compiled through years of listening to buyers as they view homes and if you are able to do even one of these things, you are sure to be setting yourself up for selling your home quickly! You can read the full list in detail below or watch the video!
1.Clean Your Kitchen
Coming in as the top priority (and cheapest) for the Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home is cleaning your kitchen. Most people consider a clean kitchen having the sinks empty, counters cleaned off, and making sure there are no rotting bananas in their fruit dish. While all of the aforementioned are important, buyers will commonly open your stove, your microwave, your cabinets, and your fridge. When the place you prepare and eat your food is truly clean, it is a definite sign that you are someone who maintains their home and is detail oriented about the little things.
2. Organize Your Cupboards
It isn’t just your silverware that can benefit from organization. Number two on the Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home is organizing your cupboards. This includes your pantry, your linen cupboards, your vanities, and your bedroom closets. You might not think of this as too big of a deal, but have you ever seen a linen closet with perfectly folded towels and sheets? Trust me, you would be impressed by how nice it looks. Organized cupboards are a sure fire way to have buyers feeling like you have a well kept home.
3. Clean Your Utility Room
Fact: 90% of utility rooms you enter will have a rusted out floor drain with some staining on the concrete. They will also likely have wires coming out of the electrical panel that look like a bad hair day, and sprinkle in a few cobwebs on the ceiling and you have yourself the average utility room in a house. A clean utility room makes our Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home because it is the actual “heart” of your home. It is where the mechanical items that keep your home running on a daily basis are located and if any room in the house deserves quality attention, this is it. When a buyer walks into a clean utility room, they know the pride of ownership that a homeowner has. They also know that if someone takes pride in this room, they don’t need to worry about any quirky or “quick fix” renovations that have been done in the house by the owner.
4. Clean Scuff Marks Off Your Walls
Most homeowners are told that painting is one of the best things you can do to add value to your house before listing it. While it is great, it is not ideal for most homeowners to do a complete paint job on their house and that is why cleaning scuff marks off your walls makes our Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home
Not only is this task remarkably inexpensive, it can be done within a few hours and the results can often look like you just painted your house! The truth is, a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and some good arm strength will have your house looking fresh within a few hours. You wouldn’t believe how many scuffs (as well as dirt) will come off your walls with a magic eraser and buyers will be able to walk through your house without any glaringly noticeable blemishes on your walls.
5. Steam Clean Your Carpets/Polish Your Floors
No, the best way to prepare your floors before listing isn’t by conveniently placing your furniture or area rugs to hide the issues on your floors….buyers are smarter than that! While listed as number 5 on our Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home, it is arguably the most valuable. Why? Because buyers often believe that floors are a huge expense and also think that one stain means carpets need to get changed.
Steam Cleaning carpets is extremely inexpensive and it is quite similar to vacuuming…except with water, soap, and a loud rolling bristle brush that cleans carpet fibres. You can rent a machine from Home Depot or there are many vendors that charge reasonable prices to clean carpets.
If you have hardwood floors, then you should polish them with a product like Bona’s Floor Revitalizer/Rejuvenator. Honestly, this is one of the most impressive products I have ever used and a couple of coats will make your hardwood floors look brand new. Having your floors shine in every room always makes a buyer happy and it genuinely enhances every other element in your home.
6. Landscape Your Yard
Coming in at number 6 of our Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home is landscaping your yard. Believe it or not, this is not only one of the easiest things you can do on the list, but as far as a dollar return on your investment, it is almost always the best. There is a huge value that buyers place on land value and outdoor living space, so having it showcased well is a must. And the best part? You can’t really have “high end” grass or a “designer lawn”…if it looks good, then it is seen as high quality in a buyer’s mind.
The best way to complete this task is by having well manicured flower beds/edged grass and filling them with black mulch (or another colour) as well as adding some basic plants and shrubs. The end result can make your backyard look amazing. Now, the front yard is equally as important so you want to make sure you take care of it as well, and feel free to add a few potted plants on your front porch to add even more curb appeal and a first impression on buyers.
7. Re-Seal Your Driveway
Sticking with the exterior of your home, number 7 on our Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home is to re-seal your driveway. While many buyers might not notice a driveway that hasn’t been re-sealed, 100% of them will notice one that has! A fresh black sealer on your driveway literally looks like you just redid it, and it honestly adds to the curb appeal of your home tenfold. Think about it….your driveway is truly the first impression a buyer has of your home and while it may be subliminal, it does set the tone for how the rest of their viewing can go.
You can pick up a 3 gallon jug of this product at most hardware stores and it doesn’t take much longer than a few hours with a couple of wobbly sodas on a hot summer day. The impact it can create for your home should not be underestimated.
8. Power Wash Your Exterior
If you are going to do one thing on the exterior of your home, number 8 on our Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home would probably be the best. While it might not add the most value, it enhances the curb appeal of your home more than anything else and that first impression will increase the value of the other elements of your home.
Similar to your driveway, most buyers won’t notice a walkway that has been walked on thousands of times or notice the dirt on your bricks or siding….but they DEFINITELY notice when it has been cleaned and looks like it is brand new. While this item might require the skill of a professional, a power washer (on a low setting) is a relatively easy device for the average person to use. With a solid day’s work invested, you will have the exterior of your home looking like it was just built and buyers will most definitely take notice.
9. Update Your Door Hardware
We are moving into items that will cost a little more money, but when comparing the cost to the net return, updating your door hardware still ranks on our Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home. Why? Because the impact of this simple update can literally modernize your house at every turn.
I can’t begin to tell you how many buyers comment on how much they like door handles or cabinet hardware when they are in a house and nothing says “ I haven’t done any updates to my house since the 90’s” like a round gold door knob. This is also another one of those items that you don’t need to be too handy to accomplish on your own.
Consider getting the modern matte-black door handles that are available in almost every hardware store or online at Amazon. A package of 5 will run about $50 and for privacy doors you can expect to spend $25-$30 for each.
10. Install New Light Fixtures
Finishing off our Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home is installing new light fixtures. This is number ten on the list because it is by far the most costly (depending on your fixtures) but as far as impact on modernising your house on a low budget, this can’t be beat. Buyers are drawn to great light fixtures and they are often the focal point of most rooms.
Consider swapping out the builder grade flush mount fixtures for a sleek new look that brings a fresh sense of style into your home. If you don’t want to break the bank here, your best bet is to focus on your washroom vanity light fixtures, dining room, and hallways first. A dated washroom can easily look 10 years younger simply by changing the light fixture.
This is one of the items that will likely require you to hire a professional. Most electricians have a three hour minimum and their rate for that time is anywhere from $250-$350, and then an additional $85 for every hour afterwards.
So there you have it, our Top 10 List of low-cost upgrades that add value to your home. Whether you take on one or all ten of these items, your home will thank you for it. The majority of the items on this list have an overall cost of under $100, and you can likely get the first six done for under $500.
We hope you enjoyed this post and if you would like to book a consultation with us to get a full analysis on what can be done to your home to add as much value as possible, you can contact us directly and we would be happy to have a look!