Looking for ways to increase the value of your home? Cowan Building looks at the top ways you increase the sale appeal and value of your investment.

Before you decide to put your home on the market, there are some things to consider. For many homeowners ensuring they get the best price possible is very important. With the current instability around the housing market, increasing the value of your home has never been so important.

From simple fixes and a splash of paint to full renovations or adding additional rooms. Depending on your budget you can easily increase the sale amount of your existing home. The key is to look at the overall investment, how much will you increase the value, and whether you will make this back on auction day. 

Remember with all sales – first impressions count! So, start with the basics like general maintenance, and the all-important street appeal. A new front door and a good clean-up of the front yard is a good place to start. Declutter as much as possible, this is just as important outside as it is inside, so now is the time to organise a skip-bin and start removing any rubbish or unused garden items.

 Clutter makes spaces seem smaller and unkempt. A good spruce up of the outdoor spaces is important. Think revamping decking with a splash of decking oil, pruning trees, and enhancing the appeal of the space with a dash of colour and flowers.

Outdoor entertaining is also very appealing to buyers. Consider adding an outdoor eating and cooking space, this can increase your usable square meterage while adding a beautiful focal point to your garden space. 

#TopTip: paint paint paint! Think neutral and earthy colours that appeal to many tastes. Being big and bold can turn some buyers off so stick with traditional pallets that will appease the masses. 

Decluttering is by far the easiest and cheapest way to prepare your home for sale. Box up items and consider staging the home for open homes. Less is always best. It will make the space seem larger and lighter. Homebuyers will be attracted to an airy feel in the home. Also, consider making it appealing to the market. Have a small space? Make it into an office, or a baby nursery and dress the house to sell and for those all-important photos. You can also enlist the advice of a professional house dresser, who can advise the things you need to do before you put the house on the market. This may include new bedding, removing items and clutter, and a lick of paint.

Renovating to Sell 

If you have the budget, there are a few renovations that can certainly add extra value to your home. Kitchen revamps are always recommended particularly if your kitchen is outdated and not functional. Many older-style kitchens are not open and free-flowing and contain outdated aspects. A full renovation might not be on the cards, but even updating handles, and benchtops can certainly add value to the space. Also updating with energy-efficient appliances in the kitchen can add value.

Bathrooms are also top on the list. Good-sized easy-to-clean showers, additional toilets, and at least one bathtub are good selling points. Keeping smaller spaces light and bright with neutral colours or classic white-on-white will also keep a timeless and fresh element to the home.

Adding an additional room is also beneficial for selling and can transform your home and push it into the next tier of selling. Four-bedroom homes, compared to three-bedroom homes certainly have a good advantage for sale. Especially considering many homeowners would also like the option of a home office, or spare room if the space is not already allocated as a bedroom.

Five Ways to Increase The Value Of Your Home

• Consider the street appeal

• Paint paint paint

• Update to energy-efficient appliances

• Add an outdoor entertaining area

• New front door

From the very simple to the more complex you can easily ready your home for sale. 

Need advice? You know who to call.