Wondering how to increase your home selling price? Here are 10 ways homes in Houston, Texas list and sell for more.
According to the Association of Realtors located in Houston, high-end homes are purchased at a rapid rate. In April, single-family home sales dramatically increased compared to April 2020. With so many purchasing deals available, many people are wondering how they can improve value for all types of housing.
1. Stage and market your home for buyers
Charm prospective buyers. Every property owner knows the charm of their own home. Unfortunately, while it may be obvious to them, potential buyers may need help. Sprucing up a house does not necessarily indicate costly repairs. Decorating can play a major role in increasing the value of a home.
Home staging is one of the oldest practices in the real estate business. Staging a home simply means that each room should demonstrate its full potential. Rugs, lighting, and even rental furniture can be used to highlight the home. If a house or apartment is located on a downward slope, adding extra lamps and corner lighting may brighten the rooms. This is also true with flooring. Dark carpeting can often make a room look dim or dirty.
Over 80% of sellers’ agents have found that staging a home significantly increased home value. The main rooms that were necessary to stage included the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom.
2. Repair and Replace What’s Important
Repairs are a necessary part of owning a home. One financial planner recommends saving at least 1% of a home’s value every year just for repairs. Whether the property includes a house, apartment, or condo, there are certain issues that need to be fixed. If critical housing components are not well-maintained, this means replacements are absolutely necessary when selling the home.
The furnace and water heater should be replaced before selling a home. This simple act will benefit everyone involved. Many buyers will investigate critical issues like the furnace or the roof. If these are not up to their standards or would not pass inspection, this can be seen as an unnecessary hassle.
By using specialized technicians to inspect certain critical components of the house, sellers can know what is worth repairing and what needs to be replaced. Certain non-essential improvements can also be made. These can include putting in hardwood floors or vinyl siding.
3. Lower Your Energy Costs
Create an energy efficient home. Energy efficient homes save money and help the environment. There are a few different ways to optimize a home for energy efficiency and certain methods require little money.
Double-paned windows and enhanced insulation will cut down on the amount of heat or air conditioning that is needed. By adding thickness to the walls and glass, outside air will have difficulty escaping through cracks or flimsy structure.
Other ways to create an energy efficient home include LED lighting and solar panels. Solar panels have the potential to greatly increase the value of a home, but they are also costly to install. Using solar energy is a good idea if the value is to be increased over a several-year stretch.
4. Add a Fresh, Shiny Coat of Paint
Many property owners do not realize their house could benefit from a fresh coat of paint. This is especially true for smoky rooms or ceilings with water stains. Ideally, the existing coat of paint would be completely stripped before adding primer and then paint.
Lighter colors can give the illusion of a larger room. A pale yellow or blue adds character without making a space look crowded. Darker colors like purple or forest green are perfect for larger rooms that need to feel cozy. Neutral colors frequently appeal to buyers of all ages.
Professional painting is usually recommended. By hiring someone with experience, a painter can make sure the edges are smooth and the walls are flat. Paint can be purchased online or in a paint shop where several colors can be mixed together.
5. Create a lush environment around your home
Try landscaping. A property usually consists of more than just the home. By retouching the outside area, a house can look more like a home. Landscaping can vary greatly depending on the size of property and budget.
Landscaping can cost over $1000 depending on the lawn. While fountains and fish ponds attract lots of attention, a more subtle form of landscaping works too. Gardening and a freshly manicured lawn can do wonders for the outside of a property. In addition to flowers, shrubbery and trees can give much-needed privacy.
Trees are a wise investment even if a home is not for sale. By the time a homeowner is ready to think about selling, the trees will likely be fully developed. Before planting a tree, knowing how long it takes to reach full height is important.
6. Freshen up the air in your home
Improve air quality. Poor air quality is a deterrent for most potential buyers. Lingering smoke or toxic chemicals can leave a long-lasting odor. While regular cleaning will get rid of most smells, using an air filtration system can also help.
A quality air conditioner or HVAC system can keep allergens from entering the house. It can also remove stale air from inside the home. For homeowners who already have an HVAC system, keeping up with maintenance repairs is essential.
An HVAC system is usually located directly outside the house and may be surrounded by a fence or shrubbery. If the air conditioner is older than ten years, this can be cause for concern. A typical HVAC system lasts approximately twenty years before replacement is necessary. Leaks and mechanical issues can cause dirty air to build up in the ducts, leaving foul and untreated air to circulate inside the home.
7. Replace the carpets
Similar to replacing an HVAC system, dirty carpets have the potential to reduce air quality. Fine-woven carpets also have the potential to capture pet dander and insects from the outdoors.
To test a home’s air quality, a professional company can perform testing. This can take into account a variety of factors. Homes with small children, athletes, pets, and smokers can all impact how long the effects linger.
Pollen and allergens can easily stick to the insides of a carpet. While it may not be recognizable to the family, these allergens can cause problems for future residents. Asthma is a frequent problem for those with allergic reactions to dust and seasonal pollen.
8. Renovate the bathrooms
Bathrooms are a crucial part of any home. For multiple tenants, a renovated bathroom can make or break a sale. While the ideal bathroom has plenty of space for two people and a bath, this is not always possible for every homeowner.
Small renovations can make a big difference in full bathrooms. Shelving and built-in storage helps a bathroom look larger by avoiding unnecessary clutter. Replacing old wallpaper or repainting the walls can also upgrade any bathroom.
Bathroom lighting is an often overlooked feature. A bright bathroom with high ceiling fixtures can create a larger atmosphere. Bathrooms that sport exposed light bulbs or peeling paint often look neglected.
9. Make your home more secure
Invest in safety. Safety gadgets are considered a form of smart technology. Not only can this include up-to-date fire alarms, but digital enhancements benefit families too. By adding fire detectors and security cameras, tenants can feel more relaxed knowing their home is safe.
Smart technology can make a home look sophisticated. Carbon monoxide detectors and thermostats are now upgraded to include more features. Some thermometers can be changed from different areas of the house or timed for energy savings.
Depending on the technology, these safety renovations can be installed for less than a grand. With sleek designs, many safety devices give a futuristic appearance in the home.
10. Find creative ways to expand your space
Build an addition. Building an addition to an already-existing house is an obvious way to add value. Additions can be done using multiple techniques depending on the space of a property and individual budgets. By increasing square footage, the price of a house can automatically go up.
Additions do not have to be included onto the actual housing structure. Separate, smaller houses can also be added to the property. These can be appealing for potential guests or relatives that want to stay for an extended period of time.
Other ways to add space include utilizing the space above a garage. Extreme basement renovations can also add value to a house. These additions will likely be noticed and appreciated by potential buyers.
How to know if you need renovations?
Many homeowners struggle to see where their house needs improvement. A home that has worked well for several years can mask several key problems.
Hiring a professional to assess the house is one way to understand the value of a home. An inspection can give an accurate depiction on what needs to be repaired or replaced. Critical housing issues such as roof maintenance, the HVAC unit, and the hot water heater can all be checked by trained technicians.
