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It is no secret that home renovations can help you maximize the value of your home come resale time, with metrics showing a huge boom in the home improvement industry over the past couple of years as homeowners try to make their properties as desirable as possible.
Sometimes, though, the facts of life do not make it possible to complete all of the renovations you want. Whether due to a family emergency or a sudden work relocation, there may be a time that you need to unexpectedly sell your house before you get the chance to start work on your master bedroom suite.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you can quickly add value to your home before listing it, with some simple projects taking just a few days, if not hours, to complete.
#1 - Replace the Kitchen Countertops
It is a common mantra among realtors that kitchens sell houses. As such, kitchen renovations are among the most popular home improvement projects undertaken by homeowners.
However, if you have to list your home in a hurry, you will not have time to break ground on that full-scale remodel to completely change the layout of your cook space.
In these situations, one of the best ways to quickly upgrade your kitchen is by adding new countertops. Not only can new surfaces give your kitchen a sparkle that will catch the eye of prospective buyers, but if you choose the right materials, you will be able to sell them on the fact that nonporous, durable fabrication will defend against staining and cracking that will increase the cost of future maintenance.
To this effect, look at the most popular quartz countertop colors to find a design that will match well with your kitchen’s layout. Not only does quartz rate at the top of the industry in terms of durability and ease of cleaning, but most quartz surfaces can be installed in as little as a day, giving your kitchen a valuable boost ahead of those upcoming showings.
#2 - Give the Curb Appeal a Makeover
Astute home buyers are looking for those properties that have “good bones,” or those characteristics, such as foundation, framing, and orientation, that are extremely difficult or impossible to change once the home is fully constructed.
Nonetheless, while “good bones” may be of greater concern than curb appeal for ensuring that your home is in good condition and livable for many years to come, you will definitely have difficulty selling a house that does not look pretty.
There are innumerable ways that you can improve your home’s curb appeal, but some common-sense ideas that can generally be completed same-day to boost your home’s value prior to a listing include:
- Replacing a dinged or dented garage door
- Trimming dead branches from any trees around your property
- Re-securing or replacing any sagging or damaged gutters
#3 - Add Aging in Place Features
Economics 101 teaches that when demand outpaces supply, sellers will be able to receive a premium price for their offerings.
With this principle in mind, consider that the United States will see a record number of people entering retirement age in the coming years who could be looking to purchase their final home. To capitalize on this market, add some features to your home that will appeal to buyers who want to age in place, the process of growing old with your home.
There are some classy and creative home handrail kits that can easily be installed to areas such as the stairs, kitchen, or bathroom to help people in walking, crouching, and stooping, keeping all areas of the home functional for residents as they age.
Another great idea is to add some easy-to-use blinds to all of the windows. While oversized windows are becoming increasingly popular due to their ability to allow the flow of natural light, they may be a bit revealing when you are wanting privacy. By having a quality blind system, residents can feel secure from outside onlookers late at night.
Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.
