Enhancing your home’s value before staging is vital in the modern competitive real estate market. The total spending on home remodel projects is expected to reach $466 billion in 2025. Typically, the right upgrades can increase overall value and attract serious buyers.
Whether you are investing in your home’s future value or selling immediately, understanding home upgrade basics can ensure optimum returns. The following tips will guide you through strategic home improvements to make your home stand out.
1. Enhance the Curb Appeal
Curb appeal can enchant potential buyers before they set foot in your home. Perfect landscaping demonstrates that your property is well-maintained. While you don’t have to invest much money, standard lawn care has an ROI of about 217%. Visitors and potential buyers look at your home’s exterior features, so first impressions are vital, so make sure that the outside is as good as the inside. For more tips on improving your outdoor space, check out this full-service landscaping guide to learn how to make impactful changes.
Minor repairs like replacing missing shingles or cracked siding can enhance your home’s perceived value. On the other hand, neat lawns, hedges, and vibrant flowers will make your home more inviting. If your home is dated, a modern front door with complimentary outdoor lighting can transform it.
Don’t ignore the garage door. It takes a significant amount of front space that’s instantly visible to prospective buyers. Installing a modern glass door or rustic design can elevate the curb appeal.
2. Minor Kitchen Upgrades
Most buyers focus on the kitchen as the chief feature when looking for homes for sale. An outdated kitchen can limit the sale amount. Ultimately, the kitchen layout, appliances, and space should facilitate optimum use. Nevertheless, complete kitchen upgrades require a considerable investment. However, minor remodels cost less and add almost the same value as elaborate kitchen improvements.
If upgrading the entire kitchen is impractical, more minor but strategic updates can have a huge impact. Consider installing modern hardware and appliances to make the kitchen more practical. Unless you have the budget, don’t get carried away by high-end remodels with state-of-the-art fixtures.
These projects have the highest cost implications and lowest ROI. It’s prudent to avoid over-upgrading beyond the neighborhood standards. Prioritize trendy upgrades that enhance practicality, functionality, and efficiency without straining your budget.
3. Bathroom Remodel
An average bathroom upgrade offers a decent return on investment, while an old bathroom can devalue the entire property. Some high-end upgrades may include frameless glass doors, quartz countertops, new cabinets, sinks, and other fixtures. When upgrading cabinets, always use minimalist colors and designs.
If a major upgrade seems too expensive, dated tiles look excellent with clean lines, and you can refresh the grout to give a perfect impression. If you can’t replace old cabinets, paint them white, black or gray to create a neat look. In addition, reglazing your tub offers modest results and is cheaper than buying a new one.
4. Fresh Paint
Fresh paint is the least expensive home improvement with high returns on investment. A neat coat of neutral paint can facelift the entire home and appeal to more buyers. However, consider professional recommendations since the results depend on home features like lighting and other fixtures. Gray is a trendy color often associated with modern designs, so you can’t go wrong with grays.
Painting an average home costs about $2,000, but the exact amount depends on the work needed for your design. For instance, vaulted ceilings require more detailing than ordinary ceilings. If you’re handy with DIY tools, get a few gallons of neutral paint and refresh your walls. However, you’ll first need to declutter and clean the surface for optimal results.
5. Flooring
Many homeowners consider carpet and flooring replacements vital home upgrades. If you have multiple rooms with different flooring, you can install a new floor to ensure seamless connection throughout the rooms.
Natural wood and faux wood flooring cost more but are better than carpets. However, quality carpeting can get the job done if you stick to neutral colors. Flooring installation costs $10 for wood vinyl and $30 for natural wood, while a quality carpet costs $8 per square foot.
However, some stores have remarkable deals on order designs that are less trendy. This means you can upgrade your flooring on a budget if your timing is right. If your budget can’t handle the upgrade, consider cleaning the hardwoods and carpets.
Slightly worn-out or faded patches on hardwoods may not warrant a replacement. Instead, you can treat them with a water-based wood stain to mask the defects. Most importantly, strategic flooring accessories like throw rugs can give your living room a luxurious touch.
Endnote
Successful home staging is a complex task that requires focus, prioritization, and an intrinsic understanding of the real estate market. Almost every home improvement project can transform your home, but some have a higher impact. The best upgrade depends on your neighborhood and the real estate market dynamic in the area.