After buying a home, or preparing to sell a home, we all ask, “How can I increase the value of my home?”  A good real estate agent should be able to help you understand what things you can do for your specific home in your specific area.  Below is a list of tips and advice I offer sellers that ask me this question.

The biggest factor that can affect property value — market conditions — are outside of your control. But other factors — including the condition of the property, certain home improvements and neighborhood stability and safety — are not.

For example, specific home improvements can increase your property value above the cost of the improvements themselves, such as remodeling a kitchen, adding a bathroom, finishing a basement or upgrading landscaping. Just be sure that quality pays with remodeling. A bad remodeling job will do little to boost your property value.

If you live in a high-crime area, an organized community watch program not only will lower the crime rate but can enhance property values, too. It also helps to live in an area where other homeowners are upgrading their homes, which can help pull up your property value, too.

The bottom line is to measure the cost of any improvements you want to make against the overall values in your neighborhood. If you overimprove for the neighborhood, you may not necessarily recover your costs or boost your property value significantly.

Selling your home can be a daunting task!  Many sellers want to know what should be done to their home before they list it to sell.  Having the right Real Estate Agent to help you with questions like that and to guide you in the selling process is crucial!  For more specific information on how to help you with your home, please contact me.  For general tips on preparing your home for sale, see below.

First and foremost, put it in the best condition possible, especially if you are in a market with few buyers and lots of homes for sale. That means taking care of any major repairs that could deter a buyer (such as replacing any broken windows or replacing a leaky roof) if you can afford it. Next, work on your home’s curb appeal. Make sure your landscape is pristine. Mow the grass, clean up any debris and weed the garden beds. Plant a few annual flowers near the entrance or in pots to be placed by the door. Other quick fixes that don’t cost a lot of money but can help you get top dollar for your home:

• Clean the windows and make sure the paint is not chipped or flaking.
• Be sure that the doorbell works.
• Clean and freshen up rooms, furnishings, floors, walls and ceilings. Make sure that bathrooms and kitchens are spotless.
• Organize closets.
• Make sure the basic appliances and fixtures work. Replace leaky faucets and frayed cords.
• Eliminate the source of any bad smells, such as the kitty box. Use air freshener or bake a batch of cookies before your open house to ensure that the house smells inviting.
• Invest in a couple of vases of fresh flowers to place around the house and next to any information about the house you have prepared for buyers.