Homeowners have a lot of responsibility when it comes to the upkeep of their humble abodes. Keeping your home well maintained takes time, effort, creativity and money. However, if done correctly, it can save you a lot of money in the long run, your household will run more efficiently and you will increase the value of your property.
It’s important to remember that your house is a huge asset to you and should be seen as such. It can increase or decrease in value depending on the owners’ care and foresight. And unlike renting, there isn’t a landlord that will fix the problems, it’s up to the owner to look after his/her premises and ensure that it maintains its value on the market, or even better, that it increases in value over time. Let’s take a closer look at a few practical ways to increase the value of your home.
Install a new garage door
Your garage door is one of the most visible surfaces seen from the front of your property. A brand new, good quality panel lift garage door will surely make a good impression and add much more value to your home. It can also be motorised and give you the luxury of not having to get out of your car every time you go out or come back in.
Update your bathroom
Whether your house only has one bathroom or more than one it is well worth the investment to be up to date and clean. Get rid of those ugly pink tiles or the cracked vinyl floor covering. You can also replace taps and maybe that crack, in the old stained toilet, needs to be fixed with a completely new and more modern throne. Jazzy tiles, a funky mirror and a shiny new floor later and your bathroom can increase your property value immensely.
Paint your home
It is amazing what a bit of paint can do. When is the last time your walls got a fresh coat of colour? It makes a huge difference to the value of your property and it is also something that will prevent weather damage if done properly. Good preparation is key here. Cracks must be filled and old paint removed. It is better to leave this part to the professionals. If you are planning to sell soon, use neutral colours and you can never go wrong with white.
Look after your garden
Although we do not all have green fingers, we can have a beautiful green and well-groomed garden. This will add to your properties value and could be the make or break factor when your house goes on the market one day. Trees take time to grow big and tall so you might as well start planting them sooner rather than later. An automatic irrigation system will also increase the value of your home, and keep your garden lush and green.
Fix what’s broken
This should be the first thing on your list, especially if you want to improve your home, but are a bit short on your budget. Take your spouse, a tape measure and a notebook and do a thorough walk around your property. List everything that is broken, missing or needs some attention. You can prioritise things and tick each item off as you fix them.
Install a solar geyser
This is a big investment but well worth it. By installing a solar water heating system your properties value increases because it will save money and everybody likes to save cash. You will reap the benefits immediately and if you sell your property down the line it will be a huge plus for prospective buyers. Solar panels for your electricity can also be added later to further your savings and to increase the value of your property even more.
Redo your kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of any home and probably the place where the most family time is spent. Why not have a beautiful and well-equipped kitchen to enjoy now rather than doing it one day just before you sell your house? The kitchen is one of the first places a couple goes when entering a show house and it can be a major selling point if it is modern, practical and well designed.
A Run For Your Money
Whether you want to renovate professionally or DIY through that fix list, or simply need to splash some paint on old walls to brighten things up, your investment in time and dollars will not be wasted. All of this will increase the value of your property and will make you feel good after a hard days work. We all need to maintain our properties to prevent future damage and extra costs, but if we do it properly it will be well worth it in the long run.