Are you planning to list your home for sale next year?
If so, now is the time to make updates that will get your home looking its best, increase its value, and sell it quickly. Updating your home doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated…in fact, there are many ways to spruce up your home that don’t involve an extensive remodel.
Here are 7 DIY updates you can do this winter to get your home ready to list in 2022.
1. Brighten Up Your Walls With Fresh Paint
Cover up scratched, dirty walls or loud colors with a fresh coat of paint. It’s surprising how much of a difference paint can make in a room — it can instantly make a room look brighter, cleaner, and newer.
When repainting your walls, always choose neutral colors to attract a wide array of buyers. You may love that bright red wall in your living room, but a potential buyer may not. Stick to light, modern, neutral tones.
2. Replace Window Treatments
Replace old plastic or aluminum blinds or paper shades with higher-quality window treatments. Think wooden blinds, new drapes, or plantation shutters. As with paint colors, you want to choose window treatments in a neutral color scheme that unifies the entire home’s style.
3. Update Fixtures and Switches
Sometimes small changes can make a big difference in your home’s appearance. Update old, generic, or cheap switch plates, outlet covers, curtain rods, and door knobs with new ones. Again, choose colors and finishes that appeal to a broad audience.
Consider replacing old light fixtures with new ones as well, opting for simple, modern fixtures that enhance your home’s overall design.
4. Refresh Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets
Kitchen and bathroom updates are widely considered some of the best ways to boost your home’s value…and some of the most expensive. But you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your kitchen or bathroom look new and fresh.
One way to quickly freshen up a kitchen or bathroom is to paint or stain the cabinets. White cabinets instantly brighten up a space and give it the illusion of being larger than it is. If white isn’t your style, or doesn’t look right with your countertops or flooring, a light gray or other neutral color will do.
Swap out your cabinet knobs and handles as well. New hardware can give your kitchen or bathroom cabinets a surprising facelift, whether you choose to paint them or not.
While you’re working on your kitchen cabinets, consider adding a new backsplash. Tile is the most common choice, but you could also choose metal sheeting, beadboard, or even contact paper. If you opt for tile, peel-and-stick tile will make this project much easier.
5. Add a Double Sink or Kitchen Island
Another kitchen upgrade that will draw buyers in is replacing your old sink with a new double sink. According to a National Association of Home Builders survey (NAHB), a double sink is one of the top kitchen features home buyers look for, with 42% saying it’s a must have. If you do add a double sink, opt for deeper sinks for a more limited splash zone and make sure at least one of the sinks is big enough for large pots and pans. When picking out your new sink, choose a material that’s easy to clean, such as stainless steel.
If your kitchen has the space, consider adding an island — another feature the NAHB survey highlighted as important to buyers. A kitchen island adds storage space, food preparation space, and, in some cases, space to add a couple of barstools for additional seating. You don’t have to build a new structure in your kitchen to add an island: there are many options for pre-built, portable islands available on the market.
6. Install a Smart Thermostat or Wireless Security System
One way to make your home feel updated quickly is to upgrade your technology. Adding a smart thermostat or wireless security system to your home will help it stand out in the market and sell faster. As more millennials are looking for homes, smart technology is becoming more desirable — and even expected — among homebuyers.
Homebuyers are attracted to the sense of safety a security system adds to a home. New wireless security systems (such as SimpliSafe or Ring Alarms) are inexpensive and easy to install, making them a quick way to upgrade your home.
Smart thermostats help conserve energy and save money, making them highly desirable to buyers. They can be configured to turn the heat down at night or when you are away from home and turn it up again when you return home. Even better, they are low maintenance and easy to install.
7. Upgrade Your Flooring
If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, upgrading your flooring is a great way to add value to your home.
If you have hardwood floors that are looking scratched and worn, refinish them to bring them back to their original splendor. If your hardwoods are covered by carpet, consider pulling up the carpet and refinishing the hardwood floors beneath.
Replace damaged or outdated bathroom flooring with new tile. Choose neutral, high-quality tile, and if you are redoing multiple bathroom floors in your home, choose a tile that works in all of them for a cohesive look. Want to take things a step further? Consider installing in-floor radiant heat in your bathroom!
Trust the Team at ResComPro To Sell Your Home
Are you working to get your home ready to list next year? In addition to updating your home, having a great Real Estate Agent by your side is the best way to get your home sold. Contact the team at ResComPro when you’re ready to talk about putting your home on the market!