Updating your Home and Increasing Value

After living in a house for a couple of years, many homeowners have made repairs, but few established homeowners think about making updates. This isn’t too much of a problem, until it comes time to sell your home and buyers are turned off by outdated rooms. If you’re thinking of selling in the near future, you might want to consider these updates.



1. Countertops
Several years ago, granite was all the rage in counters. Today, it seems that every home has this Y2K era update. Freshen up your kitchen with stainless steel, sealed wood, or travertine counters.

2. Energy-efficient, colorful appliances
Stainless steel is out, and enameled finishes are in. Aim to get the most energy and water efficient appliances you can afford in matching hues. Think beyond the standard Energy Star appliances, however. Consider having your entire home rated for efficiency, since homes with top ratings can earn potential buyers tax breaks. You might also want to consider adding solar panels or a wind turbine.

3. Closets
In the 1940s, many houses were built without closets. Over the years, however, the size of closets is now one of the first things that potential buyers ask about. If you live in a much older home, consider hiring a contractor to expand the closets in the bedrooms and add them in bathrooms. If you have a newer home, concentrate on adding built-in organizers.

4. Plumbing
While large bathrooms are still popular, potential homebuyers are now a lot more interested in what’s in them. Specifically, they want to see large showers with multiple heads and designer fixtures. Hiring a plumber to re-plumb the master bath can add a lot of value to your home, and it doesn’t cost as much as many people think.

5. Big, multi-functional rooms
In the 1970s and 1980s, having separate dining, living, and family rooms was popular. Today, families want these rooms combined into a large multi-use space. If your home still has a separate room layout, consider knocking down some walls to open the interior space up. If this isn’t possible, it might be worth the time and money to hire an architect to redesign the house.

6. Water-efficient landscaping
Exotic plants used to attract buyers. Today, buyers want landscaping that is easy to maintain and uses very little water or fertilizer. Usually, that means using native plants. Other popular choices include planting shade trees and installing an herb garden and/or orchard.

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