If you’re a homeowner and you plan to put your house on the market soon, taking steps to increase its value should be your priority.

While external factors like interest rates, the real estate market, and the current state of the economy affect your home’s resale value, the very look and condition of your property itself can mean the difference between making and losing money.

If you want your home to command a good price when the time comes, here are some things you need to do to boost your home value.

Replace Your Garage Door

A new garage door installation is one of the best things you can do to boost your home’s value.

Installing a new garage door is among the top home improvements that increase home value, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2020 Cost Vs. Value Report.

The report found that homeowners who replace their garage door recoup 94.5% of their cost.

Then again, that figure isn’t surprising, as garage doors don’t just make a home more attractive. They also offer safety and security. If the garage door you choose to install is insulated, you’d also be increasing your home’s energy efficiency, which many homebuyers look for when house-hunting.

Increase Curb Appeal

Installing a new garage door is just one of many ways of boosting curb appeal, which has a bearing on your home value.

Some of the things you can do to make your home more appealing to people on the street include:

• Planting a tree or two

• Maintaining your lawn

• Painting your front door

• Power washing your driveway, walkway, siding, and porch

• Updating front door light fixtures

• Adding an elegant door knocker

• Painting the exterior

• Cleaning the roof and gutters

• Upgrading your house number

Add More Living Space

More often than not, homes with more living space command better prices.

If your property still has considerable space for additions, consider adding a room or two.

If you have a basement, make sure it’s finished to make it more energy-efficient and good enough to use as a spare bedroom.

You can also build a patio or a deck, which will attract more interest from homebuyers who look forward to days and nights entertaining guests or simply spending time outdoors without leaving the property.

Spruce Up the Bathroom

A full bathroom remodel would be great as it adds plenty of value to your home, but it’s going to cost a lot, and there’s no guarantee that you would be able to recoup your expenses fully when you sell the house.

If a complete bathroom remodel is out of the question, you can still make minor changes that won’t break the bank but still enhance the value of your home.

Small repairs like replacing tile grout and painting the walls can go a long way in boosting your home’s value. The same goes for a new toilet seat, rugs, and shower curtain.

You can make fixtures like faucets and showerheads look like new by removing gunk using household items like vinegar and baking soda.

Updating your bathroom light fixtures to more energy-efficient models would be worth your while, too.

Upgrade Your Kitchen

As with a complete bathroom remodel, overhauling your kitchen is also an expensive proposition, especially if it involves moving plumbing and drain pipes.

You can still upgrade your kitchen to add to your home’s value without spending a fortune.

You can hang a new decorative light fixture that perfectly matches your kitchen’s color and existing décor.

You can give your kitchen cabinets a fresh coat of paint. You might also want to consider replacing their handles as well.

Granite countertops are great, but they’re so pricey homebuyers might think it’s the sole reason for your home’s high value on the market. 

If you’re planning on replacing your existing kitchen countertop, go for more affordable materials like ceramic tile and laminate.

Deep Clean Your Home

Sometimes, all a beautiful and highly-functioning home needs to increase its value is a heavy, thorough cleaning.

Homebuyers put a premium on the cleanliness of properties they’re eyeing. 

A home with visible grime, scummy showers, and marred walls is a turnoff since it means more work and expense for them should they decide to buy the property.

When you finally decide to put your home on the market, give it a deep cleaning first before showing it off to potential buyers. 

Clean every inch of the house thoroughly, from the spots you can readily see to hidden areas like behind the stove, refrigerator, and underneath furniture.

These are just a few of the things you can do to increase your home value, but they’re a good enough place to start. 

You might also consider talking to your real estate agent, as they’re completely in the know when it comes to what people are willing to pay top dollar for when going house-hunting.

Guest Contributor: Irene Trentham