The nature of real estate properties to increase in value is one of the reasons people worldwide are choosing to buy homes. Aside from having a safe and comfortable place to reside in, investing in residential properties also allows a person to earn profit every month or in the future, depending on how the homeowner chooses to utilize the properties. 

Following a home maintenance checklist can make your property more valuable in the local real estate market, but do you know that there are still many ways to boost the value of your home? Certain renovations can boost the value of your home as these can improve its appearance and functionality. The more attractive and useful a property is, the more value it has in the market.  

Along with getting inspiration from these top 10 DIY home improvement apps, following these tips can help you improve the value of your home this year: 

1. Clean And Declutter 

The cleanliness of your property, both in and out of your home, can affect its value. An unkempt backyard can drive away homebuyers and leave a negative impression among passersby.  

One of the easiest and effective ways to improve the value of your home this year is by thoroughly cleaning and decluttering the area. In fact, this task should be part of your daily or weekly routine to ensure that your home remains safe for the entire household.

Cleaning and decluttering will not require you to shell out a hefty sum of money, but keep in mind that this chore will need time. When cleaning and decluttering your home, start by going through all of your closets and dispose of items that are damaged or no longer in use. You shouldn’t keep any item that you don’t need or want as this will only take up floor space and collect dust.  

2. Make Your Home More Energy-Efficient 

Buying a home will affect the quality of your life long-term because you’ll have to regularly pay for energy bills. Your home will eventually become useless if it doesn’t have any electricity. How can you utilize your appliances if you don’t have electricity? Do you think your home will be cozy and comfortable if it’s too humid, cold, or dark? 

Making your home energy-efficient is another effective way of increasing the value of your property. Spending money on new appliances will become a cost-effective investment in the long run as you can save money from paying energy bills. These appliances can also make your home more comfortable, especially during colder or warmer months of the year. 

Aside from buying new energy-saving appliances, you can also make your home more energy-efficient by installing low flow showerheads, sealing all windows, and replacing incandescent bulbs with LED. Installing solar panels and adding insulation to the attic can also help.  

3. Spruce It Up With Fresh Paint 

The colors of your home play a vital role in the appearance of your property and the ambiance it creates. Colors have different effects on people’s mood, and painting your home with the right colors can set the right mood and make your home feel more relaxing and calmer.  

Another way to improve the value of your home this year is to spruce it up with fresh paint. Painting your home with a brand-new color can boost the curb appeal of your property and make it more attractive in the eyes of future tenants or homebuyers. 

When choosing which paint color to use, consider how each room in your house is utilized. For core areas, such as home offices, citrus orange is ideal because it gives a warm feeling to the room and is also very invigorating. Painting busy entryways in your house with silver is a great move as this color can make hectic areas feel reserved and subdued. You can use warm whites for your dining rooms and then deep blue for your bedrooms. 

4. Update Your Flooring 

Your floor extends to every square foot of your home, and how it looks can drastically affect the overall ambiance of your home. Your friends and family won’t be able to appreciate your new pieces of furniture and home decors if your floor looks like an eyesore.  

If you want to improve the value of your home this year, consider updating your flooring. If you want to get the best bang for your buck, replace your flooring with solid hardwood, as this material comes with a timeless design that works well in any interior design. Moreover, this type of flooring is also easy to clean, is durable, and comes in colors that don’t fade.  

Aside from solid hardwood, flooring made from engineered hardwood, vinyl planks, or tiles are also excellent options. All of these flooring types have pros and cons, so make sure to weigh your options properly before you decide which type of flooring to have in your home.  

5. Build A New Deck 

All of the areas inside of your home are useful for many different reasons. Your kitchen is meant for cooking, your bedroom for sleeping, and your living area for lounging and entertaining guests. But, do you know that you can also make your outdoor space as useful as your home’s interiors? 

One of the most effective ways to boost the value of your home this year is to build a new deck on your property. This home improvement project will require you to spend money, but your investment will be worth it because a deck adds aesthetic appeal to your home’s exteriors, increases the square footage of your home, and provides a place for you to host parties and family get-togethers.

Once a deck is built on your property, maximize the space to ensure that you get the best return from your investment. You can do this by adding outdoor furniture on your deck and incorporating lighting. Boosting the privacy of your deck by adding curtains or drapery panels will also make your deck more unique and functional.  

6. Update Your Garage 

Having your own garage will make your property stand out in the neighborhood, especially if it’s a unique feature. However, if your garage isn’t working properly, you won’t be able to make the most out of this amenity. A damaged garage will only put your household’s safety at risk.  

Updating your garage can also improve the value of your home this year. Updating your garage will not only improve the aesthetics of your property; this can also help lower your maintenance costs and energy bills and improve the security of your home.  

You can upgrade your garage by investing in cabinet systems to easily organize all of the items stored in the space and insulate the area. Changing your garage door is also important because this is one of the first things people will see when they pass by or step onto your property.  

7. Work On Your Curb Appeal 

In its simplest terms, curb appeal is defined as the attractiveness of a property and its surroundings when viewed from the outside. How your property looks from the outside is important because it sets the expectations of your friends and family on what they can see inside of your home. If your exteriors look old and dirty, they’ll likely expect to see the same indoors.

You can improve the value of your home this year by exerting a lot of effort on working on your curb appeal. Improving your curb appeal will make your property stand out in the neighborhood and will surely leave a lasting and positive impression about your property.  

There are many ways you can improve your curb appeal, namely: 

• Update your front door: Upgrading your front door is one of the cheapest ways to improve your curb appeal. Depending on the current condition of your front door, you can upgrade it by painting it in another color, changing its hardware, or replacing it with a brand-new model.  
• Install a porch swing: Having seating furniture in porches is common, so if you want yours to be different, invest in porch swings instead. These pieces of furniture can enhance your curb appeal while making your porch more relaxing and inviting.  
• Plant trees: Any type of greenery will add a pop of color to your property, especially if your home’s exteriors are painted in the same color. If you want to boost the curb appeal of your property, plant some trees around. Trees can make your curb appeal more interesting and useful as these can provide shade and encourage the household to spend more time outdoors. 
• Install flower boxes: If your landscaping isn’t large enough for you to plant trees, install flower boxes below your windows or on the front porch railings instead. If this option interests you, use petunias, begonias, or geraniums for your flower boxes as these are easy to maintain and produce colorful flowers.  
• Light up your exteriors: As a homeowner, it’s common to want to showcase your exteriors even during the night time – and you can achieve this goal by adding new light fixtures outside. You can also extend and install brand new lighting to your landscape to highlight your greeneries and make your home safer. 

Take Things Slow 

There are many home improvement projects that can boost the value of your property today. However, it’s best if you work on one project at a time rather than starting several at the same time. The former will make it easier for you to budget your finances and ensure that renovations will be completed as soon as possible.  

Chris Muller

Chris Muller is a professional personal finance writer who has written for some of the largest financial publications in the world. Chris brings a BBA and MBA in Finance, along with a decade of experience in the field, to help break down complex financial topics into easily digestible pieces through his written content in an effort to assist others in better managing their finances. Chris is currently in pursuit of FI/RE, is an aspiring minimalist, loves craft beer, and is a dad two to kids.