All of us look for ways to increase our home's value, the idea being to do all we can to make it more valuable between the time we buy it and the time we sell it.
Obviously the maximum return on investment is a good idea, so how can you make your home generate money for you? Well, one thing people look for in homes is space.
I know that is what sold me on my most recent home purchase.
Look for non-load bearing walls that can be safely removed, or perhaps that kitchen islands that could be taken out.
You'd be surprised at just how much more spacious and inviting your home will become.
Let the sun shine in.
People love light, especially natural light, and having a lot of it really contributes to making your home look bright, airy, and spacious.
Install more windows, skylights, or the newest trend known as "sun tubes" which use reflective material to funnel natural light from a globe capped hole in the rooftop down through a ceiling fixture into a room.
This makes very effective use of both sunlight and moonlight.
Use of higher wattage bulbs helps to make small spaces appear larger than they really are, and soft lighting can make empty spaces look less cold and harsh.
Replace your front door.
This door is the first up close impression that people will have of your home, and you want to make it a good one.
Make sure the doorbell works, as well is the exterior lighting over the door, and have sufficient shelter in case of inclement weather.
Stay on top of your floors (no pun intended).
Make sure the carpet is in good condition, and hardwood floors should be smooth and free of warping or cracking.
If your floors squeak, determine the location and fix it (this can usually be done with a well-placed nail or clamp).
One of the most popular selling points in homes nowadays is hardwood flooring, so consider replacing your carpeting with hardwood.
On average, a $900 investment can yield a return value of over $2000.
It is something to consider.
Choose neutral colors for the walls.
Putting your home on the market and increasing its intrinsic value means getting your personal tastes out of the way and doing what is best for the home.
Prospective buyers want to be able to see their own tastes projected into a given room, and they can't do that as long as your personal stamp is still all over the walls.
Opt for toning down the wall colors throughout your home.
Get rid of those "what the heck?" elements.
Anything in your home that may raise questions needs to be repaired or eliminated, such as the wall that existed for no apparent reason in a home I recently looked at.
The home was nice enough, but somebody had placed a dividing wall between the dining area and the kitchen, with three small windows roughly the size of a Band-Aid in the center.
Of course the wall could have been torn out, since it wasn't load bearing or anything, but it would have required more talent and expense than I readily had available so I moved on to other options.
Your would-be buyer will, too.
So anticipate such problems in advance and take care of them.
Upgrade your bathroom.
This is easy and one of the less expensive projects to undertake.
Replacing frosted glass with clear glass, cleaning mold problems and dirty grout, installing higher end faucets and doorknobs, as well as new caulk and even a new toilet seat can go a long way towards making your bathroom more appealing.
Most major bathroom remodeling can be done for less than $500.
Of course the best thing you can do for your home is to be diligent in the proper care and maintenance of your home, make repairs and replacements as they are needed.
This prevents them from gaining a foothold and becoming even larger and more expensive problems later on.
I would go into the fact that yellow houses outsell other colors by a substantial margin, but you get the point.
Make your house attractive, with a lasting first impression, and then enjoy the benefits once it is sold.