As a home-owner, you want your home to look its best. While many renovations can be costly, some can be done even if you’re pinching the pennies. Fortunately, many thrifty improvements can work to add value to your home. Here are some budget-friendly changes you can make:
1. Improve curb appeal
First impressions last, and there’s no other area in your home providing this than your curb. Having professional exterior cleaning and designing services like Nova Exteriors and others is worth it. If there’s only one project you can work on, focus primarily on your exterior. When it looks attractive and presentable, your home’s value increases as it can attract more potential buyers to view.
If you’re planning on selling your home, many prospective purchasers won’t even make it beyond your curb or front lawn if it appears like it’s a neglected home on the inside.
2. Apply a fresh coat of paint
One of the most inexpensive projects you can carry out on your property to add value is to give it a fresh coat of paint – especially if your home has a dated colour scheme. Revamping tired walls with neutral shades is best. Should you decide to sell your home, you’ll attract more buyers if the paintwork is fresh and when the interior style resonates with a wider range of people.
3. Change your garage door
Replacing your garage door isn’t an exciting change to your home. However, it’s one of the most effective at increasing your home’s value. You can replace your current garage door with a more robust and better-looking one. Also, consider installing added features for it such as an alarm or sensor.
4. Replace knobs on cabinets, drawers and doors
You may not be able to afford to change all your cabinets, drawers and doors right now however, there’s one way to make it look more up-to-date and modern: renew the hardware. Even the most basic units can look better when you fit new hardware. For its relatively cheap price tag, replacing all your outdated knobs & handles can add a wow factor.
5. Add a wooden deck or patio
As for your garden, a wooden deck or patio is something you can easily DIY. With an emphasis on outdoor living, your wooden deck increases your home’s value as it now makes your outside space more attractive. Plus, the ambiance of your garden will look and feel a lot better.
6. Deep clean your home
Deep cleaning your home is one of the cheapest but most effective ways to increase your home’s value. This means going above and beyond the regular day-to-day cleaning.
Generally, to ensure a job well done, you’ll need to call in the help of the experts. They can deep clean all the nooks and crannies to make your home look and feel new again. Those mattresses, carpets and sofas grubby with stains that you can’t get clean yourself? Professional cleaners can make those look brand new.
7. Remodel a bathroom
If you have multiple bathrooms at home but you can only afford to update one, choose the one in dire need of a makeover with the help of expert plumbers.
Remodelling your bathroom can increase your home’s value simply because it improves its functionality and aesthetics. No one likes to do their business in a bathroom that looks mouldy and full of grime.
8. Update the lighting
Perhaps, your home is equipped with ancient light fittings that look like they’re coming to the end of their life. Perhaps they’re hard to clean or no longer in style and are detracting from the overall ambiance in your home.
Replace this old lighting. Many homeware stores have a wide variety of options from which to choose, depending on your style and budget.
9. Invest in energy-efficient fixtures
One of the most important features of homes today is for them to be energy-efficient. If you can’t afford to install solar panels for now, then at least make other smaller changes in your home to make it more efficient.
Insulating your home properly is an important step in making it more energy-efficient. Good insulation keeps your property warm in the winter and cool in the summer, thus cutting down on the need for central heating in the cold months and air conditioning in the warm months.
Also, consider switching electrical fixtures & fittings to more energy-efficient examples. For example, use low-energy, LED bulbs and install a smart thermostat. A smart meter allows you to monitor which of your appliances are energy guzzlers.
10. Plant a tree
If you aren’t planning to sell your home soon or in the next few years, why not plant a tree? If your garden is flat, an inexpensive way to transform its outlook is to add a tree. It can provide year-round, seasonal interest; blossom in the summer, colourful autumn foliage and bare branches offer a stark winter silhouette. Also, hanging a string of festoon lights in your tree will make your outdoor area feel a lot cosier at night.
11. Add more storage space
One of the common problems with smaller homes is the lack of storage space. Providing sufficient room to stow away rarely needed items is one of the best ways to add value to your home as it improves its functionality.
Go through each room of your house and look for areas where added storage space is needed. Be imaginative. You can start with any wasted vertical space you may have, so you can add shelves or cupboards.
Conclusion
Every home-owner aspires to make their house look its best and add value to it, but not everyone has spare cash to spend on major improvements. Many of the tips above are suitable for those on a shoestring budget!
[disclosure*]