15 May 7 Ways to Boost Home Value: REALTOR® Secrets Revealed

Simple and Affordable Way to Boost Your Home Value

Selling your home and want to increase your sale price? You don’t have to remodel the whole kitchen (in fact, you probably shouldn’t). As part of the most trusted team in St. Louis real estate, Hermann London’s listing agents are experienced in offering clients suggestions for budget-friendly improvements that will increase your home’s value — and not break the bank.

Increasing your home’s value doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money — or even time. Keep it simple. From our St. Louis real estate experts, here are 7 simple (and affordable) ways to boost your home value:

1. Free up Some Room

There is a reason the “open floor plan” is such a popular trend on HGTV. Satisfy the market demand for larger living space by expanding your home’s existing space and avoiding a costly new addition. By knocking down a wall (please, make sure it’s non-structural), you can create extra, in-demand space for a price that doesn’t hit your bank account. Taking down a wall doesn’t just free up valuable space, it instantly helps freshen up an old house.

2. Change the Color

Color can be very subjective. What’s attractive to one person may be hideous to another. It sounds simple, but repainting your walls in more timeless, neutral colors is a quick and affordable way to add instant value to your home.

3. Tidy up the Yard

A neglected yard doesn’t just reduce your home’s curb appeal — it might also reduce its resale value. According to a recent study, spending even just 5% of your home’s value on landscaping can result in a return-on-investment (ROI) of up to 150%. As if that weren’t good enough, the same investment in landscaping can reduce the amount of time your property is on the market for up to six weeks. That’s a lot of bang for your buck.

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4. Upgrade the Kitchen

Any experienced real estate agent will tell you: the best return on investment is in the kitchen. You don’t have to completely remodel the kitchen to increase your home’s value, either. In fact, it’s difficult to recoup money spent on a total kitchen remodel. Instead, consider these simple and relatively affordable kitchen upgrades sure to get buyers’ attention:

• Granite or quartz countertops
• Stainless steel appliances
• New backsplash
• New hardware
• New faucet or fixtures

5. Update the Bathroom

If the kitchen is the best place to increase your home’s resale value with budget-friendly improvements (at least on the inside), the bathroom is a close second.

Try these affordable bathroom makeover ideas for a quick and easy return on investment:

• Replace wallpaper: Nothing dates a bathroom more than old wallpaper. Try replacing it with attractive, neutral paint or texture finish.
• Upgrade fixtures: Replacing dated or unattractive fixtures like faucets, towel racks, and mirrors is a simple, cost-effective way to make your bathroom sparkle.
• Refinish vanities: An outdated vanity doesn’t always need to be replaced. Instead, consider refinishing, repainting, or adding a more modern hardware.
• Update lighting: Simple lighting upgrades or window additions can add more natural light can quickly up your bathroom’s aesthetic appeal at relatively low cost.

6. Go Green

In the St. Louis area, Hermann London real estate agents report that buyers are increasingly concerned about energy efficiency. There’s a wide variety of options available. Major improvements like double or triple-paned windows are expensive, but consider some of the more affordable “green” options to boost your house valuation, like adding storm doors, ceiling fans or even a programmable or “smart” thermostat.

7. Hold the Popcorn

Sometimes the best way to add value your home is to take something away. Not many things date a home more than popcorn, or, “textured” ceilings. Whether you do it yourself or hire a drywall professional, this is a relatively easy and affordable improvement that will increase your home’s value — and prevent a lot of buyer eye-rolling.

Safety First: Many popcorn ceilings contain asbestos, so before you remove it, have it tested.