Table of Contents Show
Making upgrades to your home can significantly increase its value before selling. With strategic renovations and improvements, you can maximize your home’s appeal to attract top dollar.
This is particularly helpful for homeowners in cities like Kenosha. With housing prices rising over 24.5% in Kenosha last year, homeowners have a major incentive to boost their house values.
By focusing your time and budget on projects that deliver the highest return, you can move closer to achieving your house-selling goals. From installing luxury bathrooms to refinishing hardwood floors, every improvement makes a difference.
Follow these eight tips to add value to your Kenosha home before putting it up for sale:
1. Upgrade the Basement
Convert an unfinished basement into a livable space like a rec room, bedroom, or apartment. Completed basements instantly add usable square footage. Ensure proper moisture control, ventilation, insulation, and emergency exit windows to meet code requirements.
If you want to create an ideal space for entertainment to give your house that extra boost on the real estate market, look into building a secondary kitchen in your basement.
When opting for a full kitchen remodel, work with qualified Kenosha basement remodel experts to handle any structural changes to ensure the new layout is safe and code-compliant.
A finished basement acts as an extension of the home. Create an inviting living space with drywall, trim, recessed lighting, and new flooring.
Read Also:
2. Remodel the Bathrooms
Like kitchens, upgraded bathrooms with spa-like finishes strongly attract buyers. Add a bathroom if there are too few compared to bedrooms.
Replace outdated tiles, fixtures, and lighting. Incorporate high-end touches like double sinks, soaking tubs, luxury showers, and smart toilets. Easy updates like new shower curtains, lighting, and mirrors can also freshen up existing baths.
When renovating bathrooms, work with qualified contractors to correctly handle plumbing and electrical updates.
Distinctive tilework, heated floors, and glass shower doors change bathrooms into relaxing retreats. Make sure to get the right permits when moving fixtures. Well-designed bathrooms with high-end details can largely increase a home’s worth.
3. Boost Curb Appeal
A home’s curb appeal makes that critical first impression on buyers. Well-kept landscaping with flowers and trimmed shrubbery strengthens appeal.
A fresh coat of exterior paint in a modern, neutral color gives a facelift. Replace the front door with a stylish, updated entryway and improve the driveway and walkways, too.
Curb appeal sets the stage so buyers can picture living in the home. When driving up, buyers form an opinion about the home before going inside, so you want the exterior to impress.
Keep lawns neatly mowed, bushes neatly trimmed, and paint fresh. Make sure exterior lighting shows off the home’s best features. A beautiful exterior that looks cared for invites buyers inside.
4. Update and Expand the Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of a home and a major selling point for buyers. Upgrade appliances, add new cabinetry, and replace countertops to modernize an outdated kitchen. Install a kitchen island for additional counter space and functionality.
Knock down walls to open the kitchen to living areas. Adding square footage inherently boosts value. Even small upgrades like new hardware and lighting fixtures can make the space more appealing.
Opening up the kitchen or knocking down walls impacts load-bearing, electrical, and plumbing, so you need proper engineering and permits. With the help of renovation pros, you can transform your kitchen into a gorgeous, spacious chef’s paradise that wows potential buyers.
5. Update the Flooring
Old, dated carpeting quickly cheapens the look and feel of a home, so it is essential to replace it with fresh carpet or attractive hardwood, tile, or luxury vinyl plank floors. Refinishing existing hardwood floors can also restore their beauty, making them look brand new again.
This upgrade prepares a home for sale because many buyers want to move right in without taking on flooring renovations.
Upgrading floors not only makes rooms look clean, new, and move-in ready but also visually expands the space. To achieve this, carefully remove old flooring and properly install new surfaces.
6. Add Living Space
Increasing the home’s square footage, whether through additions or garage conversions, inherently boosts its value, as features like a family room, extra bedroom, and an expanded master suite all appeal to potential buyers.
However, it is important to get the right permits and hire licensed contractors when taking on significant additions to ensure the work is done correctly.
7. Make Energy Efficient Upgrades
Upgrading your home to save energy is a smart move. Swapping out an old HVAC system for a new, energy-efficient one not only cuts your monthly bills but also keeps your home comfy all year round.
Adding more insulation to your walls and attic is like putting a cozy blanket on your house, making it stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Plus, energy-efficient windows and doors seal up any sneaky drafts that try to sneak in.
And don’t forget about the nifty smart home gadgets! They let you control your lights, temperature, and even security from your phone, adding a modern touch to your home. These green, modern upgrades also boost your home’s value, making it more appealing to future buyers.
So, say hello to lower utility bills, a cozier home, and a tech-savvy lifestyle while helping the planet in the long run. It’s a win-win!
8. Enhance the Outdoor Space
Expanding your outdoor living space can significantly enhance your home. Add a deck, patio, pergola, or gazebo, complemented by features like kitchens and fireplaces to increase your entertainment space.
Enhance privacy with strategic landscaping and boost curb appeal by updating driveways, walkways, and exterior lighting. Great outdoor spaces are invaluable.
Conclusion
To get the most bang for your buck when renovating your home before selling it, focus on projects that will make your home more appealing to potential buyers. With careful planning, you can improve your property’s value and make it more desirable on the market.