A real estate agent’s main role is to help clients buy, sell, and/or rent properties at the best value, which is where a huge chunk of a brokerage’s earnings comes from. This is why top brokerages are always on the lookout for top agents.
That said, real estate agents aren’t limited by their usual job descriptions. In fact, you can get in touch with real estate agents for matters such as home improvement ideas. If there’s anyone who knows what makes a property value or not, it would be those who help buy and sell them for a living.
Thus, if you’re planning on improving your home with plans on selling it in the future, it’s best to follow the advice of a real estate agent.
This way, you can get high returns on your investment. Here are some home improvement ideas that can boost the value of your home according to real estate agents:
A Home Office
Over the years, the concept of working from home (sometimes called telecommuting) has become more popular. It’s easy to see why, as it affords various benefits such as less time spent on traffic, more cost savings, and better work-life balance.
The COVID-19 pandemic also highlighted certain situational advantages, such as being able to isolate while being asymptomatic.
This is why more buyers nowadays look for properties with at least one home office or a room that can be converted to a home office. As such, it would do you well to designate and furnish a room in your house into a dedicated workspace to increase the resale value.
If you have a walk-in closet but it isn’t a big thing for buyers in your area, you can convert it into a home office. A more expensive option is to build a home extension or accessory unit.
This will increase the value of your property even more, since it gives buyers more leeway about what they can do with the space.
A Remodeled Kitchen
This is one of the important home improvement ideas. Many homebuyers look for efficient and updated kitchens, so a remodel will definitely boost your home’s value. The key is to not go overboard; indeed, you don’t actually have to “go big” with your kitchen to increase its potential resale price in the future.
Focus on the changes that make the biggest impact, such as the sink and faucet. You should also update the cabinet hardware (including the hinges) and refinish or replace the cabinet doors.
Another good idea is to get more energy-efficient lighting and appliances. An inverter refrigerator can also boost your home’s value.
If you have a bit more budget to work with, consider adding a kitchen island and/or a breakfast nook. Switching to durable and easy-to-maintain countertops also makes your home more appealing to buyers.
A Refurbished Bathroom (or Bathrooms)
Like the kitchen, you don’t have to fully remodel your bathrooms to increase the resale value of your home. Again, you can focus on the small things that make a difference.
Start by updating the lighting fixtures and changing the hardware like the faucets, shower heads, and knobs. You should also get stylish but durable shower curtains that don’t get ruined by moisture.
Another thing that will boost your home’s value is adding an en suite bathroom to the master bedroom. If your house has one, work on the above-mentioned improvements to increase the resale price.
A Clean or Repainted Exterior
This is one of the crucial home improvement ideas among all. Increasing the curb appeal of your house also increases its value. Much like kitchen and bathroom upgrades, you don’t have to spend too much on exterior improvements.
If you’ve recently repainted the walls, for example, a good washing can restore the color to its former brightness. You can also switch out the front door or give it a fresh coat of paint.
The same can be said about sidewalks, patios, and decks. As long as they’re not crumbling and in dire need of repairs, washing and repainting can work wonders in increasing your home’s value.
Other simple things that can add to your house’s curb appeal and increase its value include adding new house numbers. You can also update the look of your mailbox. If you have outdoor plants, make sure they’re well-maintained before you post your house for sale.
If you haven’t taken up the endeavor to repaint the exterior of the house due to the sheer amount of time to do it on your own on top of the other pressing tasks to do in your general day to day life then consider hiring a professional painter to do the exterior house painting for you.
This will obviously require a bit of money but if that detail isn’t an object and the lack of time you have is the issue; then it will be more than appropriate to hire one. You can always rely on a professional painter to deliver quality results that have longevity because they know what products to use and how to use them.
Energy-Efficient Upgrades
Lastly, real estate agents recommend making your home more energy-efficient before you sell it. Some improvements include adding insulation to the attic, as well as sealing cracks around your doors and windows.
You can also upgrade your windows to double-paned ones with high Energy Star ratings. Of course, investing in energy-efficient lighting and appliances is always a good move.
Even if you aren’t going to sell your house in the immediate future, you should still consider consulting real estate agents before making upgrades.
This way, you can be sure you aren’t spending too much money or worse, devaluing your home in the process. You can go here for more information about home improvement ideas. And the efforts real estate agencies undertake to find the most talented people for their team.
