Homeowners, you don’t have to overhaul your entire house to boost its value. You heard us. Forget the bathroom renovation or basement flip! These four less-invasive home improvements may prove to be just as valuable:
Refinish Hardwood Floors
If your hardwood floors are between 10 and 20 years old it may be time for a makeover. But before you start pulling up nails, consider your options for wood floor repair for scratches, wear marks and lack of shine. It can take a few weeks to refinish hardwood floors, but the return will likely be well-worth it. HGTV cites that the top request of renters and homebuyers when searching for a new home is hardwood floors. And wood floors can even help your home sell faster. Refinishing hardwood floor costs range, but homeowners can expect to pay $2,000 for 1,000 square feet of hardwood, which includes sand, stain and finishing services.
Landscaping
Landscape economist John Harris told Margaret Heidenry, writing for Realtor, that well-maintained grounds can contribute to 28 percent of your home’s total value. One of the easiest ways to spruce up your curb appeal is to freshen up what you already have. In addition to pruning trees and trimming shrubs, pulling weeds is one of the most important things you can do in your yard before sale time. Aside from regular upkeep, homeowners who plant trees can expect a fabulous return on investment. In fact, The Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers cite that mature trees can add between $1,000 and $10,000 to the overall value of your home.
Replacement Windows
This year’s Cost vs. Value report from Remodeling Magazine shows that homeowners can expect to recoup 73 percent of the cost of new vinyl windows at the time of sale. Window installation does not create much dust, but it’s a job that’s best left to professionals. Depending on the size of the crew and the number of windows that need to be replaced, you can expect window installation to take up to three days; however, most jobs wrap up in just two days. There are a variety of benefits to adding new windows to your home. Old, single-pane windows are drafty and allow air conditioning and heat to escape. New double-pane windows keep drafts out and are more efficient at keeping heat and air conditioning inside. You might even notice a slight savings in your energy bill.
Living Room Updates
Your sense of style might just earn you a high return. With an average return of 66 percent, living room updates, which includes updating the decor, can pay off, according to the experts from HGTV. Simply put, details add dollars. Homeowners can expect to front $1,350 for staging the area with new light switches, fresh flowers and accessories, floor registers, outlets and covers, crown molding, chair rails and drapes.
Each home is unique and you may find that your outlet covers and other decor elements throughout the room are up to par, but there are still a few things you can do to sell your home quicker and earn more. Designers suggest shifting all furniture away from walls, as this will make the living space appear larger. Experts also recommend creating a seating area around a feature —a fireplace, for example—for buyers to take notice.
Renovations don’t have to be invasive. From small scale improvements to sprucing up your yard, these are the upgrades that can boost the value of your home.