The United States housing market is experiencing a boom. Prospective home buyers are taking advantage of low mortgage rates and a surplus of willing sellers. But despite these improvements in the real estate market, would-be home sellers have new challenges to contend with.
According to a recent survey, 72 percent of homebuyers, according to usnews.com, are rightfully worried about finding an affordable home. Because of the increase in demand, even the price of existing homes has risen dramatically (apnews).
If you want to put your home on the market, you must balance on a knife’s edge. On the one hand, you want to improve your property enough to attract buyers. On the other, you don’t want to push the price up too high. Massive improvements like implementing a new carport design can be too expensive on your end and for buyers, says Boots on the Roof.
Below are four home improvement ideas you can implement that won’t break the bank and put your home above an affordable price.
Fix Pavement
You’d be surprised how affordable it can be to spruce up any old pavement and cement installations outside your house. And how attractive such improvements are to home buyers. You should immediately repair notable areas if you’re putting your house up for sale, including the driveway, paved walkways, and cement steps. These are areas that call for the expertise of a company with services for building pavers, explains Landscapes Unlimited.
After a few years of winter, rain, and cars driving all over them, even the hardiest pavements will need some serious repair. A good-looking driveway is not only appealing to look at, but it also protects cars from potholes and similar damage. Solid walkways and steps stop you and any new inhabitants from tripping and getting hurt. Plus, the cost of cement, asphalt, and labor won’t be so high as to push your house’s market price too high.
Give it a Coat of Paint.
Yet another home improvement method people dismiss as purely cosmetic involves giving your house a new coat of paint. Thanks to chemical additives and other technological advances, your home’s paint job is no longer purely decorative. It acts as a whole layer of defense against the ravages of time and the elements for your property.
For example, fresh paint on the exterior walls of your home stops rain and moss from eating at the material underneath. Some paints even have anti-fungal additives to prevent such growth. Roof paint is even more protective, shielding metal roofs from the weakening effects of the sun and from rusting under the rain. And yes, a fresh coat of paint can make your home more visually appealing to any buyer.
Install Window Shutters
Privacy is increasingly at a new premium, especially in a world where it’s getting easier to pry into other people’s business. Despite new technologies intended to protect homeowners’ private spaces, the best way is to prevent nosy people from prying physically. To that end, you can install old-fashioned window shutters.
Aside from blocking the view into your home, window shutters also increase the security of the property. Thieves and other would-be criminals will have a more challenging time breaking into the premises if they have to contend with a sturdy set of shutters rather than just a pane of glass. These are both features home buyers will find attractive.
Improve Your Garden
Homebuyers still value a great garden, and after spending months indoors, anyone buying your home will love a great outdoor space they can relax in. You don’t even have to go overboard and plant extravagant garden additions like hedge mazes rose bushes, or koi ponds. Simple garden improvements can make a massive difference between your home sitting on the market for months and a quick sale.
Instead of putting down water-heavy turf, you can use native flora. Not only is this better for the local ecosystem, but they are also more visually appealing than squares of grass. Wooden trellises are very easy to build and install, and after a few weeks, climbing plants can transform into picturesque garden additions. Finally, a small awning and a garden bench can make your outdoor space immediately more homely.
Putting your home on the market can be very challenging. If you don’t get the price right, you could be waiting for months before getting a serious offer. These home improvement ideas will help you make your home more inviting without marking the price too high.