Increase appraised value.
A home appraiser will compare your home and its features to other homes in your neighborhood that have recently sold. The appraiser will compare number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and square footage. Unless you have added onto your home the original features will not change. However you can increase the value of your home by completing home improvement projects. Some projects add greater value than others. Appraisers will adjust for upgrades and the condition of the property.
Instructions
1. Updating kitchens increases value.
Reface or replace kitchen cabinets. Update kitchen counters with solid countertops. Coordinate colors of cabinets with counters. Replace outdated appliances. Simply putting new appliances in an outdated kitchen can do more harm than good. It will cause the dated cabinets and countertops to become more obvious. Update the kitchen flooring. Replace vinyl flooring with wood or tile. Coordinate colors so they complement each other and do not compete. Call a kitchen design specialist in your area if you need advice.
2. Organize and declutter closets.
Organize your closets and rooms. Closet organizers create space. Organizing closets enables you to use space efficiently. Closet organizer kits that you can install create a sense of space and order. Place items on shelves and get shoes, shirts and miscellaneous items off the floor.
3. Update the master bath.
Update your master bathroom. Replace the sink and cabinet. Solid countertops in bathrooms are popular replacements for the Formica counter tops from the 1970s. Sink styles have changed, too. Modern sinks look as if they sit on top of the cabinet. Replace faucets for sink and shower/tub. Update the shower head. Tile the floor if the current flooring is vinyl or outdated tile. Visit your local hardware store and speak with a specialist regarding current styles that fit your budget
4. Put in energy efficient windows.
Replace your windows. Energy efficiency has improved, and updating windows will reduce energy cost and enhance curb appeal. Visit your local hardware or window store store. Select windows that fit your budget.
5. Curb appeal means the first impression of your home.
Work in your yard. Curb appeal is someone's first impression of your house. Plant new flowers in your flower beds. Replace overgrown or dead shrubs. Trim the hedges. Rake the leaves. Plant shrubs under your front windows. Pressure-wash your house if it is brick, stone or has vinyl siding. Repaint your house if it is wood. Replace any rotten wood that exists on eaves or siding of house.
6. Reroof your house.
Replace missing shingles on your roof. Reroof your home if needed. Call a local roofing company for estimates. Ask about doing a reroof or a roof-over if total roof replacement is too costly. Homes can have a roof-over one time. A roof-over is when a new roof is placed over an existing roof. Often it is less costly than getting a whole new roof. A new roof on your home not only adds value but curb appeal as well.
7. Keep all receipts.
Keep receipts of all repairs and improvements. Keep receipts of maintenance done on major appliances like the air conditioning. Create a list of improvements you have done to the home. How old is the carpet? Have you replaced doors or light fixtures? Note maintenance or repairs that are not visible to the eye, for example mention whether you have replaced a shower pan or the water pipe between the house and the road. Typically that will improve water pressure in older homes with galvanized pipes. Provide the appraiser with the list if requested.
Tags: your home, your house, Keep receipts, appraiser will, appraiser will compare, Coordinate colors, first impression
