There are a number of ways you can increase the value of your home without spending a fortune. The items on this list are not difficult, and most of them can be completed for a few hundred dollars or less.
- Power wash your home’s siding.
The exterior of your home gets dirty and grimy over the winter, and can even attract mold. To make it look clean and bright, have it professionally power washed by a licensed contractor. Once the work is done, your home will look much more attractive.
- Update the exterior to create curb appeal.
An easy way to add value to your home is to update its exterior. Painting the front door a bright color, updating its hardware and replacing outdated an outdated light fixture can go a long way toward increasing the value of your home.
Clear out any weeds and trim shrubs and trees on your front lawn. Plant some bright flowers near the front door. You can add flower beds, hang plants, or place attractive pots or flower boxes, depending on your preference and the style of your home.
- Update your front door to a steel model.
Steel entry doors are not only stylish, but they also help to keep you, your family and possessions safe and secure. Change out the existing door for a steel one and you will give your home’s value a boost. You should be able to recoup the cost of this investment if you decide to sell your home, since potential buyers will pay more for a home with this feature.
- Apply a fresh coat of paint.
Painting your home (inside and out) is a relatively inexpensive way to give it a fresh new look. If you are thinking of putting your home on the market, stick to neutral colors when making your selection. Make sure you pay special attention when doing the necessary preparation work before applying your paint by caulking around windows, doors and tubs to give your top coat a clean finish and to protect against water damage.
- Update your kitchen cabinets by applying a coat of paint.
If you don’t have the budget to replace your kitchen cabinets, you can give them a new (and more expensive) look by giving them a thorough cleaning and applying a couple of coats of paint. For a stunning modern kitchen, consider painting your cabinets black and adding silver hardware. If you want to keep a very clean, classic look, paint your kitchen cabinets white. You can then add white, metal, or colored handles and drawer pulls.
- Pull up carpet to expose hardwood floors.
You may have hardwood floors under older carpeting in your home. To find out, gently loosen a corner of the existing flooring and pull it up to reveal what is underneath. If there is hardwood flooring, you will need to remove the carpet and pull up the staples securing it in place.
Depending on the condition of the hardwood, you may be able to clean it and then use it right away. If not, you’ll have to refinish the wood and apply a protective coat of polyurethane first.
- Remove stucco ceilings.
The popcorn ceilings look was popular for a few decades, and it was a good strategy to hide minor imperfections in a ceiling. Now, this decorating feature is considered outdated and should be removed. Either doing this job yourself or hiring a professional to remove the stucco and repainting the ceiling will give your home an updated look.
- Have your HVAC system inspected.
Contact a licensed HVAC contractor to have your furnace and A/C unit fully inspected and serviced. You want to make sure that they are running efficiently and catch any minor problems with these systems before they turn into major (and more expensive) ones. Be sure to keep records of when the inspections were conducted and the results to prove that these systems are in good working order.
MightyServ is your Greater Los Angeles HVAC contractor. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for your heating and air conditioning system inspection and tune-up.
