Increasing the value of a house may sound like a daunting or expensive task, but it doesn’t have to be! There are some simple things you can do that will increase the home’s value by a much larger amount than you put into it. From paint jobs to simple organization, the options for increasing the value of your house range far and wide.

1) Upgrade the Kitchen

One of the first things you should do to make your home worth more is upgrade the kitchen. There are big and small ways to do this, but they will all help. Some of the smaller updates you can try are changing out appliances and furniture to make the space look cleaner or more modern. Make sure the appliances and furniture match a certain style, though. Buyers could be turned off by an inconsistent theme.

            Other, more time-consuming ways to update your kitchen are to change out flooring, repaint the walls, add backsplash, replace countertops and other such projects. These changes will take more time than simply replacing appliances, but they will also pay back dividends when you make the sale. Backsplash is an upgrade that many homeowners have implemented, as it brings a high class look to a space for a relatively low cost!

2) Update the Bathroom

            Bathrooms, like kitchens, are used often and experience a great amount of wear-and-tear. To sell your house quicker and for a higher price, there are a few steps you can take to make your bathroom look better. First, give everything a deep clean! You’d be surprised what a little bleach and grout-remover can do to an old bathroom. To freshen up a drab bathroom, try changing up the paint! It’s cheap and may be all your bathroom needs to entice buyers.

            If you don’t mind bigger projects, try updating fixtures, replacing piping, and putting in new tile. A new toilet, faucet, and bathtub will transform a bathroom. Replace old metal pipes with modern CPVC piping for a simpler plumbing system.  Finally, there are thousands of tiles to choose from, so it is a great way to express yourself while also increasing the value of your house. Because they are used all the time, bathrooms should be a big focus when trying to sell your house!

3) Add New Paint Throughout the House

            It may seem inconvenient but adding a fresh coat of paint can totally overhaul a home. If you go through each room and add a new, up-to-date color of paint to each room, the value of your house will go way up! This is especially important if you have children. Kids are not kind to walls, often leaving crayon, permanent marker, and greasy handprints right below your eye level. Most of these things can be washed away, but that can fade paint color drastically. Even if the colors are already good, a fresh coat can make a world of difference!

4) Consider Creating an Open Floorplan if Your home Doesn’t Already Have One

            In case you’ve been in a coma for the last 10 years, open floor plans have taken over! People in the market for a house likely want a home with a large, welcoming living space. Homebuyers, in general, don’t want private offices or multiple living rooms anymore. Instead, most people would rather opt for an open area with access to the kitchen and plenty of seating.

            This is something that could drastically increase the price of your house but is also very difficult and expensive to do right. You will probably need to tear down at least one wall, which means wiring and possibly plumbing will need to be reworked. This is difficult renovation that should not be undertaken without professionals.

5) Enhance the Curbside Appeal

            The last of these 5 tips for increasing the value of your home is to enhance the curbside appeal of your house. The outside of the house is the first thing people see, so it needs to look good! Many ways to enhance curb appeal exist. First, you can simply clean up. Raking leaves, mowing the lawn, edging the driveway, and pulling weeds are all simple ways of making your home look better from the street.

            You can also plant things. Bright flowers in a flowerbed can make a house stand out from the rest on the street. If you know you’ll be selling your home several years down the line, planting trees is a strategic long-term investment that could pay off big time. Everyone loves some shade! If your grass is patchy or brown, consider spending money on sod. Fresh grass brightens up a yard like nothing else can!

            Whether you’re selling your home next month or next decade, it’s never too early to think about what will increase its resale value. Some renovations are inexpensive, and others are pricey, but they all have the potential to increase the value of your home! Get started by checking out pipe and valve products from CIS that can help with any plumbing updates.