Top Five "Brilliant Ideas" for Making Your Home More Marketable NOW

Your home is the biggest investment you’ll ever make, so keeping it well maintained is a good idea if you’re considering selling it at any point. Here are the top five things you can tackle today to improve your home’s marketability that won’t necessarily break the bank.

1. Bathroom remodeling is the first room to start with for increasing your home's value. If your bathroom(s) are outdated and you’re not going for a complete renovation, start here. Even minor changes on a small budget can have a big impact—for instance, updating your lighting fixtures, removing old wallpaper, and replacing shower curtains aren’t huge investments, but they’ll have a dramatic impact on the overall appeal of the room.

2. Kitchen Makeover. After the bathroom(s), your kitchen is the next most important room to update. A sleek and clean kitchen significantly impacts a buyer’s perception of this important space. If your budget permits, replace old cabinets with new ones. If your budget is small, even a fresh coat of paint on the cabinets will transform them into something more refreshing.

3. Going Green! Energy efficiency and environmentally friendly homes are increasingly attractive for many reasons, but primarily because they lower energy bills. Here are a few ways to increase energy efficiency: add programmable thermostats, switch to water-saving faucets, swap out old windows for new, and plant some trees. Believe it or not, shade from the trees can decrease home cooling costs by as much as 40%!

4. Beautiful landscaping increases curb appeal. If you’ve neglected your yard, clean it up! This is the first impression a home buyer sees when they approach the property, so make it a good one. Prune bushes and trees if necessary, plant flowers, clean up the lawn—these are just a few simple improvements that can leave a lasting impression.

5. Brighten Up. Good lighting makes a big difference—it brightens the space and makes smaller rooms appear larger.

Winter’s here, so take advantage of this time to make small home improvements that will increase your home’s marketability.

Sincerely,

Lynn Donahue & Donna Maley