Add it Up

It’s a seller’s housing market, but that doesn’t mean you have to be complacent about your home’s value. Here are several projects that can add value to your home, so that when you do decide to sell, you’ll get the best offers possible.

Kitchen Upgrades

Upgrading items in your kitchen is an easy way to add value to your home. The first place to start is your countertops. If they’re laminate, try changing them to some sort of stone. In a recent survey, 57 percent of home buyers preferred a stone countertop in their kitchens, while just eight percent preferred laminate. You could also upgrade your appliances to energy-efficient models. As USA Today notes, these minor kitchen changes typically yield an 87 percent return on your investment.

Landscaping

The appeal of “curb appeal” is real. Home buyers love seeing a well-maintained exterior, and you should too — simple landscaping can reap huge returns. Basic yard care will run you an average of $340, but can yield a 539 percent return. Likewise, adding mulch to your home’s exterior can cost about $275, but yield a 536 percent return.

Opening Up

If you want to go big, go open. An open floor plan can make your home enticing to buyers. You’ll want to focus on the kitchen. That same home buyers’ survey found that 85 percent of buyers prefer an open floor plan between the dining room and kitchen, and 79 percent preferred an open floor plan between the family room and kitchen. The more value you add to your home, the more likely you are to get attractive offers from buyers.