Five Design Tips to Improve Your Resale Value

When decorating a home, most of the focus tends to get put into personalizing the interior design features. The exterior is largely meant to be functional: replacing shingles, cleaning the siding, and so on. However, both become important when you’re trying to attract a buyer.

By dedicating some time to home improvement projects, you can drastically improve the timeline and profit when selling your home. Here are five design tips to improve your resale value.

Fix or Upgrade the Windows

Windows are one of the most important areas on which to focus your attention when trying to sell your home. Not only do they play a significant role in soundproofing and temperature control, but they are also a notable visual aspect of your home. If replacing old windows isn’t feasible, look at how you can upgrade your windows to appeal to potential buyers.

Simple upgrades like installing Plantation Shutters inside to reduce the need for window treatments or bulky blinds can be a unique feature that potential buyers will notice. Take a look at the windows from outside as well. Do the trim and shutters need a fresh coat of paint? When was the last time you washed the exterior glass? These little touches improve curb appeal and invoke positive feelings when potential buyers look around.

Go Neutral

Nothing improves the appearance of your home like a fresh coat of paint. If you’ve been living in the same home for some time, you may have changed the rooms to reflect your personality. However, your preferred shades of violet may not appeal to the masses. When trying to sell your home, you want it to appear as a blank canvas where potential buyers can envision their own personality in the design.

Purchase neutral paint colors and apply a fresh coat of paint throughout your home. Avoid white, opting instead for warm tans and grays and even lighter shades of greens and yellows.

Low-Maintenance Landscaping

Curb appeal plays a significant role in the resale value of your home; the exterior will make the first impression on a potential buyer. Taking time to focus on the outside– beyond functionality– will generate great returns on your investment.

Trim the grass and plant more in bare spots. Freshen up any gardens with new mulch and easy-to-care-for perennials and shrubs. Use stained wood or stone stackers to create separation between walkways, garden areas, and the lawn to keep things neat and tidy.

Upgrade the Lights

If you live in an older home, your lighting might be overly ornate bordering on gaudy. Replacing light fixtures can change the focal point of a room. Improve the resale value of your home by replacing old, dated fixtures with newer, sleeker models. Look for lighting that emulates natural, diffused light, rather than the downcast shadows of recessed lighting.

In rooms that have ceiling fans, look for something modern yet generic. The goal is to be functional without creating strong feelings about the appearance of the apparatus. As stated previously, creating a neutral environment is what sells homes.

Small Bathroom and Kitchen Upgrades

The bathroom and kitchen are often the selling points of a home. By making small upgrades in each, you can improve the resale value of your home without breaking the bank. Start by replacing older toilets with newer, energy-efficient models. Old fixtures should be upgraded with something new and chic. Focus on incorporating both energy-efficiency and style.

If your kitchen is dated or small, look into ways to organize it to showcase its full potential. By incorporating light and minimizing clutter, you can make these small spaces look bigger than they really are.

When in doubt, ask a real estate agent to take a look at your home and make recommendations on where to focus your attention. Depending on your timeline and motivations, you may be able to significantly boost your return on investment with a few small design changes.

Images – A restored ranch home in California | design by A 1000x Better & photos by Alex Zarour