35 ways to add value to your home & get ready to sell

A new year always brings new plans for your home, and you might be thinking that now is  the perfect time your home on the market. So with Spring being the most popular time to sell, now is the perfect time to make some little tweaks to get your place RightMove-ready. 

Here's lots of ways you can add value to your home  - some you can do quickly and without breaking the bank, and some are perfect for tackling if you've got a little more time spare.

Easy quick-fixes to freshen things up

Add curb appeal - This is the first thing a potential buyer will see when they pull up to your house, so make first impressions count! Re-paint your door, door frames and windows, as well as your door step to make the front of your home sing. 

Adding a hanging basket outside, some flowers under your windowsill, or even some cheap bay trees either side of your front door will make a big difference too. 

If you've got a driveway or front path, make sure you get rid of any weeds currently making themselves comfortable, and even refreshing the stones can make a big impact.  

Inside your home, take a walk around and make a note of anything you spot that's looking a bit tired. Touching up paintwork, de-cobwebbing, and giving everywhere a really good deep clean is always a must. 

The hallway is the first thing they'll see when stepping into your home, so pack away all coats and shoes and make sure this area is as tidy as possible. 

The bathroom and kitchen are always the two most important spaces in a home to a buyer, as they're the most expensive to put right. So it makes sense to focus your efforts in there, and make sure they're sparkling clean and at their absolute best before showing someone round. 

A cheap grout pen, which you can pick up in most hardware stores, is a great way to refresh the look of your tiles, and how about applying new silicone to the shower or bath? Replacing the toilet seat is another really simple way of giving your bathroom a revamp.

De-cluttering is another really important thing - buyers want to envision what the home would be like for them to live in, and piles of junk doesn't give off the best impression. So use this as an opportunity to have a huge clear-out - you're not going to want to take all that stuff to a new home anyway do you?! 

Not only that, but having a de-clutter will naturally make rooms look bigger, and therefore ensure your home is as attractive to a viewer as possible. My top spring cleaning and de-cluttering tips are in this post here. 

Removing things from your kitchen worktops is another easy way to make a difference - hide away bulky items like slow cookers, and bread makers for example, as this makes it appear that you don't have enough room in your cupboards for these items.

And on that note, if you want to allow a viewer to really picture themselves living in your home, try de-personalising as much as you can. Removing any photos you've got on display, or tidying up kids toys, for example.

Freshen up any old battered items like towels, tea towels, bath mats or oven gloves, to instantly brighten up a room. You could even, like me, have some 'show' items to whip out when a viewer is due - and these are all items that can be taken a new home, so not a complete waste of money either!

Jazz up your home with fresh flowers and plants, which work to make everything look brighter and more cheerful. Pop some brightly coloured plants in pots on your patio too, especially important if everything's looking a bit dead outside. 

Whilst out there, give the fence a lick of paint, and fix any broken areas. If the problem is with your neighbours fence, why not offer to fix theirs too? There's nothing more off-putting to a buyer than a scruffy looking next-door property.

Finally, rid your home of any nasty smells with a new air freshener or candle, and pop some LED light bulbs in your lamps to really give a cosy feel.

Larger projects if you've got a bit more time 

If you've got a bit more time and money to spend, then why not add serious value to your home with a larger project. For example, adding some decking or a patio area into your garden will help viewers envision themselves sat out in the garden during the summer months. 

If you're feeling a bit braver why not knock down an existing wall in your home to create an open plan living space. Not only will this give you more space to play with, it'll open your home up and give a serious feeling of space.

And in the exact opposite of that, could you split up some larger rooms to create an extra bedroom or an always attractive en-suite upstairs?

If you've not got a downstairs loo at the moment is there space in your under stairs cupboard to create a lovely little WC? Finally if space in your home really is an issue, you could apply for planning permission for an extension to give buyers an idea of what they could do with a property. 

You don't need to even consider building the extra space yourself, but giving a future buyer some ideas might just sway them that this is the home for them. 

What other ways have you added value to your home? 

Thanks for reading, 
Sam Xx