Published: Dec 02, 2020 | Updated: Dec 16, 2020

How to Increase the Value of Your Home for Resale

If you sell your home one day, you want a great price for it. Add these upgrades as you design your home or as home improvement projects later on.

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Looking for the best ROI (return on investment) in your home when it’s time to sell? Be sure to give home buyers what they are looking for!

Whether you are building a new custom house and are concerned about how to increase your home’s value for appraisal or sale in the future or you are selling an old house, the best home improvements provide a good ROI (return on investment).

When people buy a home today, they care about more square footage, low maintenance, and luxury home upgrades or house renovations that make life easier and more enjoyable.

We are expecting a strong housing market in 2021 for sellers in the suburbs and rural areas to continue from 2020. Here are a few of our picks for the best home improvements for resale in 2021.

Invest in the Kitchen and Bathroom

When you choose to upgrade to modern bathroom fixtures, brushed nickel kitchen faucets, touchless kitchen faucets, modern cabinet hardware, and elegant lighting fixtures, these important rooms feel more luxurious. Sometimes, attention to the little details can make all the difference in what a buyer is willing to pay for a home.

Some kitchen upgrades that can help you sell your home include shaker cabinets, a kitchen island with cabinets, and a large walk-in pantry. People want plenty of storage in their kitchens for cooking utensils, pots, pans, cleaning supplies, and pantry items.

The master bathroom will wow potential homebuyers if you have an oversized walk-in shower with a custom bench. You don’t have to have a tub in the master bathroom if you have one in a second bathroom. But if you have a tub in the master suite, opt for a free-standing soaking tub, not a whirlpool tub.

Put a Spacious Laundry Room on the Main Floor

Today’s buyers want the laundry room on the main floor, ideally beside the master bedroom. No one wants to walk up and down the stairs to the basement constantly lugging heavy baskets of laundry. And no one wants to have a laundry area in the kitchen with laundry all over the kitchen table half the time.

If you can set aside enough square feet to provide a roomy, easy-to-organize laundry room with storage and room for hanging clothes, your buyers will thank you!

Go for Green with Energy Efficiency

If you want great resale value afterward, choose energy-efficient appliances and energy-efficient windows. Buyers want homes that keep their energy bills low and water consumption low. Many people also appreciate having a lower carbon footprint and feeling like they are doing their part to take good care of the environment.

While you are thinking about windows, remember that the more natural light and windows, the better. More windows add value to your home. People want to be able to see the beautiful view outside or, at least, to enjoy all the mood-lifting benefits of natural light inside during the day.

Enhance Curb Appeal with Painting and Great Finishes

It’s hard to beat a home with great curb appeal. Spruce up your home with stone veneer accents or beautiful cement fiber cement siding. Invest in attractive carriage garage doors or a stunning front entry door with glass inserts.

People notice fine details like natural gas lamps on the front porch or a crisply painted front door in a shade of powdered blue, butter yellow, or vibrant red.

While you freshen up the exterior of your home, be sure to work on the landscaping, too. A well-maintained yard with beautiful flowers and a welcoming front porch invite buyers to fall in love with your home.

Install Hardwood Flooring

Even after years of ownership of your home, solid hardwood flooring still sells. Buyers love all types of hardwood floors because they are beautiful, durable, easy to clean, and they reduce allergy issues. Not only that, they can be refinished and look like new again.

When choosing hardwood floor colors, try to keep the color the same throughout the home. Dark hardwood floors with cool undertones are especially popular today, as are whitewashed, gray, and desaturated light colors.

Engineered hardwood flooring is also an attractive option. But whatever hardwood flooring you choose, the more texture, the better. People love distressed, hand-scraped flooring that has character and appears to be aged. Old-looking wood adds warmth to a modern home in a beautiful way.

Build Amazing Outdoor Spaces

In 2020, outdoor living surged as many people wanted to create a backyard oasis to enjoy with their families. We expect this trend to continue and know that a well-maintained deck, front porch, screened-in back porch, or patio will attract a lot of attention from potential buyers.

People want room to spread out and enjoy nature and the sunlight. They love to have outdoor living rooms, outdoor kitchens, and wide porches with porch swings to relax with friends and family.

If you can, include a custom outdoor fireplace or fire pit in your backyard. Imagine the memories you and your family will get to cherish with an outdoor living space like that!

Include a Finished Basement to Increase Square Footage

Boost your home’s value by adding more heated square footage. If you have a basement in your home, or you can plan one in your new custom home design, be sure to finish it out. This can increase your home’s size by 30-50% depending on your house plan.

Even if you don’t think you need it now, it is always handy to have an in-law suite or basement apartment for guests. Or you may need it for a family member in the future. Many homebuyers appreciate large homes with space for parents, in-laws, grandparents, or grown children.

If you don’t have guests at the time, use that finished basement for a home gym, a hobby room, extra storage space for the holiday decorations, a homework room, or a beautiful home office.