Affordable Ways to Increase Your Home’s Value (While Interest Rates Rise)

Little improvements to your home and yard can pay off big for you and your family – and even more when you sell your home. We’ll show you some affordable ways to increase your home’s value (while interest
rates rise). Why should you care about interest rates? Well, if you put your home improvements on a credit card and miss a payment or payments, you’ll pay much more in interest today than a year ago. Best to stick with
projects you can pay for with cash or a little savings. What do many homeowners and would-be homebuyers want today? Open spaces indoors and out, a low-to-no maintenance yard, and refreshed décor — especially in older houses.

Check out these tips for better enjoyment

of your home with an eye on getting the most when selling your
Atlanta house.

Outdoor Boosters

Atlanta residents cry out for relief from Georgia’s hot summers. What better way to entice would-be homeowners (and boost your property value) than to install an in-ground pool in your backyard!

OK, so maybe a pool isn’t the most affordable way to increase your home’s value (or you already have one) –– not to worry! Here’s a list of additional outdoor boosters to increase your property value:

• Paint or stain all shutters, window frames, decks, porches, railings, and doors.
• Fix or replace broken mailboxes, lighting fixtures, and house address numbers.
• Repair crumbling cement on patios, walkways, and driveways. While you’re at it, power wash the drive to remove dirt and grime.
• Install a barbecue, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, tool shed, or pergola.

Privacy fencing is a plus if you have small children or pets. Choose from wood, iron, steel, thick glass blocks, or other available materials. Whether you hire a contractor or DIY, read up on property line and fence laws in Georgia.

Indoor Upgrades

Heat and humidity go hand-in-hand in Georgia, but we also get pretty low winter temperatures. Hire professional contractors to check out your air conditioning and ventilation systems, furnace, and plumbing. Simple inside upgrades may include:
● Removing moldy carpet and replacing warped flooring.
● Stripping off old wallpaper and painting with neutral colors.
● Installing ceiling fans to circulate air throughout the house.
● Replacing older light fixtures and using LED bulbs.

Living Space

Formal dining rooms are out — open kitchens are in. People want large areas where they can hang out, socialize, and watch television while cooking and eating. It’s not very practical to tear things up if the house has a closed-in kitchen. But removing clutter, adding shelves, and maximizing storage space won’t cost much, and it will showcase your kitchen in a brighter light. Speaking of which, add some bright lights and a few smart, energy-efficient appliances to this newly modernized kitchen.

Home offices are also in style. People want a dedicated space to work, pay bills, socialize online, and play games. If your house doesn’t have an office or loft, you can easily create space in a basement or den with room dividers or bookcases.

Bathrooms

Spend a few dollars at your favorite home improvement store for a bathroom refresh. While replacing old linoleum and vinyl flooring is optimal, everyone has different decorating tastes, and you may end up choosing the “wrong” thing. Instead, scrub the floors, bathtub(s), and shower(s). Replace shower curtains (or doors) and toilet seats. Clean or replace rusty faucets and dirty or broken light fixtures.

Home value isn’t just about hardscaping and new décor. The less work you have to put into the house and property, the more you’ll and your family will enjoy it. So, do the grunt work to increase its value (financially and aesthetically). Mow the lawn, trim up shrubs and trees, weed flower beds, and apply ground covers. Paint, clean, and replace old fixtures, decks, and porches. The more physical work you do yourself, the less money you’ll shell out, which means a better return for you!

And remember, if you can pay for your home improvements without credit cards, do it. Don’t bite off more than you can chew (or pay off every month). Why? If you make only the minimum payments on your credit card, it will take you years to pay off the cost of that fire pit, bathroom remodel, or other small home improvement.

Content contributed by: Teri Silver

Teri Silver is a journalist and outdoor enthusiast. She and her husband live on 5 acres with a vast lawn, three gardens, a farm, a pond, many trees, and a lot of yard work! The best parts of the year are summer and fall when home-grown veggies are on the dinner table.