Being a homeowner is an investment, much like any other, and that means it needs looking after in order to maintain its value. It needs a bit of tender loving care every now and then, as well as a consistent review, to see what could be changed, updated, or sold to ensure your home is appreciating faster than ever.
However, many people find this part of the job quite hard. Your home is yours, and you want it to be for life, so why does it matter about the value? Plus, when you’ve got a family to worry about, homecare can really start to slip. Well, if your home has as much value as it did the day you bought it, you simply won’t see a penny of the work you’ve put in over the years!
Raising your kids, creating a dream, and really making your home the best place to be on your street are three different jobs that deserve a bit of reparation. And seeing as the kids may want to sell one day, it’s up to you to do the bulk of the value legwork! So, with all of this in mind, here are some of the best (and easiest!) ways to maintain the value of your property.
Start with the Front Door
But not just the front door – make sure you’re working with the entire exterior of your home, because the way your property looks to the outside world matters a lot more than you think! Most often known as ‘curb appeal’, a house that looks good from the outside is going to be perceived as being worth a lot more than a house that’s been left to get a bit grubby over the years. Of course, this seems only natural, but does it actually affect the value of the home overall? Yes!
So, clean and repaint that front door. Get those windows cleaned up, and scrape the rot off of those frames, and make sure they’re a sparkling white too. Put down some shingles or pebbles outside your front door, if your home has a pathway, and never, ever let your home go without a few plants planted in the front yard as well.
Your Car Could Use Some Work
While not a part of your home per se, it is a huge part of running a functioning household, and shouldn’t be forgotten in your efforts to maintain some value. And seeing as you’re already outside trying to improve and/or maintain your curb appeal, you might as well see what you can do!
Because your car could be making you money in 5 or 10 years time, if you’ve had some custom work done or some new features fitted. Indeed, a classic car can fetch thousands simply because of its age, but if you’ve got a vehicle from a couple of years ago, you don’t have to worry about the amount of value you’ve lost. Private number plates, and things like new rims on the tires, a new engine in the hood, and even just getting it cleaned up can all have a great effect on the sale price of your vehicle!
Keep it Clean
Naturally, you’re going to keep your home clean simply because you live there. However, if you regularly deep clean the place, you’re going to notice sale price estimates being a lot nicer whenever you invite an agent or a surveyor over! Because a clean home is a desirable home, and when you make that living room shine, you put your property’s best foot forward.
So, if there’s not much room in the budget for any upgrades or renovations at the moment, cleaning is the policy to go with. Make sure your home is free of dirt (including pests), and that your appliances and systems are regularly seen to. Good plumbing is a value soarer!
What You Should Keep in Mind
The value of your home may depreciate over time, and the land it sits on is going to appreciate – that’s just the natural rule of the market. However, when it comes to maintaining as much value as is possible, and even actively improving on your sale price, there’s a lot you can do to push your return up and up! It’s not a lost cause – make sure you’re doing what you can to keep your house a player on the market, even when you have no intention of selling. It’s going to matter one day!
