A home appraisal is a key step in figuring out the real value of your home.

This means your house should be in optimal condition, so it will be appraised at the highest potential value.

While it may be tempting to go for expensive refurbishments, there are more practical things you can do to effectively raise the market value of your home…

A touch-up with a Spackle

If you've lived in your home for more than a year, you've probably hung things on the walls, put up shelves, or simply had accidents that resulted in small damage. Now is the time to repair those marks.

Filling these crevices with a little spackle and painting over the area will leave your walls looking like new. This may not add value to your home, but it will prevent the appraiser from making deductions for damage.

As Long as You're Painting...

After you've cleaned up your walls, the next step should be a fresh paint job. Repainting worn trim and moldings around the home can make it feel close to new again.

Head outside and touch up the trim around the windows and doors as well. This should increase curb appeal and help you add value to the home. Any area where the paint is peeling, chipping, or simply has lost its luster should be cleaned up with a fresh lick of paint.

Update Your Crawl Spaces

Upgrading your crawl space encapsulation is a move that is increasing in popularity. Crawl spaces are vital for providing homeowners and contractors with access to important systems of the home. However, these spaces are vulnerable to moisture and water damage caused by humidity and harsh weather conditions.

In drier climates, dust and insects can mess with HVAC systems. To protect your crawl spaces, homeowners should seal these areas with polyethylene barriers to keep out moisture, dust, and pests.

Clean top to bottom

Now is the time for that deep clean you’ve always wanted to do. If you have young children and pets, there may be odors and damage that might not be noticeable to you, but strong odors and scuffed hardwood floors will be the first things your appraiser notices.

You might want to think about hiring professionals to wax the floors, shampoo the carpets, and conduct an intensive cleaning of the entire home.

Conduct Other Repairs

You need to tour your home with the mindset of a buyer. Put yourself in their shoes and this will help you identify problems that you live with every day but just don't notice anymore.

Look for things that need to be repaired, such as a loose handrail, a leaky faucet, or a shorted electrical outlet. Repairing these problems ahead of time will ensure you won't lose money on the appraisal.

These small suggestions can help you save thousands of dollars when it comes to your appraisal. The ideas provided here should give you a head start, but if you have additional questions on how to add more value to your home, don't hesitate to reach out to us.