How to add value to your property while staying at home

With all of the doom, gloom and uncertainty COVID-19 has created, many of us are finding ourselves stuck at home bingeing on Netflix to avoid social interaction.

While that may be a relaxing option, you could use the time in a much more constructive way by undertaking easy projects to improve the value of your home.

Not only will this give you a purpose and improve your headspace, it also gives you instantaneous reward. And when it comes time to sell your home, updates will make it more appealing to buyers.

Renovating for Profit’s Cherie Barber suggests it’s “a great time to fix all of those odd maintenance tasks we have been neglecting”.

1. Upgrade the facade

This is the first impression people get, so look to refresh the garden beds, trim shrubs and tidy the edging.

Evaluate the condition of the exterior surfaces. Maybe they just need a good clean, or you can make over the facade by selecting and painting fresh, dynamic colours on the gutters and doors. Paving paint can be applied to give pathways a makeover.

2. Refresh kitchen cabinets

If you have an old timber kitchen or laminate cabinetry, these can be resurfaced and modernised.

For timber, initially coat the cabinets with a primer with a built-in sealer so timber tannins don’t leach through the paint. After the primer has dried, apply two coats of paint.

Laminate paint can be applied to laminate and melamine cabinets to refresh them. Paint can be tinted to the colour of your choice to match the surrounding decor.

Also consider upgrading the door handles and pulls, which can make a huge impact for very little cost or effort.

3. Update tiles

Kitchen splashback tiles and bathroom tiles can seriously date a kitchen or bathroom. “You can instantly transform a kitchen using tile paint,” says Barber. “Think light, bright and clean as it will make the room look modern and appear larger.”

4. Paint the walls

Barber calls paint “liquid gold” as it is the easiest transformation yet has a major impact, and it’s extremely budget-friendly.

If you are thinking about selling in the near future, don’t use bold colours. Instead, select conservative, clean, modern colours.

5. Decorate with wallpaper

Whether you choose to do an entire room or just a feature wall, wallpaper can give your room some texture and personality.

Modern wallpapers can be applied easily by applying the paste directly to the wall, then hang the wallpaper.

While wallpaper can add wow-factor, it may be polarising to some buyers, so be cautious in your choice of pattern as large bold prints can make rooms feel closed in.

6. Replace the curtains

Heavy curtains make rooms feel dark and small, and vertical blinds can feel dated.

“Replace them with white slimline venetian blinds as they make the room feel fresher, brighter, larger and more modern,” says Barber.

7. Clear out the pantry

In these times of self-isolation, it is an excellent time to stop being wasteful and use all of those ingredients which have crept into the back of the cupboard. Not only will you discover long lost delicacies which will inspire some meal plans, but you will also save money using what you already have. Search for new recipes online for any obscure pantry items.

If you are looking to sell in the future, purchase matching storage containers and reorganise the pantry. Tidying the space will highlight its storage capacity, and create another favourable impression with buyers.

8. Refresh the deck

With winter approaching, it’s a great time to seal the deck to protect it from wet weather.

Thoroughly clean the deck, then apply oil to the tint of your choice. The timber will look well cared for, which will appeal to potential buyers.

9. Stage your own home

Look at every room in your house as if you were seeing it for the first time. Does it feel crowded, or even too empty? What textures and colours are working? What is clashing?

Look to rearrange the furniture for a better flow. Recover old cushions with new cushion covers to add some new colour and texture.  Sometimes it’s simply a matter of decluttering and working with what you already have.

If you are staying home, you can order new decor items online and select from the vast array of designs and textures.