How to increase your property's value on a budget

Whether you’re moving from a family home, upsizing an apartment or selling an investment, increasing the value of your property is achievable for each unique homeowner. With a few simple exterior and interior touches, you can give your property a boost in value without a hefty renovation or costly overhaul.

Bathroom

It’s an important and frequented room of the house so it’s no surprise that your bathroom can play a pivotal role in affecting a buyer’s decision. When you’re on a budget, small yet meaningful touches to the space can go a long way in modernising a home.

Replacing a rusty old faucet with a slick, modern tap can go a long way. Faucet repairs and replacements can be relatively easy to arrange with an expert plumber and the detail can add an instant sparkle to your bathroom. Along with a new faucet, consider a dual toilet flush or versatile showerheads to ensure your bathroom is water efficient, an important consideration for potential buyers.

Consider combining the new faucet with a new vanity or sliding bathroom door to make the space appear new and barely used. Modern vanities help your bathroom look fresh and can even solve a storage shortage problem.

But, what’s a good looking bathroom without a solid foundation? Organise a routine check of your bathroom’s waterproofing and structural soundness to give your home a persuasive point of difference. While you’re at it, resurfacing any cracked or chipped tiling will affect the overall look of your bathroom.

Living areas

One of the most common questions asked by homebuyers relates to the natural lighting of the house. Adding skylights to key areas of your home that aren’t lucky to be bathed in morning light can influence the value and desirability of your home.

Skylights are available in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit the style and look you prefer and can be either fixed or manually controlled to improve your home. And better yet, homes with environmentally friendly technology that will help with energy efficiency, such as solar panels or skylights often sell for more than homes without.

Kitchen

The kitchen is a versatile area and modern, clean kitchens are highly valued. A range of lighting options that can accommodate your unique kitchen and accentuate its strengths can increase the value of your home.

If you have an existing kitchen island that is easy on the eyes, help potential buyers recognise its value with a modern light feature above it. An LED pendant light or sconces cast a soft glow on your countertop while you’re preparing meals or enjoying a homemade dish. Downlights are another common lighting addition to kitchens, functioning as a task light or illuminating different surfaces of the kitchen. Effective lighting is essential for your kitchen so don’t hesitate to add a mix of different light sources to accentuate your unique kitchen.

Without the budget or time for a kitchen wide renovation, start with an assessment of your storage space and refresh your cabinet doors with new knobs and handles, add shelving options or apply a bright new finish. Connect with a handyman or cabinet maker and make the upsize a priority.

Refresh the look of your stovetop and oven and replace any appliances older than ten years. Stainless steel options add a minimalist look to your kitchen and can help attract modern buyers.

Front yard

Increase curb appeal in just one glance with some greenery on your front yard.

Start with a simple assessment of your front yard and if there’s one thing that will boost the value of your home instantly, it’s trees. Homebuyers love properties on leafy streets so set the stage with some greenery on your front steps.

Ensure your lawn is clean around the edges as proper maintenance is an easily distinguishable trait. Where you lack trees, visit your local nursery to find mature hedges or plants. Don’t get too adventurous and limit the spread of plants to a few species.

Backyard

Help potential homeowners see themselves living in your home by adding some comfort and warmth to your garden with some budgeted touches.

Start with a clean slate by mowing your lawn and trimming any overgrown hedges. Invest in an arborist to remove any overhanging branches that litter the yard with leaves or a pool cleaner to remove any green algae from a backyard pool. Don’t forget to enhance the space with a few pots of colourful florals too.

If budget doesn’t allow for a spacious patio or pergola, consider adding a retractable awning, shade sail or portable awning for a less expensive option.

Even if a resale is not around the corner for you, every homeowner can afford to be vigilant about the value of their property. Commit to the growing value of your home with small steps that won’t cost a fortune so that when the time comes for the ink on the contract to dry, you’ll be celebrating the skyrocketing value of your home.