Raise the value of your home with these 7 simple home improvements

Home improvement is rarely cheap, but there are ways to keep your costs down. In fact, there are a lot of things you can do to improve your home or flat that cost relatively little but can improve the value of your property a lot. If you're looking for a cheap and easy way to increase the selling value of your home, try these areas.

Landscape 

Improving the appearance of your garden is one of the best ways to increase the value of your home. In fact, a homeowner can expect to earn about 107% of what he or she invests into landscaping when it's time to sell a property. Best of all, this can be improved slowly as funds become available. Some ideas for inspiration here.

Kitchen appliances 

Replacing an old fridge or range can cost some money, but it's not nearly as expensive as an entire kitchen remodel. New appliances can refresh the look of a kitchen for a fraction of the cost. Furthermore, new appliances tend to be more energy efficient, increasing the chance that you'll make back your investment by saving on your utility bills before it's time to sell.

Window treatments 

Curtains and blinds can be purchased relatively cheaply, and they do a lot to make an otherwise cheaply furnished room look like it was put together by a professional. On the outside of a home, shutters not only enhance the curb appeal, but they also act as a barrier in the event of major storm.

Electrical outlets 

If you live in an older home, you might want to consider hiring an electrician to install extra outlets. Many homes that were built before the 1990s do not have the capacity for computers and large entertainment centres. By adding outlets, you make your home a lot more modern.

Home theatre

For similar reasons, a home theatre system can be a great selling feature. If you don't have the money to construct an addition to your home, consider adding built-in speakers and improving the television. Don’t get too carried away, though!

Paint. 

This is one of the cheapest ways to improve the look of any room in your house. While it can be time-consuming, a fresh coat of paint is a good way to brighten up just about any room. If you're looking to sell, however, pick a neutral colour that can go with just about any potential buyer's furniture.

Cabinet hardware. 

Replacing all of the cabinetry in a kitchen or bathroom is expensive, but swapping out the cabinet pulls is relatively cheap. Updating the hardware can modernise a whole room.

Some of these improvements are so cheap and easy that anyone could do them themselves. Others, like renovating your kitchen, require a substantial spend. If you are going down the route of refinancing to pay for it, check out this mortgage interest calculator in order to forecast what the real cost will be over the long term.

These are tried and tested ways to add value. Which ones you choose (and there are more than these) is up to you!