http://blog.homesearchmass.com/four-easy-ways- to- improve- the-value-of-your-home/ June 10, 2013

Four Easy Ways to Improve the Value of Your Home

How To Improve The Value Of Your Home

Unless you’ve invested thousands in renovat ions ordiscovered you’ve lived on historical property over thelast few years, your home value has probably taken ahit . According to Patriot ledger.com, Massachusettsproperty owners lost $106 billion in value during thefour years following the economic crash. Valuesdropped almost 11 percent statewide, andhomeowners st ill lick their wounds as the economyrecovers.

While only t ime can restore home values to what theywere in 2007, homeowners aren’t helpless in theiref forts to boost values. When it comes t ime to sellyour home, the lit t le things can add up to make a bigdif ference. Consider these small upgrades if you’relooking to make improvements to your home on abudget. Sometimes it is the lit t le things that can makea huge dif ference in your ability to sell your home in at imely fashion.

Clean the CarpetsIt ’s one of of the most common thoughts when home buyers tour propert ies: “Well, we’re going toneed to replace the carpet.” Af ter years of dirty shoes, spilled drinks and other messy mishaps,many homeowners grow to accept their stained foundat ions. Replacing carpet is an expensiveinconvenience, however, and if prospect ive buyers tour a home with regularly cleaned carpets,they’ll have more money to add to their of fers. Have your carpets cleaned annually to improve thechances that the next homeowner will be able to live with them. In between cleanings, vacuumregularly and clean up any spills with a stain-remover.

Take Care of Your YardObviously, manicured grass, living plants and a groomed landscape makes a home look better,raising its value. Well-kept yards also inspire surrounding homeowners to take care of theirpropert ies. As a neighborhood collect ively spends t ime manicuring its lawns, its value goes up, asdo the values of the homes within it . Get some exercise and take care of your yard. While you’re atit , lend a hand to your neighbor. Both of you will benef it .

Remove Popcorn CeilingsA popular t rends in the 70s and 80s, spray-on texture, or popcorn, ceilings have gone out of style.According to Fixandf lipnetwork.com, these unsight ly ceilings decrease home values and deterprospect ive buyers. Fortunately, this out-of-date materials comes of f relat ively easily. Some of thematerial used to create popcorn ceilings in the 70s and 80s contained asbestos. Spray water onthe popcorn, scrap of f a piece with a drywall knife and send it to a lab for inspect ion before you

begin. If results come back clear, cont inue spraying and scraping the ceiling unt il its bare. A freshcoat of paint will raise the value of your home and remove an outdated eye-sore.

Change the Locks and Door HardwareWhile pools, backyards and other luxuries are nice, homes have simple fundamental purposes: toprovide shelter and ensure safety. If the locks on your doors are more than 15 years old, chancesare an experienced burglar could slip past them without much ef fort . Improve your home’s securityby replacing shoddy locks with 21st century deadbolt locks. Not only will the locks look muchbetter, they will also increase the visual security of your home as well. New ans shiny door handlesgo a long way for lit t le money. Just that extra lit t le touch can change the appearance of yourentry.

If you’re looking to make a serious investment in home safety, security companies can provideadvanced surveillance technology and 24/7 monitoring. Sturdy locks are a reasonable alternat ive,however, and will deter petty thef ts hoping to get an easy steal. Consumerreports.org rates theMedeco Maxum lock highest in its class.

These are four quick t ips that can go a long way in not only increasing the value of your home butmaking it a lot more salable in the process.