Homeowner Tips: Increasing Home Value

With the New Year less than a week away, this is commonly a time of reflection and evaluation. Do you plan to sell your home at some point in the future? The upcoming year might be a good time to focus on increasing your home's value.

Homeowner Tips: Increasing Home Value

From adding hardwood floors and more light, to selecting natural materials and paint, here are San Jose Hardwood Floors' 6 tips for the homeowner that's looking to invest in their home in 2014:

1. Improve the air quality in your home. No one wants to be around contaminants and allergens regularly. One great way to improve air quality is to replace older carpets with a hard surface like tile, laminate or hardwood floors. As HGTV explains, "Hard-surface floors are much easier to keep clean, don't hold odors, give your home an updated look and, in general, are more appealing to buyers."
2. Update your kitchen. This investment is your best bet for a return, with kitchen remodels often netting an 80-85% return on average. What changes should you make? Bankrate recommends:
   • "Solid surface counters and high-quality flooring, such as wood, laminate, tile or stone"
   • "Newer appliances in working order"
   • "Cabinetry in good condition"
3. Opt for natural materials. Hardwood floors and laminate are a good investment throughout the home, and by choosing eco-friendly flooring you're providing another selling point when you do decide to put your house on the market.
4. Think about curb appeal. As a homeowner, you get used to what your house looks like every day. But what will potential buyers think when they drive up to your home? From basic landscaping to investing in new exterior doors, the first impression you give can make a difference of 5-10% on the offers your receive.
5. Add more light. People like homes that feel light and open, and the more sun that comes in the more spacious it will feel. HGTV recommends you, "Replace heavy closed draperies with vertical blinds or shutters to let light in — a sunny room feels larger and more open. Also, try adding a single large mirror to a room to visually double the space."
6. Paint. A recently painted room looks fresh and up-to-date which increases home value. Houzz advises, "A fresh, crisp paint job in modern neutrals like gray and putty shows off your home to best advantage. Don't feel you have to avoid all color; just be aware that the bolder your choice, the more likely it is that it won't agree with someone. An overly bright or badly chipped exterior paint color may need refreshing too, so don't stop with the indoors."

At San Jose Hardwood Floors, we work with each and every homeowner to find the perfect fit for their lifestyle and budget. Want to know more about increasing your home value? Come visit our showroom or contact us for a free in-home estimate! We're happy to provide our advice and recommendations along the way.