Start Small with a Little Spackle
If you've lived in your home for any length of time, you've probably hung things on the walls, put up shelves, or simply had accidents that resulted in minor damage. Now is the time to repair those blemishes. Filling these holes and crevices with a little spackle and painting over the area will leave your walls looking like new. While this may not boost the value of your home, it will keep the appraiser from deducting for the condition.
As Long as You're Painting...
After you've touched up your walls, you might want to consider freshening up the paint. Repainting worn trim and moldings around the home can give it a fresh look. Venture outside and touch up the trim around the windows and doors too.Any area where the paint is peeling, chipping, or simply has lost its luster should be retouched with a fresh coat. This will boost curb appeal, help you add value to the home and prevent repair orders for certain types of home loans.
Update Your Crawl Spaces and Insulation
An upgrade that's growing in popularity (and will grow your home value) is crawl space encapsulation. Crawl spaces are essential for providing homeowners and contractors with access to important systems of the home. However, these spaces are vulnerable to moisture and water damage caused by humidity and harsh weather conditions. To protect crawl spaces, homeowners have started sealing these spaces with polyethylene barriers to keep out moisture, dust, and pests. Your attic will usually be inspected for problems and energy efficiency has moved into the high priority list for many buyers. In fact, in Minneapolis, you will need to have your home's energy efficiency evaluated along with the city's mandated inspection (TISH inspection) if you sell.
Do a Deep Clean
This is also the time to really clean your home from top to bottom. If you have young children and pets, there may be odors and dirt that might not be noticeable to you, but strong odors and dirty/stained carpet will be the first things your appraiser notices. Consider hiring professionals to wax the floors, shampoo the carpets, and conduct an intensive cleaning of the entire home.
Conduct Other Repairs
At some point, you should tour your home with the mindset of a home buyer. This will help you identify problems that you live with every day but just don't notice anymore. Look for things that need to be repaired, such as a loose handrail, a leaky faucet, or a shorted electrical outlet. Repairing these problems ahead of time will ensure you won't lose money on the appraisal. Contact to Sarah Marrinan for a checklist that you can use when you are planning to sell.
By taking the time to spruce up the home ahead of putting your home on the market getting the appraisal for your refinance, you may be able to increase the value by thousands of dollars. The suggestions offered here should give you a head start, but if you have additional questions on how to add more value to your home, don't hesitate to reach out me.