Investing in Your House to Increase its Value: What You Can Do

By Jade Johansson • 2 weeks ago

Jun
2025

If you have decided it’s time to sell your home, the first thought that comes to mind is probably “how can I increase its value and maximise its sale?”.

Managing the right balance of cost against expected return on investment is important when you are looking to generate a greater profit. The good news is that if your home’s foundation is solid, there are some easy steps you can take that can add considerable value without too much effort.

Remember, the journey to selling your home can be a long one. Before you start knocking down walls to create open-plan living or ripping out entire kitchens, consider these simple tricks and renovations to get the most bang for your buck.

A lick of paint

Cracking, peeling, or fading paint can impact the overall look and feel of a home, often making it appear older or not as polished. A fresh coat is a quick fix to help make your home seem newer, cleaner, and more modern, provided you choose neutral colours that are less likely to date, and avoid things like feature walls, which can be subjective.

If you have the capacity to paint yourself, your only output will be the paint, rollers, brushes, and drop cloths. If you’re not confident in your skills, a professional can be called in to help.

Fix the front yard and facade

They say first impressions matter, and the first thing any prospective buyer sees of your home is the front yard and the facade.

If you have the budget, go all out and repaint or renew your facade can help attract more potential buyers. If you are a little more budget-conscious, consider repairing at least your front door, and focus on uplifting your front yard, including paving and fencing instead. While you are at it, make sure the nature strip is neat too. Taking 20 minutes to weed is well worth the effort.

Replace kitchen hardware

The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, so spending some time giving it a little bit of love is never a bad move. A full kitchen renovation may not be in the cards, but if you think it looks a little dated, swapping out the handles and hardware on the cabinets and drawers is an inexpensive trick that can instantly make it appear newer and more modern.

It is important when doing this to consider the style of your kitchen before making any significant changes. Elite Hardware has an outstanding range of cabinetry hardware for all styles of kitchens and is a great place to start your search for the perfect handles and knobs.

Consider your flooring

Just like the walls, the type of flooring you have can seriously impact the overall feel of a home. A proper cleaning of your carpet or restaining floorboards are wonderful ways to spruce up your home and entice buyers. If it’s within budget, replacing too-far-gone carpet with new carpet or even beautiful hardwood has the potential to increase the value of your home.

Garages in general are often overlooked when renovating a home, but changing the flooring here can also be a great way to add value. Adding an epoxy garage floor, for example, has multiple benefits, including increased durability, easy maintenance, and aesthetic appeal over what is often just a concrete slab.

Let there be light

Imagine there are two identical homes up for sale, but one is filled with beautiful lighting while the other isn’t – which would you choose?

Increasing natural light in your home is not always possible, of course. Some homes may be suitable for skylight installation, but it is not always the case. Luckily, there are other ways you can make your home appear brighter and more spacious, including choosing lighter colours for your walls, floors, and furniture, updating your lighting fixtures and adding additional lights where you can, or investing in lighting that is designed to look like a skylight and reflect the outdoor sky.

Create more storage solutions

For many homebuyers, ample storage is an important factor when searching for a home. If your home doesn’t currently have a good amount of cupboard, cabinet, or wardrobe space, it may be worthwhile installing additional shelving, racks, or even door hooks. This is a relatively inexpensive exercise and can make your home much more appealing to potential buyers and increase its potential value.

If you have a smaller home, consider some of these creative storage ideas for small spaces, like open shelving, hidden storage, or making the most of vertical storage options.

Update your window furnishings

Window furnishings have a greater impact on a room’s aesthetic than you may think, and if your home is a little dated, it’s time for an update. Beautiful shutters, blinds, or drapes can significantly change the look and feel of a room, help regulate light and temperature, and contribute to the overall value of the home. With the right selection, it will make a room look more complete.

Updating your window furnishings can be done yourself or by a professional – if you aren’t sure, check out the pros and cons of DIY curtain installation.

Fix the little things

There are a few little things throughout a home that you probably don’t give a second thought, but prospective buyers will. Take the time to do a sweep of the home and consider: