16 More Costly Ways to Add Value to your Home

Home owners have a duty to keep their home repaired and in good condition. When homes are not maintained properly the value of the home decreases. To the real estate investor this is referred to as "deferred maintenance". Properties that have deferred maintenance do not sell for as much or as fast as well maintained properties.

• Power wash your home, driveway, walks, garage, patio, deck and fence.
• Replace older low efficiency appliances with "Energy Star" appliances
• Paint inside and outside of home. At the very least paint your front entryway.
• Adding shutters to some front high exposure windows will enhance most exteriors.
• Replace old storm gutters with new seamless gutters with chain down spouts.
• Replace grout and tiles in bathroom showers and counter tops where needed.
• Have your carpets cleaned or replaced with the latest style neutral color carpet.
• Replace low efficiency aluminum windows with higher energy efficient vinyl windows.
• Adding a second bathroom to a home is one of the best ways to add more value.
• The roof is one of the higher cost repairs and may be required by a lender.
• Repair all cracks in stucco, concrete, replace missing mortar in bricks or chimneys.
• Hardwood floors may need to be refinished if you had a dog that caused scratches.
• Replace out of date counter tops and vinyl flooring with the latest updated style.
• Remove older overgrown shrubs and thin larger trees for a cleaner look.
• Add automatic sprinklers and concrete curbing around all planters and trees.
• Build a new covered deck out of wood or a new engineered decking product.