I’ve worked with many buyers who hurry to add the latest technology, refinish old floors or finally paint their living room right before they sell their house. I’m often the one recommending these changes, but I hear over and over that homeowners wish they had invested in these types of upgrades in time to enjoy them for themselves! There’s nothing like prepping your home to sell for motivation, but if you’ve been putting off a project, I’m here to encourage you to make the change in time to enjoy it yourself.
I put together a few of my favorite upgrades, and they’re honestly not too expensive or difficult to implement, you just need a little time and, maybe, some elbow grease. I’d love to hear from you what sorts of upgrades are on your mind!
One of my favorite suggestions is upgrading to energy efficient smart devices. This may seem like just a modern convenience, but you can actually reduce your energy consumption and bring down your utility costs, not to mention the latest technology will look good to potential buyers. A few to consider are smart thermostats that you can control from your phone and program around your schedule, smart light bulbs that take up less energy and you can even invest in an energy monitoring system. These all pack a double-punch of making your life easier and being better for the environment.
Painting is a relatively easy way to really upgrade a room or floor of your home. If you’re planning on selling in the near future, I recommend neutral colors, so buyers can picture themselves in your space. But if you’re thinking of staying, paint the walls the color you’ve been dreaming of - even just an accent wall can drastically change a space!
With Minnesota winter already upon us, it’s time to think cozy thoughts - fireplaces, heated floors or even just getting your vents cleaned out can all add to the ultimate hygge experience. If you don’t have a natural fireplace, you can purchase relatively inexpensive space heaters that look like a gas fireplace and the luxury of heated bathroom floors will make your feet happy for years to come. A more practical project would be getting your vents cleaned and your filters replaced just in time to spend lots more time indoors.
Some of these suggestions are practical and some add significant luxury to your home, but all will help you enjoy the time you spend in your home, and will likely boost your property value too. My advice? Plan a project now before more snow flies!
