Featured Image

6 Home Improvement Projects To Increase Your Home Resale Value

Jul 23, 2014 12:30:00 PM

Subscribe to Email Updates

July and August are two of the best times of the year for buying a home in Northern Virginia. While these months are great for those wanting to purchase, they are considered the worst months for sellers to get the highest dollar value for their homes. 

If selling your home in Northern Virginia during these months is inevitable, you could offset the market value dip by making a few tweaks and additions to your home to increase its value. Here are seven home improvement projects you could look into doing during the weekends to increase the value of your home:

1. Masonry

Northern Virginia brick masonry

Masonry projects are not the easiest renovations you can do, but they can be incredibly rewarding. In particular, masonry in Northern Virginia is one of the most popular home renovation that adds real value to homes. Chimneys, walkways, concrete slabs, and garden bed borders are a few of the most sought after masonry additions to homes in state. Quality masonry can easily last the lifetime of a home even without maintenance and is true to the charming East Coast architecture style.

2. Window Replacement

Northern virginia windows

When it comes to real estate value, homes with plenty of updated windows tend to sell for a higher price and with good reason. For one, newer windows are energy efficient. According to energy experts, energy efficient windows can save homeowners up to 20% of their energy consumption from avoiding leaks and drafts, as well as from substituting light bulb use for natural lighting.

Failing to replace outdated and broken windows also entitles prospective buyers to discounts of up to $10,000 of the total home value. Northern Virginia window replacement costs less than the discount value and allows you to increase your asking price leading to profit above breaking even. 

3.  Landscaping

Northern Virginia home improvement landscaping

Landscaping projects are great for boosting curb appeal. Adding perennial flowering plants and shrubs to beautify your home and trees to add shade will not only lead to a higher selling value, but can also make your house sell faster.

If you have gardening experience or have a great interest in greeneries, this is a home improvement project you can accomplish on your own. Go to your local plant house or nursery and ask them what the best, low-maintenance plants and trees would work perfect for the climate and boost your curb appeal.

Smooth Aster, Hepatica, and Fire Pink are some of the best blooming perennials for the Northern Virginia climate. Other flowering plants perfect for Northern Virginia like the Carolina Phlox can bloom even during the height of the summer heat and attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

exterior paint Northern Virginia

4.  Repainting Your Exterior

Repainting your exterior can instantly refresh the look of your home and make it stand out from other homes being sold in the market. It can also increase your selling value. Find out what the latest paint technology can do for your home and the trending colors. If your exterior paint is pretty much still intact with just a few damaged, discolored or peeling areas here and there, you can always give these areas a localized touch up.

5.  Siding Installation

Northern Virginia siding installation

If your siding is damaged or too old, it will instantly decrease the value of your home significantly, especially because it is one of the most visible areas of your home.

Siding replacement is one of the best Northern Virginia renovations when it comes to recouped value.

According to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost Vs. Value Report, siding replacement yields about 89% of recouped value on average for 2014. If you’re considering siding installation for your home that did not previously have one, it is still a worthy investment to make both for your home’s resale value and curb appeal.

6.  Skylight Installation

Northern Vriginia skylight installation

Skylight installation can increase the value of your home and appeal to the so-called “green” buyers. They can make your rooms look bigger and reduces the need for electric lights, therefore lowering energy consumption -- definitely a great selling point for any potential home owner.

Northern Virginia skylights can ventilate and cool homes during the heat of the summer and capture solar heat during the cold winter months.

Although the months of July and August do not offer the perfect selling conditions for homeowners looking to sell their homes, making a few changes, repairing damages and adding new installations to a home will definitely increase its resale value. In particular, aesthetic and highly noticeable home improvement projects can significantly increase the value of homes.

Get A Free Estimate

Image Credits: Kakapo31MJIjromanowskaAllen McGregor*Kid