When you decide to use NewTechWood decking, cladding or screening in your home, that’s an investment for years to come. Not only you’ll enjoy your home outdoor without daunting maintain tasks, but this investment will increase the value and appearance of your home.
In a hot Australian housing market, selling a home doesn’t require much effort. But with a small effort you can additionally increase the resale value of your home.
From enhancing that all-important kerb appeal to giving your interior a makeover, there are some things you can do that will impress potential buyers:
First Impressions – The Front Garden
For starters, your lawns should be mowed, garden beds should be weeded and neat, and plants should be healthy. Even before your buyers step foot inside your home, your front garden is making the first impression. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so it must be a good one!
Increase Kerb Appeal
Increasing your kerb appeal is one of the most lucrative investments you can make into the resale value of your home. A stunning exterior will bring a greater number of interested parties to your door to see the rest of the house.
Go a step further and increase your kerb appeal with features that not only add to the aesthetics but are also of benefit to the property’s durability and security and you’re really onto a winner. We are talking cladding.
Composite Cladding for Better Protection From Elements
Adding timber cladding to the exterior walls not only gives a home a unique design, it also helps to keep the property better protected from the elements. This will add value to your property in the eyes of potential buyers, who want a home that can stand the test of time. Composite timber cladding offers the warmth and luxury of natural wood, combined with a superior level of protection and durability, as it is UV and stain resistant, impervious to water, and doesn’t rot with weathering. Also, there is ‘no maintenance required’ – three golden words that homebuyers love to hear!
Fence the Front Yard
Another great way to improve kerb appeal is to fence the front yard. Front yard fencing not only offers greater privacy and security, but it makes the front yard a usable space, rather than just a pretty lawn for show.
When the front yard is fenced in, homeowners can use the space for kids or pets to play safely. Again, opting for composite timber fencing is a great choice as it gives that homey, welcoming timber aesthetic, but with none of the maintenance issues that come with real timber.
Make the Most of the Backyard
With the warmer climate here in Australia, the backyard is often an extension of the interior living space, so buyers look at the potential of the back yard just as much as they do the living room.
Creating a decked outdoor entertaining space will quickly increase the resale value of your home and could be the feature that persuades them to make an offer. Composite timber decking will give you the best value for your investment – it’s fully capped for Ultra Protection against moisture, which means there is no risk of water damage or rot so it won’t need to be revarnished or replaced every few years like natural timber requires.
Even the everyday Aussie barbecue area has evolved into an outdoor kitchen space, offering preparation benches, a sink, storage cupboards and a wine/drinks fridge, as well as a dining and lounge area complete with wall-mounted TV. If you don’t have such a space, arrange your outdoor area to show future buyers the potential of adding such things themselves.
A Fresh Coat of Paint
You don’t have to paint your entire home, but painting rooms that are heavily trafficked (e.g. the kitchen and bathroom) or those rooms that look scuffed can increase the value of your home by up to 5%.
Gone are the days when strong bold colours adorned our walls. Today’s home buyer is more attracted to neutral colour palettes: off-white, cream, beige, grey, browns and taupes. Not only does this add a classier “air”, it enables buyers to envisage their own furniture and colour choices in the space more easily. One real estate survey found that by painting the popular living room areas in these neutral colours, the overall sale price was increased up to $2,000.
Eliminate Clutter
The good news is not every effort to increase the sale value of your home needs to cost you money. One weekend cleaning away all the “clutter”, like photographs, ornaments, kitchen appliances, books and toys will make your house look less messy, and more spacious.
Also, decluttering will enable you to do a thorough clean in all parts of your home, whether you do it yourself or hire professional cleaning services. This will make your home so much brighter, roomier and smell fresher, and thus become more appealing to potential buyers.
Kitchen or Bathroom Upgrades
Make sure your kitchen and bathroom are in excellent condition when putting your home on the market. These two rooms can modernise or date a home very quickly, so they are major selling points. You don’t need to do a complete remodel, but if, for example, the bathroom sink is cracked or a new kitchen countertop would turn the room from ‘needing work’ to ‘immediately liveable’, then consider it a small renovation project with a big return.
Look at your home from a buyer’s perspective and be brutally honest with yourself. Then make a list of the most obvious updates needed and work through those you can afford. Ask your Agent for advice on the updates that are the most important, to avoid wasting time and money on the wrong things.
With a few simple DIY or renovation projects, you can increase the resale value of your home and help you to get your asking price.
