When the time comes to sell your property, it makes sense that you want to get the most money out of it. 

You might think you need to add value to your house by spending more time and money than the entire endeavor is worth, but you would be wrong. 

There are some relatively cheap, valuable, and easy-to-do things that you can do on your own. Read on to learn more about them.

Finish that basement

Increasing  the  value  of  your  home  is  all  about  boosting  its usability.   Available   square  footage  is  one  of  the  significant factors that contribute to it. 

And   that,  exactly,  is  why  you  should  finally  get  to  finishing that basement that you have been postponing for years. 

Once  you  have finished work on the basement, you can turn it into  an  additional bedroom or, if space is limited, an additional bathroom or recreation room. 

Having  a  basement  that  is  all  set  up  is  also  a  great  way  to  make  your  home roomier without violating the zoning codes and limitations. 

Some  regulations  prohibit  expanding  your  home  closer  to  your  neighbors, while others might forbid you from adding an extra floor. 

That is why you can get the most out of your property by remodeling your basement.

Build a patio 

Building a stone patio for your home is an easy way to add more space to it. 

In  the summers, you or the future owners can move your cooking outdoors. This can be useful if you have a small kitchen or simply do not want all the smells of cooking to spread throughout your home. 

A  patio  also  means  additional space for living and recreation. You might even want to turn a portion of your deck into an outdoor gym. 

On  the other hand, if you live in a colder area where winters are so hard that you cannot spend too much time outside, a patio can also  solve  your  problems.  With an enclosed patio and a hearth in it, you will be able to spend some time outside, even during the coldest portions of the winter. 

Or, if you can afford it, simply set up a hot tub on your patio as another way to get the most out of that space. 

Patios  are also significant areas for entertainment. Whether you want to host a birthday party, cook-out, or a barbecue, the patio is where it’s at. 

With all these possibilities listed, it is easy to see how building a patio adds value to your property and boosts its resale value.

A small kitchen remodeling can go a long way 

When you live in the same place for a long time, you tend to get used to it and the way it looks. 

We  become  familiar  with  the  minor  faults  and  kinks  of  our furniture  and  get  used  to  living  with a faucet that sometimes leaks if water pressure is too high, or that one cabinet door that you have to slam a bit harder if you want it to close all the way. 

If  you  want  to  add  value  to  your  property,  you  will  have to change all of those things. Time to update your kitchen! 

Fix  or  replace  all  the  faucets  in  your kitchen and bathrooms. If you can, get new ones. Not only will they last longer, but they can also change the entire look of the room by giving it a more modern tone. 

The  same  goes  for  the  cupboards -  if  you  cannot  or  do  not  want  to spend a considerable amount of money, just give them a fresh coat of paint and replace all the handles and hinges to freshen them up. 

Finally,  replace  countertops  with  new  ones. Choose material that is hard to scratch but easy to clean. Ensure that it doesn’t clash with the rest of your kitchen, and you will be good to go.

Install hardwood floors

When  it  comes  to  modern  living,  two critical components are ease of maintenance and durability. Hardwood floors bring both of them. 

According to a report by CNN, hardwood floors add between three and five percent to your home value. Here is why. 

First  of  all,  sometimes  looks  do  matter, and hardwood floors simply look great. Besides, they are great for those who suffer from lung-related diseases, such as asthma, since they do not hold dust the way rugs and carpets do. 

Maintaining  these  floors  and  keeping them in a pristine condition is way easier than it would be taking care of carpets. Hardwood floors need to be sanded and refinished only once in a decade, making them a great investment return. 

One  more  thing  -  when  installing  hardwood  floors  from scratch, it is wise to use different types of wood or designs for different rooms. That way, each area of your home will have its own look and a unique feel to them.

Conclusion 

So,  there you have it: in just four steps, you can add substantial value to your home. 

By  building  a  patio  or  finishing  the works on your basement, you  can  add  significant  usable  space  to your home and thus bring  its  worth  up.  And,  it  is  not  just  about  the raw square footage  -  a  patio  can  be  used to entertain guests or to make spending time outside much more pleasant during the seasons that are either too hot or too cold. 

A  basement  can  be turned into an extra bedroom or bathroom, or simply as an elegant way to bypass local laws when it comes to the size of your place. 

Refurbishing your kitchen can make it look as good as new, or even better than it ever has. 

Hardwood  floors  add  style  and  elegance  to your home while being easy to maintain. You can use different styles and textures to give a bit of personality to every room in your house. 

There is only one potential problem - once you fix your place up, you might not be willing to sell it anymore!

Kevin has gone through an extensive home renovation with his son, which he has both thoroughly  enjoyed,  and  dreaded  every  morning. He is now the proud owner of half his dream house (the other half has been waiting for spring). You can read more of Kevin’s work on PlainHelp.