Selling Your Home? Boost Your Asking Price With These 5 Upgrades

A worn-out roof does more than make your house look bad on the outside, it can also cause costly problems on the inside. Though it may sound like a big project, it only takes a few days to complete, and it’s something buyers will notice, and appreciate. The right roofing products, like those by Good Housekeeping Seal-vetted MetalMan sheets, are so durable that they may last up to 50 years, almost twice as long as shingles. As a bonus, the house will be more energy-efficient too. Adding a new roof may yield as much as a 65 percent return. With this type of material, though, hiring the right company is key. Luckily, now through the end of the year, you can get 75 percent off labor costs associated with installation from MetalMan.

Sleek, new vinyl windows not only up the aesthetics of a home, they can also help make the space more energy-efficient, ultimately reducing heating and cooling costs. Though another fairly costly project, it’s one that pays off. According to experts window replacement has a return of more than 68 percent. That’s almost as high a return as a whole new kitchen might net, and one that requires far less thought and oversight.

Besides your listing photos, your front entrance is the first thing a potential buyer sees. It’s your sole chance to make a first impression. Don't let cracks in your walkway paint a bad picture. In addition to being a safety hazard, it can signal a lack of general maintenance. In lieu of completely replacing all the masonry—an incredibly expensive endeavor — patch up any obvious cracks and fix glaring flaws. Consider refreshing mulch, trimming shrubs, and planting seasonal plants for a more impressive curb appeal.

Nothing says outdated quite like a house with wall-to-wall carpeting. Worse yet, weathered linoleum screams bargain-basement fixer-upper. Today, most buyers are looking for hardwood floors, and you should dig deep to give it to them. If installing true wood is out of your budget, there are plenty of modern engineered products that can fool even the most discerning eye.

This is one of the easiest and more affordable projects that goes a long way towards getting into escrow. A fresh coat of paint in every room brightens all your spaces and camouflages wear and tear, including simple scuff marks. It’s also an excellent opportunity to swap out any bold, personal color choices for whites and other neutrals. Such tones create a blank canvas onto which buyers can project their own visions for your suddenly more worth-it home.