10 Ways to Add Value to Your Home Before Selling In Illinois

Earlier this year, the Illinois housing market saw its best performance since the Great Recession. Though buyers are not competing as fiercely as they were a few months ago, Illinois is still experiencing a sellers’ market.

Leveling housing market conditions mean Illinois homeowners may need to put in more work now to get a great price for their home compared to February and March.

Fortunately, there are clever ways to improve home value before appraisal and listing. Know the trusty ways to increase property value before selling, whether you diving into a big investment or making simple repairs on a budget.

What Do Home Appraisers Look For?

Of the many factors that influence how appraisers determine home value, some are out of your control, like the home’s age, market, and surrounding area features. 

So for the highest return on investment, the trick is to focus on manageable updates that raise home value before the appraisal. Depending on the time and budget available, upgrading interior design, landscaping, storage space, heat/air, electricity, appliances, energy efficiency, and exterior can go a long way. 

How is the Illinois Real Estate Market Performing?

Between January 2020 and January 2021, the median sale price of detached single-family homes in Illinois increased by $45,100 from $249,900 to $295,000. The number of sales rose 18.9%.

For attached homes, the median price increased by $11,250 with 25.3% more homes sold in January 2021 than January 2020.

While the volume of home sales is stabilizing nearing the end of 2021, homes are still selling rapidly. Lively housing markets in the Illinois communities of Rockford, Aurora, Naperville, and Joliet are consistently moving homes off the market fast. 

Ten Ways to Improve Your Home Value Before Selling in Illinois 

2021’s housing market growth has Illinois homeowners contemplating how to raise the value of their home for appraisal. Sellers have plenty of options, from maximizing energy efficiency and space to refreshing decor and curb appeal.

Your home is your biggest investment. So if you are one of the many homeowners acting on the active Illinois housing market, the following improvements can help achieve the biggest return on your investment:

1. Modernize Appliances 

Stainless steel ovens, refrigerators, and dishwashers are in high demand. Without updating to modern appliances, your home will feel dated. Buying and installing appliances can be expensive. But since newer appliances are more energy-efficient, homebuyers are willing to spend more on a home with kitchen appliances that save them money on utilities.

2. Update Kitchen and Bathroom Flooring

Bathrooms and kitchens are the first rooms to go out of style, so bath and kitchen renovations tend to have the highest payoff. Plus, these are high-traffic areas exposed to lots of moisture. Make sure the kitchen and bathroom tile, vinyl, hardwood, or laminate flooring is attractive and in good condition to add value to the home. 

3. Spruce Up Your Yard

Curb appeal contributes greatly to buyers’ first impressions. It is easy and affordable to tidy grass and bushes and add colorful plants. A little yard work has a big impact on the overall charm of a home. If you can plant trees to shade the house and yard, even better.

4. Replace Old Carpets with New Flooring

Few things devalue a home-like dated, worn, or stained old carpets that trap allergens and compromise indoor air quality. Make any room more inviting at a worthwhile low cost with Royal Flooring. 

Schedule a free in-home estimate to learn more about our low price guarantee on professional hardwood, laminate, vinyl, and carpet installations.

5. Increase Square Footage and/or Bedrooms

Finishing the basement can add to the square footage or number of bedrooms and significantly increase property value before selling.

6. Storage Space

Consider building additional closets or shelving to make a space more functional.

7. Water Filtration

Installing a water filtration system in the kitchen does not cost much, but it elevates property value by giving homebuyers a convenient, eco-friendly luxury that cuts down on plastic water bottles and saves money on groceries.

8.  Window Treatments

Get rid of outdated, dust-attracting blinds in favor of clean, modern window treatments that let in just the right amount of natural light.

9. Paint

A fresh, neutral coat of paint is a cheap improvement you can easily do yourself.

10. Small Finishes

Small details really add up to modernize and brighten the whole house. Switch to LED lights and brushed nickel lock and doorknob hardware.

Improve the Value of Your Home With Royal Flooring Floor Installation

Do not miss out on a booming seller’s market. Make quick household fixes and raise your home’s value for appraisal while Illinois homebuyers are still motivated.

Make new floors your first step with Royal Floors. Our price matching, flexible expert installation scheduling, and mindful protection measures against COVID-19 make us the perfect home improvement partner. Inquire about a free estimate today for an additional $150 off.