How to Add to the Value of My House

Architectural trends come and go, just as the housing market itself can turn hot and cold in a particular region. But there are some improvements you can make any time that can add to the value of your house no matter what's in style.

Things You'll Need

• New kitchen and bath hardware
• New flooring and carpeting
• Shelving materials

Instructions

Start in the Kitchen

1. Look for areas that need a facelift and decide how much you can spend and what you can do yourself in the kitchen. Homebuyer surveys consistently point to the kitchen as one of the most important make-or-break features of any home.

2. Painting or staining your cabinets and swapping out old hardware for new are changes you can make in little time.

3. Consider getting rid of your old appliances for modern, stainless steel appliances. This can be a major investment, so shop around for good sales. If your stove, for example, is truly showing its age, make that the first appliance to move out.

4. Adding touches like a hanging rack over an island or even a free-standing fireplace give the impression of a designer's touch and add a little "wow" factor to your kitchen.

5. Add track lighting or look for other ways to improve the lighting. Talk to folks at a lighting store for ideas to brighten the kitchen or allow for subdued lighting for more intimate kitchen affairs.

Bathroom Basics

1. Ranking close behind a nice kitchen are appealing bathrooms. Look around your master bathroom in particular for areas that need attention. People want luxury in a master bathroom and the more touches you can provide that say "you're pampered here" the more likely people will be to buy.

2. Consider a shower makeover with a frameless or nearly frameless shower encloser and a new water system that provides a "waterfall" effect or hits you with water from more than one angle. Hand-held showerheads make a nice impression, too.

3. Consider lighter-colored floor tile and lighter-colored walls, especially in smaller bathrooms, to give the impression of more space.

Adding Architecture

1. If your home doesn't currently have crown molding, built-in shelves, tray ceilings and other architectural features, you (maybe with some help) can correct that oversight.
   Two quick molding tips: Paint the pieces before you put them up and if you don't have an extra set of arms to help you, ask about getting smaller sections to nail up one at a time.

2. Look for a wall in your family room, study or bedrooms where built-in shelves would come in handy. Draw up a plan or talk to a capable carpenter about a new set of shelves that can seamlessly fit into your home.

3. Do something with a tray ceiling like adding lights, a new ceiling fan or maybe even add wood to the ceiling to add a little drama.

Fabulous Floors

1. Survey your carpets and hardwood floors to see if any of them need replacing. Don't only look for stains and rips; if you are going to paint a room, you might need to change the carpet to match the new hue.

2. Shop around for wood flooring bargains, especially in the living areas. Carpet and tile are nice, but they tend to show dirt and age quicker than a well-maintained wood floor.

3. Clean the grout in your tile floor or have it professionally cleaned. Maintain a nice-quality floor and your guests (including potential buyers) can concentrate on the other touches you've made around the house.

Miscellaneous Maintenance

1. Take a slow tour of your home, inside and out, with a pad of paper and jot down the areas that need attention.

2. Improve your curb appeal by getting your lawn in good shape. Look for bushes and other plants that could use a trim. Also, look for areas where you can add flowers and other splashes of color to break up the greens and browns surrounding your house.

3. Fill in the cracks, whether they're in your driveway, lanai, tile floor, wherever.

4. Paint. A new coat of paint can brighten the inside and outside of your home, but don't paint on a whim.