• Don’t put off maintenance. Before other value-enhancing improvements and remodeling projects, address the basics. Insulate the attic, repair plumbing leaks, replace rusty gutters, inspect the furnace, replace or repair leaky windows, install storm doors, and weed the flower beds. These kinds of fixes go a long way toward value. Investing in maintenance could also be crucial to a sale. • Go green. If your heating or air conditioning systems are outdated, new ones are a much better idea, with energy savings of up to 30 to 40%. Another example: spending $7,000 for the unit and installation of a solar-powered water heater, with $2,100 back in green tax credits, could save you as much as 80% on your water-heating bills. Research published by The Appraisal Journal estimates that energy savings add twenty times the annual savings to the value of your property. Energy savers make your house more desirable. • Make a “grand entrance.” Home sellers are advised not to underestimate the power of a front door. It is said that people make up their minds in the first seven seconds of entering a house. Buyers expect a working door bell. An overhang above the front door, such as an awning or portico, can also increase value. Buyers want a way out of the rain, or shelter from the sun while fumbling for keys, or somewhere for greeting guests. If you’re up for more exterior upgrades, move to the back or sides of the house. People get back dollar-for-dollar the costs of decks they put in. If the deck is completed with the right material so it will stay in good shape, it will hold value. • Have flooring that stands up. Don’t undervalue flooring in a home sale; 94% of real estate pros recommend
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