How to add value to your home according to Seeff

Although some factors that add value to your home like property prices, crime in your area and the interest rate are out of your control, there are luckily many affordable and easy ways to enhance the value of your property without having to resort to drastic measures like upsizing or renovating. Steve van Wyk, Seeff’s Managing Director in Centurion, says the most important factor to enhance the value of your home is to ensure that regular maintenance to the property is undertaken at all times so that there is no impression amongst potential buyers that your property needs “fixing” by the time you choose to sell it. “Repair things like roof tiles, leaking taps and gutters and replace bulbs in light fixtures and vanities. Something like an unpainted gutter or a loose tile on the roof can create the perception that there are serious and expensive problems with the home, while, in fact, it will only cost a few hundred rand to fix. Ideally one should have a maintenance plan which is regularly actioned”. Van Wyk says it is also important to check the following items: Peeling paint, roof leaks, cracked tiles, cracks in plaster, damp, leaking toilets, broken cupboard latches, leaking gutters and broken fascia boards, silicone around baths and showers, light bulbs, cracked windows. “It is also useful to replace outdated fittings from time to time, like upgrading door handles, light switches and light fittings. The condition of the driveway to the home is very important as this is the first thing that prospective buyers will see. Keep the driveway neat and tidy at all times and consider minor renovations if necessary. The pavement in front of the home has to be neat and tidy and free of weed. Lawn that is not mowed creates a very bad impression. A well maintained and colourful garden also adds to the appeal of a property. The garden is a very attractive feature to potential buyers. A clean swimming pool with clear water is important. Never underestimate the general condition of the paint. One of the most affordable ways to transform your home is with a pot of paint. However, it is important to be careful about the paint colour you choose. Make sure the carpets are clean. Unpleasant smells, especially those of pets, can be detrimental to a home. Speak to an experienced estate agent before you undertake any serious renovations or upsizing to your home in order to ensure that you don’t over capitalise for the area that you are living in. In many cases it is better to leave renovations to new owners in order for them to personalise it according to their own specific tastes”.

How to add value to your home according to Seeff

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