Home improvements are usually carried out because they are a necessity. But what if some smaller, cost effective home improvements actually increased the value of your home too? How cool would that be!?

Here are 5 cost effective home improvements that can add real value to your home:

1. First impressions count with cost effective home improvements

What do you think when you walk up to someone’s front door and it looks severely in need of some TLC? Let’s say the paint is all chipping off and the knocker is rusty or broken. It doesn’t create a good first impression, does it?

That’s why a little bit of time and money spent sprucing up your own front door can go a long way when it comes to selling your house. Doors can often be saved with a good rubbing down and a new coat of varnish/paint, plus a new handle/lock.

2. Replace worn/damaged carpet

You might not want to make many big investments in your home if you’re planning on selling it in the near future, but this is actually counterintuitive a lot of the time.

For example, one of the quickest home improvement wins in terms of making a noticeable difference is replacing any worn/damaged carpet. This is particularly important in the high foot traffic areas of your house, like hallways and main entrances.

3. Revert to a neutral colour scheme

We’ve written before about the effect of colours on your mood. But when it comes to selling your home, a neutral colour scheme is usually the best for encouraging a sale. That’s because potential buyers like to picture how a property might look when they add their own personal touches and a neutral colour scheme helps facilitate this process.

That dark purple bedroom your teenager wanted before they left home will look infinitely more appealing painted a safe cream colour.

4. Create more space

Maybe you added a partition wall at some point or you’ve got an island in your kitchen. Removing elements like this will open up the space and further help any potential buyers project their own ideas.

Most people love open floor plans and larger spaces they can work with.

Removing a kitchen island might seem like an easy job to you, but potential buyers may (wrongly) assume it’s something that’s going to cost them in terms of both time and effort.

5. Don’t forget the garden with your cost effective home improvement list

If you’ve got overgrown trees and bushes that are blocking the views from your windows, spend a bit of time cutting them back.

Out of control trees not only look bad, but they can also cause significant damage if one of the limbs breaks off.

Left to her own devices, Mother Nature will often go wild. Rather than put people off by leaving your garden unkempt, emphasise its beauty and show it off.