Five ways to increase the value of your home in today's competitive real estate market

Make your home beautiful to command a higher price
Photo: Binyamin Mellish/PEXELS
SNS - There are many ways to increase the value of your home without making any significant changes, regardless of whether you want to sell or rent. If your property is in good overall condition and has been well-maintained, you should be able to get by with just a few quick changes. For instance, a fresh coat of paint and some yard upkeep are the usual things home do. Furthermore, these home improvements won't just make your house more appealing to potential buyers. These improvements will probably also raise its value, putting extra money in your pocket when selling.

So whether you want to sell now or later, these improvements can be a wise investment in your future. And while every home is different, there are simple ideas to increase the value of your home that can apply to any property. Moreover, they are also simple to make and won’t cost you a fortune.

Repair and replace

The little flaws in your home that you may have become accustomed to will be evident to buyers viewing it. Therefore, if you're considering selling your property in the future, look over it thoroughly and develop a list of all the little improvements you want to make before putting it on the market. It is not unusual for your home to have tiny issues in some parts, but you can quickly remedy them.

For instance, if there are broken lightbulbs, be sure to change them. If a faucet is leaking, replace it. It could be necessary to refinish hardwood floors, touch up moldings or door frames, or even replace them entirely. Making a good first impression on potential buyers requires little effort. So ensure to test the functionality of the smoke detectors, windows, drawers, and toilets. You will thank yourself later for doing so.

Repaint and refresh

A new coat of paint is one of the fastest ways to transform and refresh a house. One or two coats of paint will quickly revive the appearance of your property's interior or exterior walls if they start to seem dull, enhancing the impression your home gives. Of course, repainting the outside can be costly. However, this is typically a wise investment because potential buyers would use an exterior that needs work as a significant negotiating point. Also, when choosing the paint, stick to neutral hues. Bright paint or patterned wallpaper may be to your liking, but it might be a significant turnoff if it doesn't appeal to your potential buyers.

At the same time, when repainting yourself, focus on one room at a time. Pick a warm, dry day and relocate your furniture to a storage facility or your new home. It might be a challenge, but you can easily find the help you need with moving professionals in Chicago and in other major cities if you are planning to move to or from Urbana-Champaign. With the help of experts, your task will become a piece of cake. And as soon as you have the furniture out of the way, you can repaint and refresh your home freely.

Declutter and depersonalize

To determine the value of a property, buyers must view the space they will get. They want to examine the walls and floors, which can be challenging if most of them are covered with your possessions. You are selling a way of life and a dream when you put your home on the market. Therefore, buyers need to visualize the rooms and see themselves living there. As a result, eliminate all the clutter crowding the area and blocking the view. Go from room to room and make an inventory of your belongings. Then, sort the items in piles for keeping, donating, or throwing away.

At the same time, since no two people have the same taste in design and, as we mentioned, buyers need to be able to see themselves living in your home, you might want to take down very personal items. It doesn't always happen for something to increase the value of your home just because you like it or it defines you. So be very careful with what you leave in sight.

Improve the curb appeal

Buyers appreciate a nicely groomed yard; if you have one, it doesn't cost much to update yours. A home's yard is a good indicator of the overall level of work put into the property. Debris, unkept gardens, or messy yards can quickly turn buyers away. But you can improve your yard by adding plants, rocks, bushes, ground cover, trees, and mulch. That will make it seem attractive and new. A nice yard will encourage buyers to see themselves relaxing outside throughout the year, which will aid in the sale of the property.

On the other hand, because some buyers will only have the time to visit at night, pay attention to yard illumination. You can give your yard a modern and elegant look using outdoor illumination, such as solar lamps, path lights, wall lanterns, and fairy lights. Make smart investments

Our homes are growing smarter as the planet embraces the digital revolution. According to recent studies, almost all homes currently have at least one smart gadget. Smart doorbells, thermostats, locks, and lightbulbs are a few examples of such devices that you can operate using your phone or even your voice. Therefore, if you currently don't have any smart technology in your home, try investing in some, as it can offer a great return on investment. And since these gadgets are becoming inexpensive, you don’t even have to break the bank, but they can help you increase the value of your property. Additionally, you'll get to use your smart technology before selling your home.

Final words

There are many more ways to increase the value of your home. However, the ones we mentioned are popular, cheap, and require little effort. So if you plan on selling your home now or in the future, use these great ideas to make your sale successful and rewarding. Your buyers will be happy and satisfied with the property they bought, and you will have more money in your pocket.

Guest Commentary | America is being invaded

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

Recently, in a Mexican restaurant in Houston, Texas, a patron shot and killed a man who was robbing other patrons. The robber was masked and brandishing what appeared to be a pistol. If the man who shot the robber is charged with murder for protecting himself and others from a potentially lethal threat, then we have a serious problem. 

We have another problem. Millions of undocumented people have crossed our border from El Paso to San Diego and in between.  America is being invaded. We do not have enough free housing, welfare and food stamps to support all these people. 

Biden wants to mobilize 85,000 IRS agents who will find every dollar they can to support the millions of undocumented people roaming our nation. How many more dollars can the IRS squeeze out of your pocket? Do you have property that they can seize and sell for a few dollars?  85,000 agents will need to find something to do and most likely they will be checking up on everyone. 

Arizona has been patching holes in their border with containers which has been working. Biden ordered that the containers be removed. Over one million undocumented people have crossed into America through Arizona during Biden’s Presidency. 

Can you imagine being a farmer or just living on the Southern Border? This is 24-hour a day nightmare for these landowners. Do you think anyone wants to buy their property? These same people are coming to your community. They are looking for jobs and housing. They need money and food. Do you have plenty of affordable housing in your community? Do you have big free food banks to feed these people? If you need a reasonably priced apartment, I would suggest you snatch it fast because people are coming who need that apartment and they may have more help from the government than you do to underwrite the costs. 

McCarthy, Biden, and Congress must bring back every job we have outsourced to China. We can no longer do business with China. The people who have been living in America the last few years need jobs and millions of new undocumented workers need jobs. By the way, do you remember when the United States Census was a once every ten-year job?  Now, Census workers have to work year-round chasing down people who will not complete U.S. Government Census information. How many full-time census workers will it take to chase down all of these undocumented people? 

If Biden, McCarthy, and Congress do not protect Social Security your town will probably have to close up. Over 70 million Americans count on Social Security income. Social Security is all or over half of all this number receives each month. As the buying power of the retired population suffers, each community suffers. The government collects social security taxes from people to subsidize us in our old age.  Americans will be back into abject poverty if they don’t keep Social Security strong. 

Affordable housing, medical insurance and jobs that pay over $15 an hour must also be McCarthy and Biden commitments. We must be able to buy health insurance across state lines. State governments need to make it easier for working poor to have health insurance. We need real people to answer the telephones in the state and local governments. Websites need to be simple and seamless. Working poor Americans feel like their local states aren’t that interested in helping them. 

Making medical care more affordable will solve problems for everyone including the insurance companies. Publicly listing the cost of services and surgeries was a good idea that most medical providers don’t seem to be following. Making pharmacy purchases from Canada easier is imperative for struggling Americans. 

We have some problems in America. Biden, McCarthy and Congress have a lot to do. Name calling, and aggressive behavior in the House only makes for a few seconds of television stupidity. America has some problems.  We need for McCarthy and Biden and Congress to step up and help us solve them. 


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Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.

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This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.


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Invest in Kids Act expires at the end of the year, lawmakers can change that

Dylan Sharkey


by Dylan Sharkey, Assistant Editor
Illinois Policy
As lawmakers return to Springfield, the clock is ticking to expand the Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship program which helps more than 9,000 low-income students find the school that best fits their needs.

Bose Clodfelter and her family rely on the program as the only way to afford a private school where her children have found a better cultural and academic environment.

"It’s very important that politicians allow this tax credit to continue so my family can have the opportunity to be a part of a school system where our children and my family as a unit thrives," Clodfelter said.

The Invest in Kids Act is set to expire at the end of 2023. Families such as the Clodfelters who have benefited from the scholarships are asking lawmakers to make the program permanent to give them and their kids a choice about their schooling.

"I think that it’s very important for people to have the ability to donate to the tax credit scholarship program because they care about the educational needs of the community and that people have the choice and a right to get the education that they want for their children," she said.

Tax credit scholarships are funded by donations, with a $75 million cap. Donors then receive an income tax credit equal to 75% of their donation.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently changed his stance and now supports the program.

State lawmakers are in their lame duck session and have a chance to improve the program by getting rid of the 2023 sunset provision and making the program permanent. While that may be unlikely with gun control and abortion and other issues clouding the short agenda, it would be a great way for parting lawmakers to strengthen their legacy from the 102nd Illinois General Assembly.

If they do not act, state lawmakers of the 103rd General Assembly will have a new chance starting Jan. 11.



Dylan Sharkey is an Assistant Editor at Illinois Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research organization that promotes responsible government and free market principles. This story was originally published on January 6, 2023.


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