The value of your home can increase or decrease for a variety of reasons. Some variables are out of your control — like how hot your local housing market is or isn’t. But other variables may be within your control — namely, strategic upgrades to the premises.

There are many ways to add value to your home. Some are simple and fast DIY jobs. Others require an upfront investment and the use of professionals.

1. Clean and declutter

To increase your home’s value, start by reducing the amount of stuff inside it. Cleaning and decluttering are relatively inexpensive tasks, even in bigger homes. Professionally cleaning a four-bedroom home averages between $200 and $225, according to HomeAdvisor, though it varies greatly by metro. Decluttering can cost anywhere from $300 to $800 if you hire a professional, depending on the size of your space and where you live.

Of course, you could save money by doing the work yourself. Start by going through cabinets and closets and making donation piles. Then clean out drawers and other storage areas, making sure you don’t keep anything you don’t need or want.

2. Add usable square footage

Homes are valued and priced by the livable square feet they contain, and the more livable square feet, the better, says Benjamin Ross, a Realtor and real estate investor based in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Adding a bathroom, a great room or another needed space to a home can increase function and add value. A separate in-law suite can also be a smart idea. “Most homes do not have this feature,” says Ross, “so adding one sets you apart from the competition when it is time to sell.”

3. Make your home more energy-efficient

Projects that lower utility bills can increase the value of your home. And they don’t have to be complicated.

Improve your home’s efficiency and value by replacing old, leaky windows, installing energy-efficient home appliances and insulating walls. Swap out old incandescent bulbs for energy-efficient LEDs, which last longer and use less electricity.

If you have some extra cash, you can invest in solar panels. While there might be high upfront costs, they can reduce your electricity bill and reliance on the grid by tapping free solar energy.

You could start this process by having an energy audit of your home conducted, which costs about $437 and involves a professional conducting a detailed inspection of where your home is losing energy. According to Angi, these audits often reveal a variety of areas where improvements can be made.

4. Spruce it up with fresh paint

A fresh coat of paint can make even dated exteriors and interiors look new again. The average cost of exterior painting is $3,178, according to Angi. Interior painting costs average around $2,022.
Your exact painting budget will depend on a number of factors, including the materials, labor fees and size of your home.
Angi pegs painting a bathroom — usually the smallest room in the house — at somewhere between $200 and $400, while a living room might cost as much as $2,000.

If you just want to repaint a door or a single room, doing it yourself could cost you between $135 and $300. But for bigger jobs, especially exterior ones, hiring a painter might be worth it.

5. Work on your curb appeal

From power washing your driveway to mowing the lawn, improving curb appeal can make a big difference in your home’s value.

Upgrading your landscape can go an especially long way, says Joe Raboine, vice president of Design at Oldcastle APG, a manufacturer of exterior building products. A fresh walkway, shrubs, planters, mulching or even a new patio or outdoor kitchen can give your home a needed facelift, but even small details like a new mailbox, light fixtures, solar-powered path lights or a new house number sign can make a world of difference.

Landscaping to improve curb appeal can cost anywhere from $781 to more than $2,100, according to Angi. These types of projects can deliver a powerful return on your investment of up to 200%.

6. Upgrade your exterior doors

Replacing an old front door can give your home a fresh look.

“The front of the home is the first thing you, your neighbors and prospective buyers will see,” says Randy Oliver, president of Hollywood-Crawford Door Company.

Don’t forget the garage doors, he adds. “Garage doors often take up the most amount of space on the front of your home, so installing a modern glass panel door or a rustic wood door will dramatically improve your home’s appearance.”

The cost of a new garage door can run anywhere from $754 to $1698. These jobs offer one of the highest ROIs among home renovations, as much as 194%, according to Angi.

7. Update your kitchen

Many buyers zero in on the kitchen as the central feature of a home, so if yours is outdated, it can ultimately affect how much you garner from a sale.

But this project can be costly, and you likely won’t get back every dollar you invest. A minor kitchen remodel costs around $10,000 to $20,000 and provides about 96% return on your investment when it’s time to sell, according to Angi.

If updating your entire kitchen is too big of an undertaking, even small changes could still have an impact — consider coordinating appliances and installing modern hardware on your cabinets.

©2025 Bankrate.com/Tribune News Service