House & Home

8 Tips for Increasing Home Value

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Not all remodels are created equally when it comes to return-on-investment. Over the years, we have published great advice for increasing home value. The latest trends are not always the best investments! Simple, sound remodels seem to be the ticket. Have a look at these eight ideas.

Kitchen trends to avoid if you want to sell: Vessel sinks, pull out racks, hanging pot racks, and stainless steel appliances all might not provide the return-on-investment that you are looking for.
Our guide to the super cheap bathroom remodel: The "super-cheap bathroom remodel", introduced to us by a DIY remodeler in Minneapolis, can offer a surprising return-on-investment. Do the work carefully, and you can transform your bathroom into something that buyers will love.
Storage features that buyers want: Buyers want closets, and lots of them. Having a carpenter add or revamp closets is a remodel that could land you with higher bids than you expected.
Renovations with the best return-on-investment: An interior designer discusses aesthetic choices that will pay off when selling your house. Bottom line: Choose simple, classic, high quality styles. Avoid anything too "artsy" or too "personal".
Best home renovations to prepare for selling your house: A realtor talks about the best renovations to invest in. His picks: Roofs, kitchens and baths, basements, flooring, and insulation.
Four worthwhile home energy retrofits: Not all retrofits offer great returns-on-investment. A green building experts says that insulating the ceilings and floors, sealing attic knee walls, sealing ducts, and installing shade screens on windows are sound investments.
Making the right landscape choices for curb appeal: Improve soil grading, fix exterior concrete problems, maintain your lawn, and make your landscape similar to that of the rest of the neighborhood to improve home value.
Fix municipal problems that lower home value: Problems like smelly sewers, cracked sidewalks, and broken street lights all can drive buyers away.
Have you done renovations that paid off when selling (or didn't pay off)? Please share your stories in the comments.
Chaya Kurtz writes for Networx.com.