If you’re preparing to put your house up for sale or just want to boost its value for the future, you have to know that not all home improvement projects are the same. Some will give you back more than they cost, while other will break your bank for practically no return. So, what are the home improvement projects that actually add value to your home, attract buyers and tenants and make your home stand out from the sea of properties? Find out here.

A fresh coat of color

The easiest and most cost-effective way to improve the look of your home and boost its appeal and value is to grab a brush and get painting. A fresh coat of paint can instantly refresh and modernize your home, especially if you opt for a more contemporary (yet neutral) color scheme. Check out Colors of the Year for 2018 and pick a few shades that are stylish and modern. However, don’t go too bold. A color scheme that appeals to the largest number of people will add the most value to your home.

Add or update bathrooms

Homes today have an average of 2.6 bathrooms. If your home lacks in this department, you might want to add a bathroom to stay in the competition. But, having an outdated, dark and boxy master bathroom is a much bigger problem. Buyers and tenants are attracted to modern bathrooms with clean lines, elegant fixtures and a fresh and airy feel with plenty of lighting. However, since bathrooms usually have many different components, it’s easy to get carried away and lose money. That’s why it’s important to create a good budget plan and stick to it.

Kitchen remodel

The kitchen is slowly taking over the title of the Heart of the Home from the living room. Today, the kitchen is a place for the whole family—a place where they can be productive, spend time together and have fun. If you have a modern, spacious and open kitchen, it will do wonders for your price tag. Yes, removing your existing kitchen completely and replacing it with a high-end model would look very nice, but smaller kitchen improvements actually have a better return rate. According to the FLXR blog, minor kitchen remodeling will create a total of around $20,000 and recoup more than 80% of the value.

Fix your plumbing and electrical issues

You can have the most modern kitchen and the perfect number of bathrooms, but if you have problems with plumbing and electricity, your home will lose value. That’s why people from Australia make sure to start their home improvement projects by fixing their plumbing first. Luckily, you can find an experienced plumber in Melbourne who has all the necessary knowledge and equipment to take care of any issue concerning your pipes. Also, don’t have any lighting fixtures or power outlets that don’t work. This will make your buyer wonder what else is broken in your home. Their interest and your property price will go down. Fixing these issues is relatively inexpensive and it can make a difference between selling and staying on the market.

Boost your curb appeal

Most homeowners only concentrate on the interior and completely neglect their curb appeal. But, since first impressions are very important (and your exterior is the first thing people see and judge your home by), it’s simply unacceptable to have an outdated entrance, overgrown shrubbery and a driveway full of potholes. For instance, replacing your old front door will cost you around $1,413, and it can boost the value of your home for much more. Adding a new mailbox and a stylish house number can also improve the look of your home. There are even outdoor home improvements that are completely free, like trimming the bushes, mowing the lawn and mending to your landscape.

These home improvements will certainly impress your buyers and make them ready to pay a good price for your home. Yours is just to decide whether to sell or keep your new and improved home.