8 Smart Ways to Increase Your Home Value in Charleston, SC

If you are considering selling your home in Charleston, you may be looking for ways to increase its value before you sell. Improving your home’s curb appeal and updating the interior before putting your home on the market allow you to maximize your listing price and make your property attractive to potential buyers.

To help your property stand out to homebuyers looking at historic Charleston homes or charming Dewees Island real estate, consider making a few strategic changes to your home. Explore these eight smart ways to increase your home value in Charleston.

1. Make Important Upgrades

Making upgrades can go a long way toward increasing the appeal of your home to potential buyers. Upgrades are similar to a remodel or renovation, but they generally don’t require you to alter the structure of your home.

If the old garage door looks outdated, moves slowly or makes abnormal noises when opening, replacing it can be a surprisingly good investment. According to Remodeling, replacing your garage door costs on average $3,907 but brings in an additional $3,663 in value. That’s a 94% ROI on the upgrade.

Another type of upgrade you can make is to convert an existing room into a functional home office. Approximately 45% of full-time employees work from home either full or part-time. This means that adding in-home office features like shelving and neutral lighting to a guest room can increase your home’s appeal by providing a dedicated workspace.

2. Landscape Your Yard

Elevating your home’s curb appeal makes a positive first impression and can encourage people to schedule a walk-through of your home. 

Start with basic landscaping and yard care. Make sure to keep the lawn trimmed, spread bark mulch around plants or bushes and pull unsightly weeds so they don’t take over any ornamental plants. Repair any areas of your lawn that are bald or brown to create a lush, attractive yard.

3. Eco-Friendly Features

Environmentally friendly features are essential to the growing millennial homebuyer population. According to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), 26% of millennial buyers would pay up to $5,000 more on a home with green features, while 30% would pay between $5,000 and $15,000 more.

Consider adding the following eco-friendly features to your home to increase its value and appeal to younger homebuyers:

  • Dual flush toilets and low-flow showerheads to reduce water consumption
  • Energy-Star-rated appliances
  • Double glazed low-emittance windows
  • LED lights
  • Paint free from volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • Improve the home’s insulation; replace insulation with greener alternatives like ThermaCork or Cellulose

4. Make It Low-Maintenance

Invest in items that can help the home remain low-maintenance for buyers. You are likely to gain better offers on your property if potential buyers don’t have to worry about replacing the roof or HVAC system as soon as they move in.

Consider investing in a new HVAC system before listing your home. Look into the cost versus benefit of replacing the existing HVAC with an energy-efficient multi-zone system. You can also invest in roof repairs or replacement and new siding or make plumbing or electrical repairs.

5. Add Storm Proof Features

If your goal is to attract buyers looking at coastal Folly Beach houses for sale, consider putting stormproof features in your home. Several large storms have passed through Folly Beach and Charleston over the years, so storm-proofing your home adds long-lasting value.

Common storm-proofing features to consider adding are:

  • High-velocity impact-rated windows
  • Storm shutters
  • Galvanized steel hurricane straps to secure house walls to the roof rafters
  • Impact-resistant garage door
Storm-Proof

6. Invest in a Remodel

Remodeling is an excellent way to increase the resale value of your home. Remodeling your home costs more upfront, but it can bring in a high ROI, especially when you focus on the bathroom or kitchen. Remodeling these rooms can bring you a 100% ROI when revaluing your home.

If you choose to remodel your kitchen, opt for features like a double sink, central island, walk-in pantry and built-in table space. An NAHB survey reports that these are the most desirable kitchen features for homebuyers that can raise your home’s value.

When remodeling your bathroom, make sure you update the space and put in new fixtures. Choose natural stone, granite or engineered quartz countertops in a neutral color and replace outdated fixtures with stainless steel or the year’s latest finish trend, ice white. You can also put in neutral floor tiling in place of outdated linoleum.

7. Increase Square Footage

If possible, increase your home’s square footage to elevate its value. NAHB’s survey conveys that 21% of buyers are looking for homes with more space. They typically look for homes with around 2,022 ft² of livable space, so increasing its square footage can bring in a higher value if your home is on the smaller side.

Consider finishing your basement or adding another bedroom or powder room. You could also consider building a finished room over the garage (FROG), which can give you up to 70% ROI.

8. Focus on Aesthetic Changes

One of the most cost-effective ways to increase the value of your home is to focus on aesthetic changes. Homes with neutral color palettes, uncluttered rooms and updated paint or tile jobs are valued more highly than homes that require aesthetic updating for the buyer.

If your home has outdated colors on the interior walls, siding or outside paint, consider redoing these areas in one of 2022’s colors of the year, such as Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog or Benjamin Moore’s October Mist. Repaint the trim inside your home to give it a fresh look, and consider painting or buying new doors to match the new aesthetic.

Make Smart Changes to Increase Your Home Value in Charleston

You can significantly increase your property’s value by making a few small changes before you sell. Depending on the age and location of your home, you can increase your listing price by focusing on aesthetic changes or adding some eco-friendly features.

Work with a local real estate agent to determine the value of your home and discover which changes can increase your home’s value in your Charleston neighborhood.