Homeowners are finding it a little more difficult to sell their homes these days. Fortunately, the right renovation can separate your property from the pack.
You don’t have to spend big money or knock down walls to make your home more attractive either. Recently, the websites Zillow and Thumbtack combined resources to identify 10 upgrades under $5,000 that increase both daily saves and shares on Zillow when they are mentioned in a home listing.
“A strong indicator of how excited buyers are about a home is how frequently they save a home on Zillow or share it with a shopping partner. More saves and shares signal that a home is in high demand.”
Here are the best affordable and easy-to-implement upgrades if you are trying to boost the value of your home.
Window box
On Zillow, home listings with this feature can get:
- 48% more saves per day
- 52% more shares per day
A simple container for flowers and other plants can dramatically — and cheaply — boost your home’s appeal when it sits below a windowsill.
The cost of this project is between $100 and $150 if it is professionally installed, with materials costing between $15 and $900.
Open shelving
On Zillow, home listings with this feature can get:
- 37% more saves per day
- 45% more shares per day
Open shelving consists of a flat, horizontal display area that is attached to a wall. On average, it costs $275 to have this professionally installed, plus the cost of the shelf.
Painted brick
On Zillow, home listings with this feature can get:
- 31% more saves per day
- 39% more shares per day
Painted brick offers a way to give your home’s exterior a boost without replacing the masonry. Depending on the size of your home, expect to pay between $4,600 and $7,600 for this project.
Vintage touches and finishes
On Zillow, home listings with this feature can get:
- 28% more saves per day
- 31% more shares per day
An “old school” look appeals to many buyers. The cost of adding vintage decor and features can vary a lot, but many great pieces can be purchased for under $100.
Outdoor TV
On Zillow, home listings with this feature can get:
- 28% more saves per day
- 26% more shares per day
Sports fans, movie buffs and others love to enjoy their favorite entertainment under open skies. The trend of outdoor TVs is especially hot right now, and you can expect to pay $175 to $300 for the luxury.
Picket fence
On Zillow, home listings with this feature can get:
- 27% more saves per day
- 31% more shares per day
The white picket fence is at the heart of the American Dream of homeownership. Pet owners are particularly attracted to this feature, which typically costs $7 to $45 per linear foot.
Pergola
On Zillow, home listings with this feature can get:
- 20% more saves per day
- 24% more shares per day
On a hot summer day, a pergola can offer some relief in the shade. A 10-by-10-foot pergola will cost around $3,600, with labor and materials.
Fire pit
On Zillow, home listings with this feature can get:
- 19% more saves per day
- 23% more shares per day
Fall is right around the corner, and that means crisp nights in front of a fire pit. You can expect to spend around a couple hundred dollars on a kit to construct a fire pit.
Outdoor sound system
On Zillow, home listings with this feature can get:
- 18% more saves per day
- 19% more shares per day
An outdoor TV is nice, but why not spring for a great outdoor sound system, too? Depending on the quality of your system, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $2,000.
Smart lighting
On Zillow, home listings with this feature can get:
- 18% more saves per day
- 23% more shares per day
Thumbtack says smart home installations are up nearly 22% year over year, and smart lighting is especially popular. The cost of such an installation averages $308.
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