The start of a new year for many also means starting to think about selling their Columbia SC home. Before you just call an agent and have them stick a for sale sign in your yard, or if you're thinking of selling yourself as a FSBO, consider these ways to increase the overall value of your Columbia SC home.

4 Ways to Increase the Value of a Columbia SC Home

Think Green – If repairs and maintenance are on your to-do list for your Columbia SC home, put your money where it counts and think green. If your HVAC system is old and worn out, consider investing in a new and more efficient model. Another green upgrade would be installing a solar-powered water heater that will let you save as much as 85% on your utility bills. Make sure you do this one right though, or you could end up taking a cold shower from time to time.

Consider New Windows – No one likes the idea that they need new windows. But, many people are unaware of the huge impact it has on home value since it's mostly a functional upgrade rather than a visual one. Amazingly though, spending $7,500 to $10,000 on new windows can yield as much as 80 percent return on your investment for your Columbia SC home.

Security is Important – Having the ability to illustrate how key sensors protect the windows and doors along with how you use carbon monoxide sensors, smoke detectors, and flood warning systems generates a strong sense of security and safety for many prospective homebuyers and business owners alike. Therefore, installing a security system in your Columbia SC home will not only make your home much safer, but increase the value of it as well.

Look at Your Front Door – A new front door is the number one way to improve your Columbia SC home and add value according to experts. On average, over 96 percent of what you spend on a new door adds value back into to the value of your Columbia SC home.

Keep in mind it has to be a quality door that suits the existing architecture of the home as well as aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Better yet, sometimes just repainting the front door in a different high-impact color and updating the hardware can have the same effect as buying a new one, in which case you would likely get a 100-percent-plus return on your investment.

These upgrades are key to boosting the potential equity in your Columbia SC home. This is especially true if you’re trying to get it market-ready for selling.

With the forecast of higher mortgage rates on the horizon, now is the time to get your Columbia SC home ready to sell. There may never be a more affordable time for prospective buyers to buy your Columbia SC home than right now.

We have more Columbia SC Home Improvements and Columbia SC Home Selling Tips to your right under our Columbia SC Real Estate Categories. And don't forget, we post daily tips on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to check us out there as well.

There are three common areas in your Columbia SC home where energy is probably being lost. These energy saving tips focus on entry doors, windows, and your attic access. These are the three most common problem areas.

You can correct and insulate problem areas by following these tips…

Thinking about selling your Columbia SC home? Typically Spring is the time of the year you'd be putting it on the market. But if you're like most people, there's probably a lot of things you need to do in order to get your Columbia SC home in shape to sell. So why not use the winter months to get some things done and get your home ready for the Spring selling season in 2015? Here are a few cost-effective tips to jump-start your home selling journey.

Tips to Get the Most for Your Columbia SC Home

Hire a Professional Organizer for Your Columbia SC Home

Many cleaning companies offer organizational services in addition to helping you clean. Having a professional organizer come in will allow you to create space and generate a sense of flow in your home, which is attractive to potential buyers.

Deep Clean Your Columbia SC Home

You may think your Columbia SC home is clean, but there's nothing like the magic of walking into your house after a thorough, professional cleaning has been done. Get this done early in the winter to give yourself a clean (no pun intended) slate to work with, and then do it once more right before you list your Columbia SC home. In addition to organizing, a thorough, deep cleaning, is a must do item.

Consider Painting Your Columbia SC Home

Painting is not something most people look forward to, but it does wonders for the appearance of your home for very little cost. Stay away from bold, distracting colors. Instead, choose neutral shades that will appeal to a greater number of people.

Don't Smoke!

Quit smoking inside your home at the very least. Kicking the habit is great for your health, but if you're not ready to clean up your lungs just yet, stop smoking inside of your house as soon as possible. Going outside to light up during the winter months might even help you quit faster than you would have anticipated.

Sweat the Small Stuff

Small things, like new light switch covers, may not seem like they would make a big impact. But new details like this can really make a house pop. Any covers that show cracks, chips or damage can put off a buyer. Damaged switch plate covers can increase the risk of fire or electric shock. Make sure to follow all safety precautions when doing any electrical work on your Columbia SC home.

Spruce Up Your Yard

If the weather allows it, do some landscaping during the winter months. A little curb appeal always helps boost interest. Regardless of the weather, you certainly should pick up your yard, especially if you have kids. Pick up all of the toys, put away the kiddie pool, even pack up the trampoline and sell it or put it in storage. People want to see the potential of the space, and all of your "stuff" can block that for them.

There are many ways to boost the value of your Columbia SC home before you put it on the market, but these are a few cost-effective things you can take care of during the winter months.

We have more articles to help in the process of selling your Columbia SC home over in the Columbia SC Home Selling Tips section of articles, as well as additional home improvement tips in the Columbia SC Home Improvements section, both under our Columbia SC Real Estate Categories to your right.

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Like it or not, we all live in a digital age. But now, smart gadgets for your Columbia SC home are making things inside your home completely controllable outside of your home, using your smart phone.

Living in Digital Times technology editor Andrea Smith discusses some of her favorite gadgets for the ultimate connected home.

More and more Columbia SC homebuyers are looking for homes with greater smart home technology that will control their home's appliances, lighting, and systems. Indeed, more than 70 percent of about 2,000 adults recently surveyed say they wish they could just control something in their home from their mobile device, according to Lowe's 2014 Smart Home Survey.

Smart Features Columbia SC Homebuyers Want Most

What do Columbia SC homebuyers most want to be able to do? The survey showed respondents wanted to be able to adjust the thermostat, turn on the lights, or start the coffee pot before they get out of bed.

Besides the added convenience, 40 percent of adults surveyed say they believe a smarter home would help them trim costs and save money on their utility bills. Sixty-two percent said they find smart home systems are most beneficial for monitoring safety and security.

So with the technology pool in the smart home arena ever-expanding, what's holding back adoption rates? The top considerations holding back respondents from purchasing such products were cost or fees (56 percent); ease of use (13 percent), and security (11 percent). Americans are more than twice as likely to prefer a do-it-yourself solution, without a monthly fee, over a professionally installed/monitored system with a monthly service fee, according to the survey.

"In general, Americans feel positively toward products that will make their homes safer, more energy efficient, and easier to manage,” says Kevin Meagher, Lowe's vice president and general manager of Smart Home. Lowe's offers Iris, a single user interface that allows home owners to control several aspects of their home from connected devices.

Will adding smart technology features to a home attract more potential Columbia SC homebuyers to a particular home? Chances are the answer to that question is yes.

See the results of the Smart Home Survey here.

Get more tips and articles for home improvements that Columbia SC homebuyers may be looking for by checking the Columbia SC Home Selling Tips section under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories to your right, as well as the Columbia SC Home Improvements section of articles.

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