Top tips, smart purchases, and home upgrades that will increase your property's value in the long run  
There are plenty of ways to add value to your home without going through major renovations, whether you're planning on selling or simply want to future-proof it. 
If your home is structurally sound and well-cared for, you should be able to get away with a few easy updates, a fresh coat of paint and some yard work. In addition to making your home more appealing to potential buyers, these updates will most likely increase its value, resulting in more money in your pocket come sale time.  
Keeping your home up to date and adding value without spending a lot of money isn't easy. Here are ten simple ways to do it. 
FRESHEN UP WITH PAINT 
When you paint your house, it can lift the mood of the entire property, and it is relatively inexpensive, especially if you are willing to do the work yourself. If your budget allows, you can tackle the walls yourself and hire a professional to do the ceilings, as it can be challenging to do them yourself. 
If you can clean your skirting boards, doors, windows, and door frames with natural alternatives such as washing soda or sugar soap, you might be able to get away with just giving them a good clean. 
Start one room at a time if you are taking the DIY approach. Move all the furniture into the middle of the room and apply the first coat. You can do the second coat later in the day and finish the room by the evening because most paint only needs a few hours between coats. Of course, bigger rooms will take longer, but the one-room-at-a-time method minimises disruption. 
REFRESH YOUR WINDOW TREATMENTS  
With so many options now available, there is a value-adding solution for every room of your home when it comes to updating your window treatments. 
A wide variety of options are available to ensure your home's exact needs are met, whether you're considering curtains, blinds, or shutters. 
If you want to add warmth and style to your room, opt for shutters or timber Venetians. Choose a timeless blackout curtain in a rich fabric for a luxe finish. It isn't often that we change our window treatments during the lifetime of our house, so choosing quality, timeless styles is essential. 
REDEFINE A HOME'S ENTRANCE 
When you're about to list your home, first impressions matter. 
Choosing a strong colour for your front door and updating your doorway furniture and the entrance mat sends the message that your home is well maintained and up-to-date. 
Check the letterbox isn't shabby and repair any loose pavers or fence palings around the entrance. Clean the path, remove cobwebs, and trim plants around the entrance. 
UPDATE YOUR FLOORING 
Cleaning carpets can make a massive difference to a home's look (and smell), so it's well worth calling the professionals. If your floor covering is beyond its use-by date, no amount of cleaning will lift it. Therefore, you may want to replace it.  
When floorboards show too much wear and tear, have them re-sanded, which opens up myriad options, such as lime washing, staining, painting, or simply resealing them. 
When you remove old carpet and find old, dirty floorboards beneath, mix up a solution of boiled linseed oil, turpentine and white vinegar and test a patch with a lint-free cloth to clean and feed the wood. You may have uncovered a gem if the wood looks good. 
UPDATE KITCHEN HANDLES 
Changing your kitchen cabinet and cabinet hardware can be an easy way to update your kitchen. 
A variety of finish options are available, from aged brass and matte black to brushed nickel, so you can experiment with new colours without sacrificing function. Make sure the fit characteristics match the ones on your current handles to ensure a smooth, seamless transition. 
ALTER THE LIGHT SWITCHES 
The little details matter and standard white light switches tend to look yellow over time. However, getting an electrician to replace them isn't expensive. You can usually pick up everything you need from a local hardware store, so labour will be the biggest expense. Switch plates are often made in various colours or metals. Still, you should consider that switches are usually utilitarian items that aren't worth making a big deal of other than refreshing when aged or worn.  
REFRESH OR UPDATE SPLASHBACK 
You don't have to make major changes to your kitchen cabinets to make a significant difference, so if you don't wish to change the cabinets, consider refreshing the splashback to revitalise the space without overdoing it. 
There's still a lot of demand for glass splashbacks, but acrylic is less expensive. In addition, it comes in a wide range of colours, as well as clear options so that you can customise your choice with wallpaper, for instance. The only downside is that acrylics cannot be used directly behind stoves. 
UPDATE FITTINGS, TAPS AND FAUCETS  
Taps can make a big difference in a bathroom or kitchen that generally needs a little updating.  
Putting in new, good-looking, matching faucets or fixtures that link aesthetically adds a sense of cohesion to the house. Good fixtures also suggest a sound plumbing system. 
GET OUT IN THE GARDEN 
It's time to pull on the garden gloves and get down to business in the backyard. After a general clean-up, look for gaps in the planting and fill them in. Whenever you're planning to put your house up for sale, gather reasonably established potted plants from your garden to fill up these holes so that you'll have them with you when you move. 
Give your paths and paintwork a once-over with a high-pressure hose. Clean and oil your outdoor furniture and give the barbecue a good scrub. 
REPLACE YOUR TOILET AND SINK 
A simple sink or toilet replacement can give a bathroom a quick facelift. 
Whether it is a freestanding sink, organic shaped sink, statement colour or something else, these new sink styles can transform a tired bathroom into something more modern, while a fresh toilet gives the impression of cleanliness and hygiene. 
Note for heritage homes: How to be a good custodian of heritage. 
Depending on your home and where you live in Melbourne, there may be restrictions on the types of renovations you can make to a home.  
In many of Melbourne's suburbs, Kensington included, heritage-listed homes provide a beautiful glimpse of a bygone era filled with charm and character. These homes are certainly worth preserving because of their ornate decoration and timeless elegance. Still, they come with government regulations that dictate what can and cannot be done to the property.  
There's no need to despair if you own a piece of Australian history, but you want to update it with a twenty-first-century renovation or extension. Here's a comprehensive guide to owning, renovating and maintaining heritage properties in Melbourne. 
https://www.heritage.vic.gov.au/protecting-our-heritage/maintaining-and-modifying-a-heritage-property 

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Want to know how much your home is worth? Request an Appraisal For Your Kensington Property to find out its worth or want more specific tips on how to increase your property's value, speak with one of Kensington's best real estate agents.  
Become a local! Discover local properties for sale in Kensington   
Find the best selling and buying tips and insights for the Kensington area. Check out our next article, "What to look for when buying a heritage property".