8 ways to increase your home’s value

The value of your home can increase or decrease for a variety of reasons. Some variables are out of your control — like how hot your local housing market is or isn’t. But other variables may be within your control — namely, strategic upgrades to the premises.

Many home improvements can significantly increase your home’s value, boosting your equity stake. While they won’t all recoup their full cost, they definitely will make the house more marketable — and of course, improve your quality of life while you still occupy it.

8 ways to increase the value of your home

There are many ways to add value to your home. Some are simple and fast DIY jobs. Others require an upfront investment and the use of professionals.

1. Clean and declutter

To increase your home’s value, start by reducing the amount of stuff inside it. Cleaning and decluttering are relatively inexpensive tasks, even in bigger homes. Professionally cleaning a four-bedroom home averages between $200 and $225, according to HomeAdvisor, though it varies greatly by metro. Decluttering can cost anywhere from $300 to $800 if you hire a professional, depending on the size of your space and where you live.

Of course, you could save money by doing the work yourself. Start by going through cabinets and closets and making donation piles. Then clean out drawers and other storage areas, making sure you don’t keep anything you don’t need or want.

2. Add usable square footage

Homes are valued and priced by the livable square feet...