The 411 on increasing your home’s ROI from The Moore Company.

As you now know, the median house costs $189,787 in Columbia. (Remember? That’s cheaper than Greenville, Charlotte, Charleston, Asheville •and• Atlanta.) Home values have risen 4.9% over the past year + Zillow predicts they’ll rise 3.7% over the next year.

What a time to be alive – er, a home buyer – in Cola.

For homeowners that want to fix up + add value to their home (to eventually sell, or just enjoy it for themselves) or homebuyers looking for tips on on how to fix-up a fixer-upper, our partner The Moore Company has 4 ways to increase the return on investment on your home.

Kitchens + bath renovations | People think it costs a lot more than it really does to give a kitchen a facelift. Key updates:

adding solid surface countertops // P.S., quartz is the new granite
painting cabinets (~$30/door + looks brand new) or replacing the faces (just the door part, ~$50/face) // this is much cheaper than ripping out the whole box
add updated cabinet pulls // places like World Market have sets under $10
upgrading lighting fixtures // The Moore Company loves Joss & Main (a discount home goods aggregate) for high-end lighting at discounted prices
adding a backsplash

Updated kitchen in 5 Oak Hollow Ct. | Photo courtesy The Moore Company

Paint | Neutralize your paint colors (or, bless your heart, take down that wallpaper + switch to paint). Some of The Moore Company’s favorite colors:

Agreeable Gray // Sherwin-Williams
Revere Pewter // Benjamin Moore (a classic; been around forever)
Classic French Gray // Sherwin-Williams
Decorator's White // Benjamin Moore // go all white; high gloss on trim/ceilings with a semi-gloss on the walls (and embrace the wall blemishes — many historic homes have them)

a recent Shandon kitchen upgrade | photo courtesy The Moore Company

a recent Shandon kitchen upgrade | photo courtesy The Moore Company

“A small investment to update your home’s kitchen or bath can make a big difference when it’s time to sell,” says Andrea Reynolds, a REALTOR with The Moore Company.

Landscaping + curbside appeal | TMC’s pet peeve? Paint peeling or mildew on a house, or a messy front yard when they show a home – that’s the buyer’s first impression.

Trim your bushes, edge your lawn, and use mulch + fresh pinestraw
Pressure wash the outdoor walls + driveway/walking path
Paint old brick // cost depends on size of house + painter; can be $5,000 ($2-3/sqft)

This Shandon bungalow had great curb appeal + an updated interior — which led to a top-dollar sale | photo courtesy The Moore Company

Patios + porches add value | Even if it’s small, so many people want an outdoor living space these days.

Add a sitting area
Add a fireplace // people consider comfortable outdoor spaces an extension of the home (and value-added)

Outdoor space at 15 Oakman Ln. | Photo courtesy The Moore Company

Even Thrillist says Cola is about to blow up – maybe I should take The Moore Company’s advice and buy a house I can fix up myself.

Too bad I spent most of my last paycheck on Avocado Toast SC.

–Chloe

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