Key takeaways

• A collision deductible waiver (CDW) is an optional endorsement that covers your deductible if you’re hit by an uninsured driver and must use your collision coverage instead of their liability insurance to file a claim.
• CDWs may not cover certain types of situations, such as hit-and-runs, partial-fault accidents and accidents with underinsured drivers.
• This endorsement to a standard auto insurance policy is very limited and only offered in California and Massachusetts.
• Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage is often available as an alternative if you want a low-deductible way to protect yourself from uninsured drivers.

No matter how safely you drive, there’s always a chance that an irresponsible or distracted driver makes you the victim of an accident. Once the damage is done, it’s a toss-up whether the at-fault driver has car insurance. If you’d rather not take that gamble, a collision deductible waiver (CDW) can help hedge your bets. This optional endorsement waives your deductible when you’re hit by an uninsured driver and have to rely on your own collision coverage for repairs. CDWs vary by state and insurance provider, but they can be a smart safeguard depending on your policy structure and financial risk tolerance.

What is a collision deductible waiver?

A collision deductible waiver (CDW) is an optional feature you can add to your car insurance policy. It is an endorsement that covers your collision deductible when you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver. It is not available in every state or with every insurance company.

In a typical car accident, the not-at-fault driver can file a claim against the at-fault driver’s liability insurance, up to their coverage limits. However, if the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance, you may be forced to use your own collision coverage — if you have it — to pay for repairs. That can feel unlucky and unfair, since the accident wasn’t your fault. But, in essence, a CDW removes the gamble of hoping the other driver has insurance.

How does a collision deductible waiver work?

How a collision deductible waiver works and when it applies depends on the guidelines set by your insurance company. That said, there are some common restrictions that most companies follow:

• Coverage requirement: In order to have a CDW, you must have collision coverage, which is usually part of a full coverage car insurance policy.
• Actual cash value (ACV): The ACV of your vehicle must be more than your deductible — though if your car isn’t worth much, you probably don’t carry collision coverage anyway. In general, it makes sense to drop collision coverage when the cost of premiums and deductibles exceeds what you’d likely get from a claim.
• Fault determination: Most insurers require you to not be at fault for the accident. Some auto companies may require you to be 100 percent fault-free to have the collision deductible waived, while others may waive a percent of your deductible based on your percentage of fault.
• Driver identification: The at-fault driver typically needs to be identified and found uninsured for your CDW to apply. In cases of hit-and-runs where the driver is never identified or cases where the driver is just underinsured, the CDW would generally not apply.

Collision deductible waiver in California

In California, collision deductible waivers follow the same acronym, but are technically called California deductible waivers under state law. 

California Insurance Code requires insurance companies to offer policyholders a CDW if they have both collision coverage and uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) coverage on their policy. California requires insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) coverage to all policyholders who do not have collision coverage but allows policyholders to reject this coverage by signing a waiver. 

California also does not allow policyholders to carry both collision and UMPD simultaneously, since the protections are somewhat redundant. Both can cover damage to your vehicle caused by an uninsured driver, but collision applies regardless of fault, while UMPD is specifically for cases where you’re not at fault and the other driver is uninsured. Allowing both would mean double coverage for the same incident, which insurance regulations aim to avoid.

For California drivers who opt for UMPD on top of liability-only coverage, the UMPD coverage limit is a fixed amount of $3,500 and is without a deductible.

Collision deductible waiver in Massachusetts

The state of Massachusetts doesn’t require CDWs to be offered like California, but it is unique in the fact that UMPD is not an alternative option. Most states have both or neither. So this means that having collision coverage with a CDW is your only option to avoid paying your deductible if your vehicle is damaged by an uninsured driver.

Alternatives to collision deductible waivers

Even a low deductible can be a significant out-of-pocket expense, especially if you have to pay it unexpectedly. If you don’t have the option of a CDW or choose not to have one, here are some alternatives that might help you save on deductible expenses:

Diminishing or vanishing deductible

Many insurance companies offer these options as either an additional endorsement you can pay extra for or as a policy benefit to preferred drivers. Once you select a deductible amount, the deductible is reduced over a certain period of time and as long as you stay incident-free. For example, if you select a $500 collision deductible, you may see a $100 decrease in your deductible every year you keep a clean driving record (no at-fault accidents or moving violations). The length of time and amount of reduction is determined by the carrier.

Uninsured motorist collision deductible waiver

An uninsured motorist collision deductible waiver is very similar to a CDW. If you are involved in a car accident with an uninsured identified driver and this driver is at fault for the accident, your insurance company will waive the collision deductible. Again, the specifics surrounding this coverage will depend on your insurance provider, but you usually have to pay extra for this waiver.

Uninsured motorist property damage

UMPD provides coverage for your vehicle and property when it is damaged by an uninsured driver. It essentially acts as a replacement for the property damage liability coverage the at-fault driver should have had. UMPD availability, coverage and deductible options vary between states and carriers.

Choose a low deductible

The most common collision deductible is between $500 and $1,000, but you may have lower options depending on your carrier. Some auto insurers offer a zero collision deductible, but they typically start at $100. While lowering your deductible will increase your premium, drivers with older cars might not see a significant change.

Is a collision deductible waiver the same as uninsured motorist coverage?

Collision deductible waiver and uninsured motorist coverage are not the same. The CDW, usually an optional add-on, waives your collision deductible in the event of a claim against an uninsured motorist. Uninsured motorist (UM) is a type of liability coverage that can pay for repairs and medical payments for you and your passengers caused by an uninsured driver.

UMBI usually only pays for medical expenses, and UMPD is a separate coverage for physical damage loss. However, some states have UM coverage that combines both coverage types, and some states don’t allow for UMPD coverage at all.

If a CDW isn’t available through your insurance company or in your state, uninsured motorist property damage can be a practical alternative. With uninsured driving on the rise, UMPD offers a more affordable way to stay protected — often with lower premiums and deductibles compared to collision coverage. See the table below for UMPD availability by state.

21 tips for effective leadership

Here are some tips to become an effective leader:

1. Be humble

Leaders who are humble share the success of the team with other team members. They might do this by drawing attention to the hard work of each individual within the team and recognizing the effort of each team member against external forces when they have the chance to do so. This type of humility can help all team members feel a sense of inclusion and pride in their work.

2. Be goal-oriented

Rather than focusing on a problem, effective leaders direct their attention toward the solution. They may do this by focusing on company goals and developing a plan to meet those goals. Effective leaders prioritize so they can complete the most urgent tasks first.

3. Build trust

Develop relationships to earn the trust of the team because it can facilitate better teamwork. A leader who actively seeks to build trust may also demonstrate that consideration for the interests of team members and the company. Here are a few tips to help you build trust at work:

• Participate in daily activities.
• Learn something about each team member.
• Be fair and consistent.
• Involve individuals of all levels in decisions.
• Recognize your colleagues’ contributions to shared work.

4. Be decisive

Decisive individuals can make quick and efficient decisions in the workplace. This may help them troubleshoot problems and achieve success quickly. When choosing a solution, think about the goals of your project and company, then pick a solution that aligns with these goals.Strive to inspire a shared vision among colleagues so that everyone is working toward a common goal. When it comes time to make a decision, be confident in your ability to guide team members toward the proper outcome. This confidence can help inspire a team to follow your leadership.

5. Set an example

As a leader, you have a greater deal of accountability than the individuals on your team. Your primary goal as a manager is to set an example. Be the kind of leader you would follow yourself. For example, if you want your colleagues to be on time, be punctual yourself.

6. Encourage communication

Part of building trust in the workplace is establishing an environment where team members can take risks and comfortably express their ideas, concerns or opinions. Here are a few ways to promote an open environment for two-way feedback:

• Encourage feedback. Encourage individuals to ask questions, recommend ways to solve problems and discuss concerns. Let them express their opinions on company policies or decisions.
• Reward outstanding individuals. Mention or reward team members who’ve achieved significant progress toward the organizational goals or shared useful feedback with the company.
• Promote respect for varied opinions. Encourage all team members, including senior leaders and management, to respect the opinions or perceptions of their colleagues.

Related:20 Ways To Improve Your Work Environment

7. Learn about your team

Taking time to learn about your team and to help the team learn about each other, can help improve communication and mutual respect. As a leader, learning about your peers and understanding their individual personalities, goals and work styles can also help you develop better strategies for management. You can also use what you learn to establish an environment every team member feels like you listen to them and care for their wellbeing.

8. Provide constructive feedback

Constructive criticism can have a positive effect on a team member’s professional growth. When you provide feedback, be specific. Clearly explain how team members can change their behavior to better align with your expectations. Maintain a friendly and respectful tone and restate the individual’s value to the company. You can also tell them that you’re providing this feedback because you want to see them grow and succeed.

9. Know when to delegate tasks

As an effective leader, know when to delegate assignments and when to complete them yourself. Assigning tasks in this way can help you focus on the most important tasks you have yet to complete.Before you delegate a task, consider the following:

• Other team members who have the skills or information to complete the assignment
• If the assignment provides an opportunity to build and improve an individual’s skill set
• Is this a recurring task
• If there’s enough time to delegate the assignment efficiently
• Reasons you shouldn’t delegate this task

10. Give without expecting something in return

Effective leaders may adopt a servant-leadership mindset. This involves refocusing your mind on giving without expecting something in return. Leaders who give naturally see potential and abundance in those around them, so developing this mindset might help you succeed in encouraging the development of your peers. You may also share knowledge and offer support generously.

11. Know your own limits

Even the kindest and most caring leaders have boundaries and limits. When you have firm boundaries as a leader, you can earn the respect of your colleagues or team members. Knowing your strengths and limitations can help you delegate tasks that are better suited to other team members.When you set limits or clear boundaries with team members, put your communication skills into practice to explain what you need that can help you be successful. Also, be sure to respect the boundaries and limits of others.

12. Keep learning

Successful leaders often know that there’s always something new to learn. Many team members respect leaders that can admit when they don’t have the right answer and are eager to learn new things. These leaders are willing to let their teams teach them something new and look for professional development opportunities for themselves, such as taking a course or attending networking events.

13. Trust your team members

When you trust the individuals on your team and let them do their job without interfering, you can increase their productivity and boost their morale. You can also build their confidence and improve their work performance. You can demonstrate your trust in your team by allowing them independence in some aspects of their work.

14. Encourage productive meetings

Time is a valuable resource, so use it wisely. As an effective leader, you can encourage productive meetings by:

• Staying on task and keeping discussions focused
• Planning ahead to get as much as possible out of a short time
• Brainstorming creative productivity ideas or strategies with your team

Read more:Tips for Hosting Productive Meetings

15. Learn from your mistakes

Learning from past mistakes can help you determine better techniques for achieving your goals. It can also be a great way to lead by example and show your team that mistakes can be useful. When you make a mistake, engage your positive leadership mindset and consider it an opportunity for future improvement and growth.

16. Be passionate

Many effective leaders are passionate and give their best effort. When your team sees your engagement and motivation, it can encourage them to offer the same enthusiasm at work. This practice can increase productivity and enhance morale.

17. Compliment and recognize team members

Recognize the good work and strong efforts your team put into their job. Recognition can include compliments and awards. This acknowledgment can make team members feel loved and appreciated, which can increase their job satisfaction and engagement. Providing recognition for top performers can also motivate other individuals to work hard.

18. Create a fun work environment

Establish a fun work environment where team members can relax. To do this, schedule trips or games for relaxation. Teams that have these kinds of activities on their work schedule may feel happier and more productive. A fun work environment can build a strong rapport among your team members, allowing them to learn from and collaborate with each other.

19. Focus on change

As a leader, help your peers understand the objectives and goals of the company and what they can do to help achieve those goals. Once they know what changes the company is trying to achieve, they may be more enthusiastic about doing work that can contribute to its success. In this way, focus on the company’s overall vision and have the desire to bring about change.

20. Promote diversity

Effective leaders often welcome diversity and enhance the strengths that it can confer in a company. A diverse workforce that includes a wide range of personalities and backgrounds may generate new ideas and innovation, which can increase the likelihood of success. As a leader, recognize the value of diversity and strive to build teams that embrace it.

21. Help to develop future leaders

Part of being an effective leader is ensuring there’s someone else who can take over your position when necessary. Your company can benefit from creating a plan that leaves no time gap between supervisors. This means training other team members on how to perform your duties. Having trustworthy, competent team members who can take on your role ensures the company can maintain its productivity in your absence.

Social media sites are great tools which allow us to keep in touch with friends, family and coworkers. However, understanding the potential risks to these sites is important to enjoying and using them properly. Your online activities may expose excessive information about your identity, location, affiliations, and relationships, which leads to an increased risk of identity theft, targeted violence and/or stalking.

For a safer social networking experience, one should always assume:

• No one is anonymous on the internet. Nothing posted is private:
  • Once something is posted it can spread quickly.
  • Everyone can see what you post—from who you are friends with, to your comments, to where you post. 
  • An embarrassing comment or image can and will likely come back to haunt you.
• The more you participate in social networking the higher your risk to cyber crimes is.

To remain more secure and manage your online presence, follow these best practices:

• Do not accept friend/follow requests from anyone you do not know.
• Avoid third party applications. If they are needed, do not allow them to access your social media accounts.
• Be cautious with the images you post. What is in them can be more revealing than who is in them.
• Configure your security options on your accounts to minimize who can see your information.
• Never check “remember me” or “keep me logged in” options from public or shared computers.
• Do not use the same password for all of your accounts.
• Do not use your social media accounts to log into other sites. Create a new account for the site instead.
• Do not post personally identifiable information.

Every social media site is unique in their security settings and protocol. In order to protect your information, one must understand how the site operates and which settings are appropriate. To learn more about popular social networking sites and how to stay secure, see our tips below.

X:

X is an open platform, where participation is open to everyone with an email address and internet access. It is important to remember that anyone can read your posts that are not set to private even if they do not have an account themselves.

By default, your posts are set to public and are available to everyone on the internet. You can limit who sees what you post by changing the setting to “Protect My Post”. Protecting your account has many benefits including:

• All posts are protected.
• People will have to request to follow you before they can view anything you post. You will also have to approve these requests.
• Other users will not be able to retweet what you post.
• Protected posts do not appear in search engines.

An additional layer of account protection would be login verification. Instead of just entering your password to log in to your account, you will also need to enter a code sent via text message to your mobile phone.

Besides protecting your posts, there are other items you should consider before posting on X.

• Posting images can often create more interaction with your account; however, it is important to remember all images contain metadata. The metadata can contain a lot of information such as the location where the picture was taken, the date and time of when it was taken, the model and make of the camera and more.  While most social networking sites delete this data, X does not. Always think twice before posting an image.
• Photo tagging is also a common feature to many social media sites. On X, this function makes it easier for other users to and your followers to locate you and participate in social exchanges. Due to tagged photos not being individually verified, you could be associated with images you are not even in or images you never want to be associated with. To avoid this risk, change the photo tagging setting to prevent anyone other than yourself from tagging you in photos.

Facebook:

There are a few important security settings to enable for a more secure, social networking experience:

• Login notifications (also known as unrecognized login alerts) are a great way to identify attempted compromises to your Facebook profile. When accessing your profile, Facebook checks for the presence of a “cookie” on your device. If the cookie is absent or incorrect, Facebook asks if the information should be saved and will send a text or email. Login notifications are a great way to keep track of your account. If you receive a login notification and you did not initiate the login, you should immediately change your password and follow the Facebook community guidelines for what to do next. Note, you can also setup two-factor authentication. This is the most secure protocol for your account. You will login using your password as well as a code sent via text message to your phone.
• Set your Facebook post audience to friends only. You might even want to create a custom list and put some of your acquaintances in a group so they are excluded from viewing your posts.
• In addition, limiting the people who can send you friend requests helps protect your profile. Users should consider changing the security setting to only allow friends of friends to send requests. This gives you more assurance that the friend request is coming from someone in your personal network. Always remain cautious when receiving a request from someone you do not know, even if they know other individuals in your network.

Instagram:

By default, your Instagram is made public to all other users. You can make your account private by going to your profile settings. If you choose to keep your account public, remember that anyone is able to see what you post, and the internet is forever.

Your Instagram images can appear in a Google search if you’ve logged into your account using a web viewer, authorizing them to access your profile and images. To stop this from happening, revoke access to third-party websites or make your account private.

In a private account:

• Posts you share to other social media apps may be visible to the public depending on your privacy settings in those apps (a private Instagram post may be visible to those who see your Twitter posts)
• Only approved followers can see your posts, including any likes and comments
• Followers must send you requests that you can approve or ignore
• Likes on your posts won’t appear in the ‘Following’ feed of the ‘Activity’ tab.
• When you like a public post, your like will be visible to everyone and your username will be clickable below the post, but (again) only approved followers can see your posts.

YouTube:

YouTube allows you to make personal videos on your page private, allowing only you to share the videos with people you want. YouTube also never asks for password or email information, so if a user or account asks for this information you should report them immediately.

• Be sure to ask for permission before using people’s faces in your videos. Posting someone’s face or information without permission can get you kicked off the website.
• If someone posts your information or face in a video without your permission, YouTube encourages you to reach out to them before reporting them. Sometimes, people don’t realize that they are violating your privacy by doing so.
• If you see a video online that offends you, or you don’t feel it’s appropriate, flag it. YouTube will review its content to see if it should be taken down.
• Remember that anything you post on YouTube (comments, videos, etc.) can be seen by the public. Offensive comments can be reported and get you removed from the website.
• Do not click on links in the comment section of videos. Malware and other harmful spyware can easily be transmitted by cyber-attackers.

LinkedIn:

Configuring LinkedIn accounts for maximum security can be challenging. Users need to decide how to balance privacy, safety and security against the value of building a professional network. As a general rule, do not include things like email, telephone numbers or addresses in any fields that are not labeled for that information.

Making connections is an important part of this social networking site. If we are judged by the company we keep, then deciding which requests to allow or deny is an important decision. To help stay secure, follow these practices when adding connections:

• Be skeptical when you are contacted by individuals you do not know personally or professionally. Not everyone on the internet is who they say they are.
• Only accept connections that add quality to your professional network and consider the consequences of accepting connections that do not.
• Do not accept requests based on the requestor’s strength of network. People can build false networks and leverage their false credibility.

When selecting an email address to use with your profile, try to separate your personal and professional life. LinkedIn uses your email as the primary outlet through which communication flows. It will also use your email if you are ever locked out of your account.

Once your account is set up, LinkedIn will ask if you want to sync your contact books. Before allowing a third party site to access your address books, ask if you would be okay with exposing your name and email address to those you did not choose. Also consider if you want to be professionally associated with everyone in your address book.

As an entrepreneur or small business owner, it can be a challenge navigating the complex world of business development and funding. Between finding trusted resources, exploring loan options, and kickstarting your business dreams, it can be difficult to gain any momentum if you are tackling every factor impacting your business alone.

Fortunately, you don’t have to fly solo the entire way. Over the years, other entrepreneurs have paved the way and written down their wisdom, government agencies have established programs to support small business owners, and community members have founded nonprofits to nurture businesses along their path to success. Thanks to these entities and the wealth of information centralized on the Internet, small business owners have never had more options and more readily available access to resources to grow their businesses.

There are numerous resources available to small business owners and entrepreneurs to help them start and grow their businesses. Whether it’s counseling and training services, financial assistance, networking opportunities, or market research, there are organizations and programs available to help businesses succeed. In fact, many of these resources are free, an added bonus for your business budget.

As a digital marketing agency, we’ve partnered with dozens of entrepreneurs and small business owners over the last decade, so we’ve learned which resources have been the most helpful (and which ones haven’t) for our clients. Below, our Big Storm team has compiled a list of organizations and forms of support that offer support to small businesses in the United States. By taking advantage of these resources, you can learn more about the different types of support out there so you can overcome challenges, achieve your goals, and thrive in today’s competitive business environment.

Before Diving In: Evaluate Your Options & Budget

It’s important to note that while these small business resources can be incredibly helpful, it’s also essential to do your due diligence and carefully evaluate each opportunity before committing to anything. It’s crucial to research and compare different options, read reviews and testimonials from other business owners, and talk to trusted advisors and mentors before making any decisions. Additionally, it’s worth noting that while some of these resources are free or low-cost, others may come with a price tag. You should carefully consider your business’s budget and financial needs before committing to any paid services or programs.

Tried-and-True Small Business Resources

1.) Small Business Administration

The SBA is a government agency that provides counseling and training to small businesses through its district offices across the country. Business development specialists offer free and low-cost services to entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to start or grow their businesses. This business resource is best for a wide range of business owners, from those who have yet to start a business to entrepreneurs seeking a $5 million loan to buy real estate.

2.) Small Business Development Centers

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) are hosted by leading universities and state economic development agencies. These centers help aspiring entrepreneurs realize their dreams and help existing businesses remain competitive in a complex, ever-changing global marketplace. SBDCs are best for existing companies looking to get to the next level.

3.) Procurement & Technical Assistance Centers

Procurement & Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) provide local, in-person counseling and training services designed to assist businesses that want to sell products and services to federal, state, and/or local governments. PTAC services are available either free of charge or at a nominal cost. This resource is best for business owners who wished they knew about such services before they started on the arduous journey of selling products and services to the government.

4.) United States Export Assistance Centers

The United States Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) are staffed by professionals from SBA, the Department of Commerce, the Export-Import Bank, and other public and private organizations. Together, their mission is to help small and midsize businesses compete in today’s global marketplace by providing export assistance. This resource is best for entrepreneurs with their sights set on the global stage, as it offers valuable guidance and resources to help businesses navigate the complexities of exporting.

5.) Certified Development Companies

Certified Development Companies (CDCs) are nonprofit corporations certified and regulated by the SBA. They work with participating lenders to provide financing to small businesses. There are 270 CDCs nationwide, covering specific geographic areas. CDCs are best for existing business owners looking for debt financing to buy capital equipment, another company, or enter new markets.

6.) Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFI)

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are private financial institutions that are 100% dedicated to delivering responsible, affordable lending to help low-income, low-wealth, and other disadvantaged people and communities join the economic mainstream. Visit the CDFI Locator to find a CDFI near you.

7.) Chamber of Commerce

Your local or regional chamber of commerce is a member community organization that actively facilitates, educates, and advocates on behalf of its members through various services and programs. Chamber member offerings typically include networking opportunities and events, educational seminars, leadership development, and special offers to chamber members from other chamber members. This resource is best for companies interested in local networking and business development. It is also helpful for companies interested in local networking and business development.

8.) Veterans Business Outreach Centers

The Veterans Business Outreach Program (VBOP) is designed to provide entrepreneurial development services such as business training, counseling, mentoring, and referrals for eligible veterans owning or starting a small business. The SBA has 16 different organizations participating in this cooperative agreement and serving as Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOC). This resource is best for veterans who want to start a business or need assistance managing and growing an existing business.

9.) Prospera

An excellent local business resource, Prospera Business Network helps support businesses in southwest Montana, especially those in Gallatin and Park Counties. A non-profit organization, Prospera’s goal is to help small businesses launch their dreams. They focus on building the local economy, which, in turn, grows a thriving community.

10.) Women’s Business Centers

The Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) represent a national network of nearly 100 educational centers throughout the United States. This organization supports women in launching and growing businesses. They are particularly helpful in encouraging women who are economically or socially disadvantaged. Additionally, they offer business training and counseling for women who are starting a business for the first time or who are hoping to expand the business they have.

11.) SCORE

SCORE is a nonprofit organization that offers counseling, advice, and mentoring services to small business owners. With more than 13,000 volunteer business counselors across the United States, SCORE provides valuable support to startups during their first two years of operation. The organization offers training and guidance to help businesses avoid the common mistakes that can sink new companies in the first 24 months.

12.) Public Library and Research Librarians

Public libraries and research librarians offer a wealth of information and business resources to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Libraries can provide expert industry market research to help businesses better understand their market and competition, while research librarians have access to databases and research reports that can help businesses make better decisions, faster. And if you cannot find what you are looking for at the public library, IBISWorld is a great place to do industry market research. They provide reports, statistics, analysis, data, trends, and insights.

Boost Your Small Business’s Digital Presence with Big Storm

Now that you’re equipped with the resources you need to thrive, it’s time to partner with a digital marketing agency who can take your online game to the next level. Big Storm is a data-driven marketing company that aims to be transparent, genuine, valuable, and profitable in the work that we do for our clients. We’re driven to create impactful results for our clients, whether it’s a sleek website layout designed to convert leads or a PPC campaign geared to boost your sales.

The road to selling a home can be a long one. Learn to how to increase the value of your home—based on your budget.

In This Article

• Increase Your Home’s Value For: Under $100
• Increase Your Home’s Value For: $100- $200
• Increase Your Home’s Value For: $200-$400
• Increase Your Home’s Value For: $400-$750

Increase Your Home’s Value For: Under $100

Tip 1: Spend an Hour With a Pro

Invite a realtor or interior designer over to check out your home. Many realtors will do this as a courtesy, but you will probably have to pay a consultation fee to a designer. Check with several designers in your area; a standard hourly fee is normally less than $100, and in an hour they can give you lots of ideas for needed improvements. Even small suggested improvements, such as paint colors or furniture placement, can go a long way toward improving the look and feel of your home.

Tip 2: Inspect It

Not every home improvement is cosmetic. Deteriorating roofs, termite infestation or outdated electrical systems — you can’t fix it if you don’t know it’s broken. Hire an inspector to check out the areas of your home that you don’t normally see. They may discover hidden problems that could negatively impact your home’s value. Small problems (such as a hidden water leak) can become big, expensive problems quickly; the longer you put off repairs, the more expensive those repairs will be.

Tip 3: Paint, Paint, Paint

When it comes to increasing your home’s value, one of the simplest, most cost-effective things you can do is paint! Freshly painted rooms look clean and updated — and that spells value. When selecting paint colors, keep in mind that neutrals appeal to the greatest number of people, therefore making your home more desirable. On average, a gallon of paint costs around $25, leaving you plenty of money to buy rollers, painter’s tape, drop cloths and brushes. So buy a few gallons and get busy!

Tip 4: Find Inspiration

An alternative to hiring a designer is to search for remodeling and decorating inspiration in design-oriented magazines, books, TV shows and websites (Click Here for photo inspiration). Simply tear out or print off the ideas you want to try and start your to-do list. Keep it simple — when remodeling on a tight budget, do-it-yourself projects are best.

Tip 5: Cut Energy Costs

The amount of money you spend each month on energy costs may seem like a fixed amount, but many local utility companies provide free energy audits of their customers’ homes. They can show you how to maximize the energy efficiency of your home. An energy-efficient home will save you money now, which can be applied to other updates, and is a more valuable and marketable asset in the long run.

Increase Your Home’s Value For: $100- $200

Tip 1: Plant a Tree

If you aren’t planning to sell your house today, plan for the future with a landscaping improvement that will mature over time. Plant shade trees — not only will mature trees make your home more desirable but a fully grown, properly placed tree can cut your cooling costs by as much as 40 percent. Mature landscaping is also good for the environment, providing a necessary habitat for wildlife while adding valuable curb appeal to your home.

Tip 2: Low-Maintenance Landscaping

No question that shrubs and colorful plants will add curb appeal to any home, but when shopping at your local garden center, make sure that you “think green.” Purchase plants that are native to your region or plants that are drought-tolerant; these require less water and maintenance, which means more savings to you and more green in your wallet.

Tip 3: Money-Saving Luxury

An easy way to increase your home’s value is by installing a water filtration system in your kitchen. Not only do these systems purify your water, they will also lower your grocery bills — no more bottled water. A water filtration system is an inexpensive addition, but it’s the sort of small luxury that homebuyers love.

Tip 4: Improve the Air Quality Inside Your Home

Air quality isn’t just about the conditions outdoors. If you have older carpets in your home, they might be hiding contaminants and allergens. The first step to determine if these need replacing is to hire a professional company to test your indoor air quality. If the results prove that your carpets should be replaced, choose environmentally friendly natural products like tile or laminate floors. Hard-surface floors are much easier to keep clean, don’t hold odors, give your home an updated look and, in general, are more appealing to buyers.

Tip 5: Save the Popcorn for the Movies

Finally, what’s on your ceiling? Few structural elements date a house more than popcorn ceilings. So dedicate a weekend to ditching the dated look and adding dollar signs to the value of your home. NOTE: some older ceilings could contain asbestos so before undertaking this project, have yours tested by professionals.

How to Remove a Popcorn Ceiling

Ready for an updated look in your room? Learn how to remove a popcorn ceiling without creating a mess using these simple steps.

Once you’re in the clear, this is a project you can tackle yourself. First, visit your local hardware store for a solution to soften the texture, then simply scrape the popcorn away. Removing a popcorn ceiling may not seem like a big change but one of the keys for adding value to your home is to repair, replace or remove anything that could turn buyers away.

Increase Your Home’s Value For: $200-$400

Tip 1: Clean up the Lawn

Overgrown or patchy lawns and outsized bushes will cause your home to stand out — in a bad way. The good news is that taming your jungle is an easy fix. For a few hundred dollars, hire a lawn service company to trim your lawn and shape your hedges. Your curb appeal will go from messy to maintained without blowing your budget.

Tip 2: Cleanliness Counts

The old adage that you only get one shot at a first impression is true. So, make the interior of you home shine from the moment someone walks through the door. For less than $400, hire a cleaning service for a thorough top-to-bottom scrubbing. Even if you clean your home regularly, there are nooks and crannies that you may miss or overlook. Let a cleaning service do the dirty work to really make your home sparkle.

Tip 3: Visually Increase Your Home’s Square Footage

The size of your home dramatically affects the value, but square footage isn’t the only space that counts. Visual space or how large a home feels also counts. The key is to make each room in your house feel larger. Replace heavy closed draperies with vertical blinds or shutters to let light in — a sunny room feels larger and more open. Also, try adding a single large mirror to a room to visually double the space. Finally, clear the clutter. The more clutter, furniture and plain old stuff you have in a room, the more cramped it will feel. For less than $400, add an attractive shelving unit to an underused space and store your clutter out of sight.

Tip 4: Small Bathroom Updates Equal a Big Return

When it comes to increasing your home’s value, bathroom updates are always a smart move. Even if you can’t afford a full remodel, small changes such as replacing dated wallpaper with a faux or textured finish and replacing old lighting will update the room without denting your wallet.

Tip 5: Add New Energy-Efficient Fixtures

A functional, decorative ceiling fan is a beautiful thing. It provides necessary light and, in warm months, creates a soft breeze reducing the need for expensive air conditioning. But, an outdated, wobbly, loud or broken ceiling fan is a useless eyesore. Replace old fixtures with new ones to make your home more enjoyable for you now and to increase the bottom line should you decide to sell.

Increase Your Home’s Value For: $400-$750

Tip 1: Big Return on Bathroom Updates

A great room to update for less than $750 is the bathroom. The two rooms that benefit most from even small renovations are the kitchen and bathroom. One cost-effective change — like replacing an outdated vanity, old plumbing and lighting fixtures or adding a new tile floor — will guarantee a lot of bang for your buck and give your bath an updated, modern look.

Explore dozens of stylish, inspirational design ideas for your own bathroom remodel.

Tip 2: Any Kitchen Update Equals Added Value

The same rule applies in the kitchen. You don’t have to start from scratch to create a winning recipe. For maximizing your home’s value, kitchen updates are key. Start by swapping out just one item, such as a stained sink or ancient microwave for shiny new stainless models. Even small kitchen updates will add big value to your home.Replay Video

Tip 3: Replace Worn Carpets or Rugs

Take a look at your home’s soft flooring. Are your carpets and area rugs stained or worn? Nothing turns buyers off more than the thought that they will immediately need to replace all of the flooring in a home. Ideally, you may want to replace them all, but if a limited budget puts a snag in that plan, start by replacing the carpet in the room that shows the most wear and tear and replace the others as your finances allow.

Tip 4: Keep Up With Regular Maintenance and Repairs

To increase your home’s value, walk around each room and make a list of all the little things that are broken or in need of repair. Individually, small repairs might not seem important, but if every room has just one thing wrong, those small things will add up to create the impression that your home has been neglected. If you don’t feel comfortable tackling the repairs yourself, hire a handyman for a day and watch your “to do” list disappear. Staying on top of maintenance today eliminates problems down the road should you decide to sell.

Tip 5: Get Help With Getting Organized

Hire a professional organizer for a day. They will show you how to organize various rooms in your home and teach you tricks for keeping it organized. How does this increase your home’s value? Simple — a clutter-free home appears cleaner and larger, which is more attractive to homebuyers and therefore more valuable.