10 Fastest Ways to Add Value to Your Home With Remodeling Projects
Simple Tricks to Boost Your Home’s Value
Considering selling your home? Well, you’re probably eager to find ways to maximize your selling price. The good news is that you don’t have to completely renovate your home in order to increase its value. In fact, there are quite a few relatively simple upgrades that can provide you with an excellent ROI for the time and money you’ll spend to make them happen.
Work on Your Flow
No, we’re not suggesting that you write rhymes about your home. But you may want to consider taking out some non-structural walls if doing so would boost your home’s livability, or make it feel more open. In decades past, individual rooms may have been all the rage, but these days, an open floor plan is something everyone seems to want. It just fits better with how we all use our homes, with easy access from the kitchen, to the family room and into the dining room, too.
Invest in an Island
A kitchen island, that is. If the kitchen is lacking in cabinet or counter space, then a prep island might be just what it needs. And if you’re not convinced that building a permanent island in the kitchen is the way to go, you can always test the waters with a movable one.
Taming Nature
You might not think about your yard as part of your home, but to prospective buyers, it most certainly is. With that in mind, it’s a great idea to make sure your greenery is looking its best. Start by planting a tree, and then trim those hedges or install a garden trellis. You may even want to plant some color-coordinated flowers just in time for spring selling season, to make your home really stand out to anyone who may be on the hunt, driving by.
Back to Basics
Before spending your spare cash on anything flashy, make sure your home’s basic infrastructure is up to snuff. Leaky faucets, messy gutters and functional other to-dos should be addressed, and the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing should be given a pre-flight inspection. Basic repairs might not be as much fun as a remodeled kitchen, but many buyers see a well-maintained home as just the fresh start they’re looking for.
Go Green
Did you know that solar panels could increase the value of your home? It’s true. While we wouldn’t recommend installing a solar array if you’re planning on selling in the near future, there are other earth-friendly upgrades that can add value to your home without costing a fortune. Sun tubes, energy efficient appliances, and updated plumbing fixtures such as toilets and showerheads can make your home more appealing to prospective buyers, and they’re easy DIY projects for that free weekend you just found in next month’s calendar.
Make Your Front Door Welcoming
The front door is a big part of a home’s first impression – chances are strong you’ve been told that before. So why not give it a fresh coat of paint? A simple gesture like dressing up the front porch area with some potted plants around the entryway can go a long way. And if you’re feeling ambitious, consider installing a portico or awning for extra shelter and a bold new look.
Floor It
Grimy old flooring can make potential buyers recoil from the first second they cross through the front door. If your flooring has seen better days, then replacing it with engineered hardwood, floating cork, or even affordable adhesive vinyl can make a world of difference. And for Pete’s sake, get rid of that dusty old carpet, especially if there are beautiful hardwoods underneath!
Kitchen and Bath
If you’re going to spend money on remodeling, then you might as well invest it where you’ll get the best return. Your kitchen and bathroom are the best places to remodel if you want to get your investment back. New countertops, resurfaced cabinets, and upgraded plumbing fixtures lend lots of pizazz and go a long way toward upping the value in your home, too.
Add a Deck
These days, indoor-outdoor living is where it’s at, and a new deck can really boost your home’s backyard BBQ potential. They’re much less expensive than adding an additional room to your home, and they really help maximize available living space.
Make the Most of Your Attic
Many homes have unused space in the attic. Building an additional room in a spacious attic is a great way to add more living space without altering the structure of the home. Adding insulation, hanging drywall, calling in an electrician to install some lights – with a fresh coat of paint and some furniture, you just added a new room onto the house.
Sweat Equity, Here You Come!
Some of these projects can be completed in a day, while others are a bit more intensive and may require the services of a professional. But any one of them will be time and money well spent when you go to sell your home. Good luck!
