Home is a place that you feel safe and warm, a place that always remains still for you and your family. However, sometimes it stays too still that you feel the urge to make some kind of change. Moving could cost you money and time, so why not improve your house to add value to your home? Follow these tips and enjoy your old cozy home like a new one!
Doors can conceal your outdated kitchen cabinets
If your cabinets are so outdated, not even the nicest coat of paint will fix them, fear not. It’s possible that you can spruce them up by adding some new doors. Don’t throw out the whole cabinet, just make sure you get the right measurements and style you want.
Literally cut corners
Your backsplash might be there for more technical purposes, like keeping food off the walls behind the stove, but it also just happens to be one of the biggest stylistic decisions you can make in your kitchen renovation. Instead of turning the corners with your backsplash and carrying it to the wall, simply finish the tile where the walls meet.
Get more lights
Lighting it up is always a good idea in any renovation, but especially the kitchen! Under-cabinet lighting shouldn’t break your budget but make a huge impact, and make sure it’s bright and concentrated mostly in the areas where the chef will be working.
The plumbing should stay put
Renovation professionals estimate that moving appliances like dishwashers, stoves, or sinks will cost you about $5,000. Not an ideal price.
Consider remnant stones
Counter tops made of granite or other solid surfaces don’t always have to burst your budget. Check out granite supply yards and their remnants — you might just find a really great deal.
Create something out of nothing!
Don’t be too quick to throw out your own remnants… After all, you did pay for it! It’s totally possible to create high-end pieces like cutting boards from granite pieces or rollout inserts in cabinets from leftover lumber from cabinets and countertops.
Embrace The Scratch and Dent
If you have a Habitat for Humanity ReStore in your area, you will definitely want to check it out for anything you might be able to use during your remodel. Ask around in your local area to see if there is anything selling their overstock at a discount. It’s a lot of timing and luck, but you can score a great deal.
Add architectural interest
With impact details, you can get a super high-end look. Try adding some beadboard paneling to enhance an island. Or get really creative with a focal point other than mosaic tile, like adding stacked stone on the back of your island.
Try to choose less expensive options when doing your floors
If your kitchen floors are wood, try to just refinish them. You can still do this if you’re knocking down a wall, too. All you have to do is place boards where the wall was, sand down the new and existing pieces down, and then stain them together.
Add a bathroom
Especially for growing families, extra bathrooms is a huge perk. Putting in another one can be pretty pricey, but you can recoup 80 to 130 percent of that cost. Try taking a look at spaces that aren’t used as much and see if they could benefit from an added bathroom.
Consider energy-efficient windows
Most home buyers are looking for energy efficient but even if you are not looking to sell, Energy Star-rated windows could potentially save you up to $500/year in heating and cooling costs. A window replacement in an average-sized home costs about $7,500-$10,000, and you could possibly get back 60-90 percent of this investment.
Add a deck
It’s no secret that everyone loves a great outdoor space in their home. Depending on the size and material you use, decks can start as low as a few thousands of dollars and go up to about $15,000 or more. Homeowners typically recoup 65 to 90 percent of their investment.
Reinvent an existing room
Instead of adding more square footage to your home to squeeze out another room, which can cost way too much money, try evaluating your existing rooms. For example, see if you can remodel your basement to have a game room, or finishing an attic space and turning it into an additional bedroom or craft space. You can get creative with it and it is definitely appealing to buyers.
Update your home to energy-efficient insulation
If this is something your home lacks, this is one of the very first projects you should start on. It’s costing you major money and draining cash to not have sufficient insulation. For a one time price of a few hundred dollars, you’ll be saving hundreds in utility bills each year. Add CFL light bulbs and a high-efficiency water heater and you will save even more.
Add a closet organizer
Adding wire shelving to your home will not add a ton of value really, but it sure will make your life a whole lot easier. You will feel more organized while doing other projects and you won’t be spending a fortune to have a neat, top notch closet. All it will take is some hand tools and maybe a power drill.
Consider adding a fresh coat of paint
Nothing like a fresh coat of paint to spruce up the place visually. It is inexpensive but definitely increases the value. It make your home feel brand new and show buyers that it was very well cared for. And paint on the outside of the home is just as important as a groomed lawn.
Inexpensive landscaping
Plants, shrubs, and trees are all small but impactful improvements. They add beauty and value to your home and they don’t have to drain your savings — just make sure you find plants that require the least amount of maintenance.
Take a look at your ceiling
Do you still have the outdated “popcorn” ceiling? It was once super popular and beloved for it’s acoustics and ability to hide imperfections, but now there’s much better, updated options. Try opting for something like boards or planks, it will add major value to your home.
Before doing any of this, get some advice from a pro
A professional obviously knows the best options, and they will be able to look at your plumbing design and make sure you don’t make any, well, terrible mistakes.
Work with your floor plan, not against it
Bigger isn’t always necessarily better. If you can strategically increase the amount of living space, it will undoubtedly increase the value. Things like finishing a basement or turning an unused space into a guest room or gaming area is a great look for buyers.
Consider adding a laundry room
On the topic of adding more living space, many young buyers today say that they look for a designated laundry space. Putting one near the kitchen or a second floor bathroom are all great options.
LED Lights
Emphasizing your green credentials with the presence of LED lighting is a great way to save energy and increase the value of your home. It’s not a huge value increase, but it is definitely another buzz word you can add to the listing. The Feit Electric 60 Watt Replacement 9.5W LED is only $7, excellent quality, and has a life expectancy of about 23 years.
Replace your roof
It sounds overwhelming, but it is actually not a bad idea. If you have a shoddy roof, do this so you can sleep in peace instead of worrying about water damage, ice dams, squirrel infestation, and other home disasters. For an average-sized home, you can end up spending as little as $6,000.
Think about a walk-in shower
One of the best things you can do as a home renovator is think about improvements that will benefit people of all ages. Enter: the walk-in shower. It’s great for seniors, when many families will take into consideration. In fact, most people above 50-years-old will not want to step over the tub to get in the shower.
Put your master bedroom on the main floor
Continuing with the improvements for older generations, this is a great way to eliminate the need to climb up the stairs to get to the bedroom. It’s one of the most desired features among boomers.
Comfort-height toilets
Still on the topic of pleasing older-aged adults, another way to win them over is with comfort-height toilets. It’s exactly what it sounds like — toilets that are a few inches taller, making it easier to get on and off the seat.
Stick with neutral color schemes
Whites and off-whites remain as the top-selling interior colors. They will appeal the most to homebuyers because it looks clean and fresh while also giving them the room to envision the space as their own.
Use the right kind of paint
Yes, using the right kind of paint definitely matters. You want a high quality brand, something like the Home Depot’s Behr Marquee is great and is priced at $43 a gallon.
Add curb appeal
Small things around your front door can make a massive difference. Just by trimming overgrown shrubs, making minor repairs, and painting the front door can deliver quick results.
Have a water-smart yard
Reduce maintenance costs and add visual interest by replacing a section of turfgrass with native ground covers or pea gravel.
Get a programmable thermostat
Making sure you have smart technology is vital. One way to do this is getting a programmable thermostat. Something that can be controlled with a smartphone or computer is a great detail.
Whole-house generator
Another way to have smart technology is to get a whole-house generator. Power failures really do happen and stationary generators can usually power the entire property.
Find inspiration
If you are feeling lost throughout all of this, that is completely normal! After all, you are not a professional. If you feel overwhelmed, make sure to take a step back and give yourself time to simply look for motivation. Articles like these, plus magazines or TV shows are all wonderful ways to spark ideas.
Plant a tree
Even if you are not planning on selling your house today, it is a good idea to start planning for the future. Planting a tree is a small expense that packs a big bunch. Plant shade trees — they will eventually cut your cooling costs by nearly 40 percent. Plus, just having mature trees is a desirable feature.
Install a water filtration system in your kitchen
Not only do these systems purify your water, but they also lower your grocery bills. It’s an inexpensive installation that feels like a luxury and you won’t be spending on plastic water bottles anymore — great for your wallet and the planet!
Improve air quality
The air quality is so much more than just the conditions outside. If you have older rugs in your home, they can be hiding allergens. To fix this, hire a professional company to determine your air quality. If the result is that you do need to change your carpet, choose environment-friendly, hard surfaces.
Clean, clean, clean!
Even just the cleanliness on each surface make such an impact on potential buyers. Even if you clean on a regular basis, it might be worth it to hire a cleaning surface for a couple of hundred bucks to really scrub the place and get all of the nooks and crannies. Make your place sparkle and shine!
Make your space visually appear larger
Changing little details can really open up your space visually. Opting for wide shades as opposed to heavy side drapes is a great way to open up your windows and let more light in. You should also clear any clutter laying around. Additionally, opt for a big mirror to put in the room — it will double the space!
Small bathroom updates count, too!
If big bathroom renovations aren’t in the budget, that is okay. Doing things as simple as changing outdated wallpaper with a textured finish or replacing old lighting will make such a major difference.
Keep in mind the two rooms that hold the most value
The two most valued rooms in the house are the kitchen and the bathroom. If you can renovate one or both of these rooms, that is key. Start by swapping out one item, such as a stove or ancient microwave, and you will reap the benefits later.
Keep up with regular maintenance
Take a walk around your home and make note of all the little things that need to be repaired. Slowly start fixing things one at a time so that you don’t become overwhelmed, but when the time comes to sell you will be all set and have no issues to hide.
Ask for organization help
Hire a professional to help you organize yourself for the day. That’s right, Marie Kondo the heck out of your place. It will help so much in the long run.
Take one room at a time
If you try to do everything at once, you are going to go insane. Pick one room, like the bathroom or kitchen, which are the most valuable, and go from there.
Upgrade your bath area
With an 85 percent return, install a shower with body sprays and stone surround tile. Even if you are not selling right away, it will make you feel super zen yourself.
Focus on your faucet
Nowadays, people like to feel like they are at the spa when in actuality, they are in their bathrooms. Under-mount sinks are the way to go — people are over the old school drop-sinks.
Heated floors
While this is not a necessary feature, it is definitely one that attracts buyers to a home like moths to a flame. Nothing says luxury like heated floors.
Go stainless steel
In your kitchen, stainless steel is truly the way to go. Transition your appliances as they begin to wear out. When you are looking for replacements, opt for steel and lighter color.
Hang a pot rack
In your kitchen, hang a pot rack for your pots, pans, and a hanging wine bottle holder. It is eye-catching and looks super tidy with a dash of luxurious.
Leave your floor plan open
While you might think buyers might want a ton of added stuff, they really want an open, flexible floor plan that will allow them to do whatever they want with the space.
Take care of your landscape
We know we mentioned investing in landscaping, but it’s equally important to take care of what you already have. You are going to want to trim any overgrown plants and trees, as this is one of the very first thing a potential buyer sees!
What’s under your floor?
Yes, you want your floors to look nice, but you also want them to be quality. Something strong that will last a while. Repair any tile or damaged floors you may have an make sure to replace them with something sturdy.
Keep your floors neutral
One of the biggest problems buyers run into is bold-colored floors. Often times they will go against buying something because a floor was not a neutral color and it clashed with everything else. That’s a lot of work for them.
Be patient
Do not feel the need to do everything at once. That’s pretty much impossible. Just know that everything will get done and it will get done. A level head is crucial.
Get creative with it
Keep in mind that there are a ton of things you can do. Even with a small budget, if you can allow yourself to be creative, you will see that there are still many options!
So now with these extensive tips, do you feel ready to add some serious value to your home?