Raising the value of your home is as simple as completing a few home improvement projects. You’d be surprised how much something as easy as replacing your front door will do for a home’s curb appeal and overall value. Here are five home improvement projects to help you raise the value of your home.
1.First Thing’s First: The Kitchen and Bathroom
Nothing says “modern home” like an updated kitchen and bathroom. Let’s face it, that mint green finish on everything is simply outdated and looks a bit tacky. Sinks, appliances, and even the tile you use in these rooms can dramatically increase the value of your home.
While flooring and countertops can add up, they are a surefire way to add some value and also a certain flair to that old kitchen or bathroom. When you’re choosing countertops, try to steer away from veneer or otherwise low-quality materials.
If you want to add value to your home, marble countertops are an excellent choice. Not only do they come in many color varieties, but the stone will be a long-lasting addition to your kitchen. It’s hard and very difficult to scratch or break, so you’ll have something great to boast about once the house goes on the market.
Tile is the typical choice for flooring in a bathroom or kitchen since carpet tends to hold odors and spills. You can use wood flooring as well, but if the rest of the house is carpeted, a wood floor in the kitchen may look a bit off.
2.A Finished Basement
A basement doesn’t have to be the dark, damp recess that it’s made out to be. A finished basement can make the lowest point of the home into a rec room, extra bedroom, or even an office. Finishing your basement will increase the home’s overall value, and give you some extra space to work with.
Before you decide to finish your basement, you’ll want to ensure that it’s waterproof. Hiring a contractor to take a look at the foundation is an investment that’s well worth the cost. If you start laying carpet and putting up walls only to find the basement is leaking, you’re going to spend a fortune on repairs and rebuilding.
Once you’ve waterproofed your basement, you’ll want to decide if you’re remodeling the entire basement or just a section of it. If your washer and dryer are in the basement, you’ll likely want to leave a small unfinished space to work with. Otherwise, you can remodel the entire basement. If you’re unsure how to start remodeling a basement, you can hire a remodeling company such as Enhancements Inc. Remodeling.
Potential buyers will see a finished basement as a huge asset to a new home. The extra space will entice new buyers and give them a good reason to consider your home over the other choices. Rec room? Office space? Entertainment center? The options are limitless.
3.A New Front Door & Exterior Paint
Curb appeal is pretty important in calculating your home’s value. You can have an amazing interior, but if your front door looks like it’s seen better days, and your exterior paint blows off in pieces with a light breeze, it might be time to consider an update.
Exterior paint jobs can make your home shine, giving it that special flair that sets it apart from the rest of the block. That’s not to say you should paint it a color just to look different (such as hot pink) but a custom paint job can go a long way in boosting curb appeal and value.
Choose a color that accents the subtle features of the exterior, and will hold up well to the elements. The brand is important here; you don’t necessarily want to look for “cheaper” paint, or else you’ll just end up repainting after a harsh winter or rainy season.
Now we come to an overlooked asset of every home: the front door. A front door is not only the entryway to your home, but it’s also a security feature and an aesthetic piece of the home itself. Replacing your front door will help boost curb appeal, improve security, and make buyers more comfortable about considering purchasing your home.
4.Landscaping
So you’ve updated the kitchen, bathroom, basement, exterior paint, and front door. Everything’s great, right? The only problem is the yard. That’s right, the front and back yard. Most buyers will look at these features first, and a yard with bald spots and other unattractive features can be off-putting.
Hire a landscaping company or just get your hands dirty and improve the yard. Plant grass seed in the bald spots, keep the bushes trimmed, and perhaps even plant some flowers to add color and beauty to the yard.
Never underestimate the power of a great yard in determining the value of your home. A yard is something a home buyer will consider carefully, and likely have specific requirements for.
5.Update Your Floors
You don’t necessarily need hardwood floors to increase the value and aesthetic appeal of your home, though they certainly help. Hardwood floors tend to last longer than carpet and don’t hold odors or spills as carpet does.
If hardwood flooring is out of the budget, simply replacing that old beaten-down carpet can increase value and appeal. Carpet collects dirt and all manner of debris can trap pet odors (among others) and can be difficult to clean. After a few years of hard use, it’s best to just replace the carpet rather than try to sell the home with the old carpet installed.
Conclusion
Your home’s value is dependent on many factors, but these few home improvement ideas can go a long way in boosting the value of your home. Keep in mind that potential buyers want quality and reliability, so choose the right materials and contractors to complete the work for best results.
