Home Upgrades That Increase Your Home’s Value (and Some that Save You Money)

When you own a home, you know that the expenses don’t end after the deal closes. In fact, that’s when they seem to start. If you don’t have landscaping tools, you have to buy new ones. If something breaks down, you have to have it repaired—homeownership comes with a lot of responsibility and can cost a lot of money.

Thanks to channels like HGTV and the shows hosted there, flipping homes or purchasing fixer-uppers has become a lot more popular lately as well which only adds more money to the price of the house, although the hope is to recoup it all back and more afterward. Whether you’ve purchased a new home or are working on your very own fixer-upper, it’s important to make the most of the money you put into your home so that you can get the most out of it should you choose to sell. These are the home upgrades that will increase your home’s value the most, and some that will even save you money, even if you don’t sell.

Landscaping

A well-manicured lawn acts as the cherry on top of any home. As simple as it may seem to keep a yard well taken care of, landscaping can increase the value of your home. If you want to up the value of your home, try taking your yard from the standard lawn with a flower bed or two to a fully landscaped oasis that is impossible to resist. In fact, a beautifully landscaped yard could add between five percent and 12 percent to your home’s value. Whether you add a water feature, clean up and organize your flower beds, or add a perfectly relaxing porch with lights, the landscaping can enhance your home.

A Bathroom Remodel

Many people want to remodel and upgrade their bathrooms regardless of whether or not they plan to sell their home. Like it or not, we all spend a lot of time in the bathroom, so making it as comfortable and functional as possible is key. Whether you do a minor remodel and replace the vanity and paint the walls, or go all out and replace the flooring, tub, vanity, sink, and change the entire layout, a bathroom remodel can help you feel more comfortable in your home and increase its overall value. Bathroom remodels can give you a return of up to 66 percent.

Curb Appeal Upgrades

It’s amazing what a big difference little things like a painted door, potted plants, and other external additions can make to a home. Making curb appeal upgrades like painting the doors and shutters, upgrading your mailbox, adding attractive house numbers, upgrading exterior lighting, can make more of a difference than you might think.

A Kitchen Remodel

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Somehow people always seem to gather there despite the many other rooms in the home. Whether they’re waiting for dinner, working on homework, or searching through the fridge for something to snack on, the kitchen seems the place to be. Whether it’s completely outdated, you want a change, or you’re getting ready to sell, a kitchen upgrade can make all the difference in your home.

Like bathrooms, kitchen remodels can range from minor with a few changes to paint and refreshed decorations, to major remodels that include new flooring, upgraded lighting, totally new appliances, and even an expansion in some cases. Not only will a kitchen model make you feel like you have a whole new home, but it can also attract more buyers if you’re planning to sell and even improve its value to you.

Appliance Upgrades

Thanks to technology, appliances are more efficient and easier to control than ever. These days, you can turn your home into a fully automated smart home without having to build it from the ground up. Not only is a fully automated smart home comfortable and convenient with the ability to adjust the lights from an app and control the temperature individually in every single room, but it is also a great way to save money. Because smart home appliances are more efficient, they can help you keep more money in your pocket every single month.

If you’re worried about the initial cost of adding smart home appliances, companies like Ygrene have energy financing programs that can help you get solar panels, upgraded AC and heating units, etc. to help you make your home more efficient and save money over the long term.

Final Thoughts

There are a number of different ways that you can upgrade your home to increase its value and even save more money. From a kitchen remodel to landscaping and appliance upgrades to adding curb appeal, you can get more bang for your buck when you sell later or make your home more comfortable. Which project is at the top of your priority list?

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.