Improvement Projects to Add Value to Your Home

Renovating your home and remodeling your space can be fun and end up making the area more enjoyable. And if you do it well, it has the added bonus of increasing home value. However, not every renovation you can think of will necessarily add value. Some projects might add value, but others might reduce the amount you get for the house. Luckily, there are several areas you can start.

Preparing Your Home for Aging in Place

Many homeowners want to stay in their homes for as long as possible. They want a house that will allow them to age in place. There are several less expensive ways of doing this. You can install grab bars in the showers. Or you could consider adding a home lift. This can make it easier for older people to live on multiple levels. Another benefit is that domestic lifts add value to your home.

Doing a Kitchen Renovation

There are a few DIY home projects you can do easily, but a full kitchen remodel might not be one of them. However, upgrading the kitchen can end up paying off since a lot of homeowners want to get an updated, modern look in their kitchen. You will typically get a fairly large percentage of the cost of a remodel back when you work on the kitchen. Just make sure you don’t do too much at once.

Instead, consider starting with something small, such as the cabinet hardware, faucets, or fixtures. Many homeowners want efficient ones, so you may consider starting there. You don’t have to replace all the cabinets if you don’t like them. Simply repaint them or even have them resurfaced or refaced. And you can replace just the drawers and doors instead of the entire thing. This can save you money while improving the kitchen’s look.

You might also consider replacing the appliances. This can be a bit more expensive, but it can be worth it if you plan on staying for a while and want to get more energy efficient ones. This is especially helpful if they are older and use more energy. Some of them even offer rebates. If they work well but don’t match, you might consider getting new panels and doors from their manufacturer. That will help the room look more cohesive while saving money.

Remodeling Other Areas

You could also look into redoing the bathrooms since these are often almost fully recouped when selling the house. Of course, you don’t need to do every renovation possible, but a little work can go a long way in this case. Add new fixtures with energy efficient bulbs and consider repainting the area. You can also add new grout to the tub or shower. And replacing the mirror and cabinets can transform the bathroom’s look.

If there is an attic or basement, you might consider finishing them to add usable square footage to the home. This is often much cheaper than trying to add an addition to the area. For example, you could turn the attic into an extra bedroom or a bonus room. And the basement can turn into a recreational space for the family.

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