Which home improvement projects or remodel undertakings really pay off in the long run? That can be a tricky question. While the giant task of upgrading your home in any area needs to be a statement of your own personality and preferences, it’s also worth considering the types of projects and style trends that will lead to the most return on investment and increase the value of your home.
While the basics are certainly essential (i.e. electrical, leaks, runoff – basically anything related to safety), the five remodeling projects that are sure to create the most long-term gains for you include:
Kitchen Upgrades
Nearly everyone wants a beautiful kitchen. After all, in America, this is the one room of the house where we all spend the most time. Eating, drinking, socializing, planning, designing, and working on homework; the kitchen is the central hub, so make it great.
Bathroom Updates
And believe it or not, the second most popular spot to hang out in the house is the bathroom. Whether we are primping and preening for the day or relaxing in the steam shower after a long day at work, or in the water closet for other business, we spend a lot of time there and it’s important for this area to be customized, clean, and inviting. Believe it or not, the bathroom runs a close race with the kitchen in terms of home remodeling projects providing you with the most satisfaction, as well as bang for your buck.
Curb Appeal
If you’re looking to sell your house in the next one to two years, all the wiser to consider the curb appeal and overall look to your residence. Curb appeal is a major reason that siding replacement ranks so highly on the cost vs. value report for real estate across the nation. The outside of your house provides the one and only first impression, and you simply cannot miss out on scoring high in this arena. If a buyer doesn’t like what they see upon first glimpse, it’s highly unlikely they will make the trip to look indoors, no matter how spectacular your indoor remodels are. So, spend some money on siding, paint, landscaping, and sprucing up around your lot. In this case, buyers really do “judge a book by its cover.”
Additional Space
Adding a room or two or five can be a good investment, particularly if you live in a hot housing market. Families are growing and people are looking for additional space. Even from just adding a sunroom, an extra bathroom, or doubling the size of the house, most markets are seeing increased demand for more space. If you feel like your home lot is lacking room for much expansion, get creative with your design-build firm. Building up and capitalizing on nooks and crannies is where we enter with our expertise.
Insulation
While it may not seem very glamourous or fun for creative design, updating your home’s attic insulation to something more energy efficient can lead to one of the biggest monetary gains for you as a homeowner, and as a potential seller. The amount of money you’ll save in the long run on utilities over the time period you’re living in the house can easily exceed $600 per year. Buyers and investors look at this data too. Additionally, living in a well-insulated home optimizes comfort and satisfaction for everyone no matter what time of year.
