6 Great Improvement Projects to Increase the Value of Your Home
Looking for ways to improve your everyday life at home, but worried about the expense that comes with making renovations? If you choose practical and effective renovation options, you’ll be confident that you’re making a smart financial decision for the future of your family. Here are six home improvement projects that will enhance the look, utility and value of your home.
1. Install a New Water Heater
A water heater not only will allow you and your family to be comfortable in your home, it also will improve your home’s overall bottom line should you choose to sell in the future. Water heaters have come a long way in recent years – contemporary models are significantly more efficient than those installed even just a few years ago. Choose a reputable water heater company in Sunland that will install this appliance that will increase your everyday comfort as well as the monetary value of your home. It’s recommended to invest in a tankless water heater – not only will you reduce your energy bills, but you’ll also have a great selling feature that will set your home apart from the competition.
2. Add Rock Veneer
If you want to give your home a quick boost in both curb appeal and value, consider installing rock veneer on your exterior walls. This is a project that you’ll be able to do yourself if you’re handy, but it may be best to enlist the help of a local contractor for the most professional look. You don’t have to completely cover every exterior wall with rock veneer – it’s actually most effective when placed carefully on your front façade. Install the veneer around your principle entryways, namely your front door and your garage door, to set them apart from the rest of the façade and create attractive focal points. When paired with downlighting fixtures alongside your garage door or around your front porch, the shadows provide extra texture and interest at night. Even though this is a purely aesthetic renovation project, you’ll be happy to know that homebuyers absolutely love the addition of rock veneer, which is why it’s one of the curb appeal-lifting projects with the best return on your investment.
3. Install a New Garage Door
Surprisingly, swapping your current garage door with a new one is a very simple improvement project that is known for having an excellent return on investment, meaning that you’ll be able to recoup a major portion of the cost of replacement. In order for your replacement to be successful, though, you’ll need to select a door that matches the overall style of your home’s exterior. If your home exhibits characteristics of traditional styles, choose something like a carriage garage door and outfit it with appropriate handles and hinges that will add a little bit of extra character. For homes with modern flair, a stainless-steel garage door with frosted glass windows will provide a sleek, up-to-date look.
4. Upgrade the Front Door
Your front entry is a major component to your home’s overall curb appeal. Make your front door an attractive focal point and provide a warm welcome for your guests by giving your front door an update. A steel front door is a budget-friendly upgrade that provides an excellent return on investment. Choose a color and finish that contrasts nicely with the color of your exterior walls and trim. Be sure to include upgraded hardware, as well – brushed nickel or brass provide a timeless look and quality for the finishing touches that will make your new door truly stand out.
5. Create an Outdoor Living Space
In many cases these outdoor living features not only help you sell your home for a higher price, they also create buyer interest and help your home sell quicker! There are many ways you can go about creating a dedicated space for outdoor relaxation and enjoyment, but a project with classic appeal is the installation of a new patio. It may come as a shock, but patio installations often achieve a complete return on investment when it comes to your home’s value. To enhance the comfort and utility of your new patio, add durable outdoor seating such as benches, Adirondack chairs and maybe even a hammock, plus outdoor lighting that will allow you to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature late into the evening.
If you want to enhance the utility of your outdoor space even further, consider turning your patio into a fully functioning outdoor kitchen. These popular home additions allow homeowners to break even on the initial investment when they go to sell. There are plenty of considerations to take into account when designing an outdoor kitchen, including diverting plumbing and gas lines and connecting the new features with your electrical system. It’s best to have a general idea of the look and feel that you want your cooking space to take on before you meet with a professional designer to draw up final plans for the outdoor kitchen.
6. Go Green
Investing in green home technology is another great way to improve your home’s usability while building value at the same time. The best green option that provides an excellent return on investment is switching to solar. Solar panels have dramatically decreased in price in recent years and so has the cost to install them. The panels power your home using energy created from the sun, which is a renewable resource that can never be depleted. It’s clear that switching to solar is great for the environment, but a little-known secret is that it’s great for your wallet, too. Moving from commercial electric power to clean solar will significantly reduce your monthly energy expenses. In addition, energy studies have shown that making the switch to solar energy generally raises a home’s value by an average of 4.1%.
Taking on a home improvement project is an exciting prospect – if you do it right, you’ll enhance your family’s everyday life at home while enjoying an excellent return on your investment. Follow this list as you go about improving your home and you’ll be sure to make the best renovation decisions for you and your family.
