Are you looking to increase the value of your house? Every year, there are plenty of homeowners embarking on the journey of home improvement. However, many of them end up focusing on the wrong thing and wind up investing money in things that have little to do with the overall value of their home. If you want to make the most out of improvements and see the value of your house skyrocket, here are five things to keep in mind:
1. Focus On The Kitchen
Buyers are always focused on the kitchen—and for a good reason. You are going to spend a lot of time in the kitchen when cooking, cleaning, entertaining, and eating. Whether you plan on selling your home in the future or want to hold onto it as long as possible, it is important to invest some money in the upkeep and upgrading of your kitchen you should also try designing with black glazed terracotta for some sleek look in the kitchen.
Stainless steel appliances are going to be the best investment, because they are resistant to damage, look beautiful, and match a number of designs. Stainless steel will maintain its value longer than other finishes. Next, replace those plastic or wooden countertops with something stronger, like engineered stone, also known as best improvements. Quartz countertops are less expensive than granite but have the same level of durability.
2. Flexible Living Space
Bigger is not always the best thing, especially if you are new to owning a home. Flexible living space is going to help you make the most out of a smaller floor plan. How so? First, focus on finishing the basement, since that will double the amount of usable space in your household. Don’t have a basement? Consider doing the same for the attic.
Rooms can also do double-duty. Flex rooms can become best improvements rooms, study nooks, offices, playrooms, and much more just by folding up certain tables and chairs and opening other appliances or furnishings.
Think about appliances and furniture that can be transitioned. You might consider roll-away beds for guests, portable workout equipment, and collapsible desks.
3. Energy-Efficiency
Going green is one of the best improvements you can make because everyone is responsible for their own carbon footprint. There is a range of products, like lighting, temperature control, doors, security, and so much more than can help with making your home smarter and more energy efficient.
The first step is to switch to LED lights since the bulbs are far more efficient than incandescent bulbs and generate far less heat. This means that you can run LED lights for longer and will use less energy.
Next, think about getting insulated windows and a programmable thermostat. Insulated windows will keep out the heat and cool air throughout the year, ensuring you are not wasting money on air conditioning and heating every season. Energy Star windows can even lower your bills by 10-15 percent.
A programmable thermostat that can be controlled from your smartphone or computer is a bonus because you can control it from afar. This means you can turn off the A/C when you leave and program it to turn on a little while before coming home, saving you energy throughout the day but still giving you comfort.
4. Manage The Stress
Although this is not necessarily an improvement as much as it is something you should be doing regularly, you should always be doing routine maintenance on the roof, floors, HVAC system, and plumbing. Do inspections of the gutters, appliances, roofing, and basement throughout the year to ensure everything is in good condition. The quicker you find and repair problems, the better it is for your home. Any damages will decrease the value, so never let problems go ignored for long.
5. Build Your Future Home
Society is graying—getting older. Existing homes currently are not made for the elderly, but in the future, this is going to have to change. By focusing on making your house accessible for people of all ages, you ensure that it is prepared for a future swap. Think about all the steep stairwells, slippery bathtubs, narrow doorways and more that could be changed. Some top changes to make include comfort-height toilets, making master bedrooms on the ground floor, and installing walk-in showers with built-in seating or easy to enter tubs.
Remember, it is thoughtful touches that make the biggest impact on your home. Focus on choosing energy efficient appliances, lessening the energy the house uses, and thinking about the future. This will give you the most bang for your buck while making your home more enjoyable right now!
