When your home starts looking and feeling tired and worn out, it is time to give it a new lease of life. Especially if you’re looking to sell your home now or in the near future, it makes sense to renovate it to look fresh and updated. Most buyers look for well-maintained homes that look up-to-date and offer benefits like energy-efficiency, visual appeal, or ease of access. An efficient and cost-effective home renovation can ensure your home fulfills these requirements and attracts potential buyers. Even if you’re not looking to sell, updating your existing home can make it more comfortable and appealing and help you save on your energy bills too. Home renovation can be tough on your pockets initially, but it can give your home a new life and also get you good returns in the process.
Whether you go for small-scale renovations or invest in some large-scale ones, there are a few factors you should keep in mind. Energy-efficient renovations can lower the energy bills and even pay their cost of investments in the long run. Similarly, some updates can significantly increase the resale value of your home. When you decide to renovate, ensure the changes improve your home significantly.
Here are some ideas from Home Remodeling & Renovation Guide that can add good value to your home.
Revamp the Exterior
The first thing that any potential buyer or visitor will notice about your home is your exterior and curb appeal. If your home’s exterior is not in a good shape, it is better to give it a good update before you put up your property for sale. Make sure that the siding and roof are well-maintained. Repaint the exterior and install new siding if needed. Try to make your front door and entryway attractive. Keep your garden neat and trimmed to increase your curb appeal. A well-maintained exterior can make your home look appealing and give an idea of how the interiors might look.
Renovate the Bathroom
Bathroom renovations are some of the best renovations that can significantly increase the value of your home. An unkempt, untidy or shabby bathroom is a big turn-off for any potential buyer. Just having a working bathroom is not enough. You should think of renovating the bathroom if it is looking dated. Small changes like updating the hardware, changing the lights, adding a shower stall or updating the toilets can also have a huge impact. These changes can make your old, dated bathroom look fresh and updated. Moreover, installing energy-efficient hardware like Energy Star rated showerheads and faucets in the bathroom can significantly lower your energy bills and add value to your property.
Install Energy-Efficient Windows
Modern windows with double or triple panes, glazing, etc. can help insulate your home. These windows prevent the hot air to escape or the cold air to enter the room during winters and vice versa for summers thus maintaining the room temperature. Old and drafty windows are another turn-off for potential buyers. So if you’re renovating your home with resale in mind, you should consider replacing the old windows with newer, energy-efficient windows. Installing such windows can reduce your energy bills and increase your resale value while making your home look appealing and updated. For buying energy-efficient windows for your home with certified Energy Star ratings you can shop here.
Add a Deck or Patio
Nowadays, people often prefer to stay home for vacations. This has made gardens, patios, decks, and outdoor living spaces more desirable. If you’re among those who prefer their home to relax in vacations, you should consider updating your exteriors. If you don’t have a deck or patio in your backyard, consider adding one. An outdoor place like a deck, patio, or gazebo can also increase the value of your home too. Such additions make your home more comfortable to live. This makes it more appealing to potential buyers. You can get almost 60% – 80% return on your investment with such additions.
Insulate Your Home
Insulating your home is essential to protect it and yourself from extreme weather. A well-insulated home attracts potential buyers and increases your resale value. It can also make living in the home quite comfortable. It is a great investment that pays good returns by considerably reducing your energy bills. A home loses the greatest amount of energy through the roofs, doors, windows, floors, etc. Adding insulation to the attic, and floors helps maintain the temperature. You can also insulate the walls, air ducts, pipes, windows and many other places to insulate in your home to make it energy-efficient and appealing.
Invest in a Bathroom Addition
When you’re renovating or remodeling a home, it is quite natural to think about utilizing extra space with extensions inside or outside the home. Mostly these extensions include adding a deck or patio, attic or basement conversions, adding a bedroom, bathroom, etc. However, an extra bathroom is an addition that gets you the most returns in investment. If your home has only one bathroom or there’s space for an extra room, adding a bathroom can help you recoup almost 80% – 90% of your investment. So, instead of wasting your money on unnecessary extensions, add a bathroom to considerably increase your home’s value.
Upgrade Your Garage Door
A garage door can have a great impact on your home’s visual appeal. A shabby garage door can take away from even the well-maintained homes. A run-down garage door can turn-off a potential buyer and decrease the value of your home. In contrast, a well-kept and updated garage door can significantly increase your home’s value. Keep your garage doors in good working condition. And if they need replacement or repair, do so whenever needed. An updated and modern garage door can boost your home’s curb appeal and also give a good return on your investment.
With the home values on the rise, this is a good time to invest in some key renovations that uplift your home’s appeal. No matter what kind of renovation you do, you’re bound to need money. However, the above ideas can help you improve your home and also get a decent return on your investments.