How Additions To Your Home Can Increase Its Value
Whether you’re ready to make a move or simply in need of a few upgrades, home improvements are often well worth the expense. Renovations do not have to be costly, as even the most minor of changes may spark dollar signs in a potential buyer’s eyes or help to rejuvenate your living space. However, while there are always ways to make changes to your home without going over budget, other routes may prove to be more expensive.
Without question, the kitchen is usually identified as the room with the most potential. Kitchen renovations bring more bang for their buck, dollar for dollar, than any other room within a home. When considering a kitchen remodel, it is important to keep the final goal in sight. Are you making improvements for yourself, your spouse, and your family, or do you need to put your own preferences aside and make changes that will appeal to prospective buyers?
New appliances can bring life to any lacklustre cooking space. If you are remodelling based on your own needs, the sky’s the limit. Appliances are available in a variety of colours and finishes, with a countless number of options and energy-saving rewards. To reap the full benefits of new appliances, choose coordinating fixtures. As simple as it sounds, abandoning old faucets is an easy way to perk up a dull kitchen.
Sitting almost at par with kitchen renovations are bathroom overhauls. Depending on the options chosen, a bathroom remodel does not have to break the bank, with a broad range of sinks, bathtubs, and toilets available at reasonable prices. When choosing fixtures, pay attention to water conservation and simplicity. While a shower enclosed in imported tiles may be beautiful to look at, choosing the one-piece corner unit from your local home improvement store will allow you invest more money in other upgrades.
Flooring updates are also a wonderful way to raise value throughout your entire house, especially the kitchen and bathroom. Many homeowners and potential buyers equate ceramic or porcelain tile with increased value, plus a tiled floor is easy to care for, rich in appearance, and practical. For the remainder of the home, hardwood is considered paramount by many, but it often comes with a hefty price tag. Fortunately, laminate flooring has come a long way, with a wide choice of colours and designs that imitate real hardwood.
Carpeting often receives mixed reviews, making it best to stick with flooring that is easier to maintain. When new, carpet looks great and provides a soft surface for tired feet, but as it ages, it can start to look dirty or worn. Carpet also attracts and holds dust, which may prove to cause problems down the road if you choose to sell and an allergen-aware family happens to view your home. However, given the options, carpet may still be a worthy investment. Unfinished basements are a prime example – covering concrete floors with any type of flooring, including carpet, is one step in the right direction.
While indoor changes may be necessary to increase the worth of your home, it is critical to address the outside as well. To give your home curb side appeal, you may want to replace the siding or roof, or consider adding a porch or deck. For less expensive options, a new front door, stone walkway, and shrubbery will work wonders. Gardens and landscaping should include plants, flowers, and accessories that are visually pleasing, yet functional. Spending hundreds of dollars on items that cannot survive in your environment is money well wasted.
If you would like to update the value of your home without making any major modifications, various extras will do the trick. To give an instant boost to a backyard deck, veranda, or gazebo, consider installing a hot tub. These luxurious tubs are great for parties, chilly evenings, or just a quiet night at home. They can also be installed indoors, as part of a bathroom, bedroom, or recreation room, keeping total relaxation at your fingertips. And if you already have a hot tub, replacing tired hot tub covers will surely make an impression.
Regardless of the direction you choose, any upgrade or addition to your home should pay off in the long run. Before embarking on a remodelling adventure, set a budget and draw up a set of plans. Even the smallest project can easily veer out of control, so it is important to stick to the guidelines and restrictions that you set early on. Also, be careful not to go overboard design-wise, keeping latest jobs in line with the rest of the home. An ultra-modern kitchen in a Victorian-inspired home may not provide the best results. Make choices that are timeless and cost-effective, and you will be on your way to a higher assessment in no time.
Jayne Hawkins is a freelance writer who specializes in home improvement and hot tub topics for Hot Tub Works.
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