Whether people are looking to sell their homes or are instead of wanting to make their surroundings more enjoyable for them and their families, making various smart home upgrades that can greatly increase its value. However, it’s important for homeowners to remember that not all upgrades are created equal, meaning some projects can add no value or actually reduce a home’s value. Rather than make costly mistakes, here are the best upgrades homeowners should consider making their homes more valuable.
Remodeling the Kitchen
If there is one upgrade smart homeowners make that always adds value to their homes, it’s remodeling their kitchen. When these upgrades are made, homeowners typically recoup as much as 82% of their investment. However, rather than going overboard and trying to redo the entire kitchen, it’s usually recommended people begin with smaller upgrades.
To begin with, many people start by replacing the fixtures on their kitchen sink. Since fixtures always catch the eye of prospective buyers, this is an easy and cost-effective upgrade. Also popular with many people is replacing cabinet hardware, especially if cabinet doors are not shutting properly. Finally, doing away with older lighting fixtures and replacing them with stylish and modern fixtures that are also energy-efficient is a smart decision. Should a few dollars still be leftover in their remodeling budget, some homeowners opt to paint their cabinets or have them refinished by a refacing company. If you do need to remove the old flooring, it’s worth getting a floor scraper machine to make the job go faster.
Bathroom Makeovers
While people generally recoup 82% of their investment with a kitchen upgrade, the return on investment is even better when a bathroom is remodeled. When such a home improvement is made, the owners often recoup up to 93% of what they spend for the project. But just as it is with kitchens, people should not go wild with the project and make their bathroom totally unrecognizable from when they started their remodeling efforts.
To get the best results and the most return on investment, experts usually recommend installing new fixtures, giving the bathroom a fresh coat of paint in a bright yet neutral color, and re-grouting the bathtub. Also, installing a new medicine cabinet and light fixtures can increase value and improve the bathroom’s appearance.
Buy Some New Appliances
When people stroll through home-improvement stores in today’s world, they don’t see refrigerators, stoves, and other appliances from days gone by. Instead, they see state-of-the-art appliances that are often equipped with smart technology. As a result, refrigerators can compile grocery lists of items as they are used up by family members, stoves and dishwashers can be controlled by smartphone apps to turn off and on at any time of the day or night, and so much more. In addition, people now find appliances come in a variety of styles and colors, and are able to match their appliances to their home’s decor as well as their individual personalities.
When selling a home is on the horizon, upgrading by purchasing new appliances almost always increases the chances a home will sell much faster. As appliances have been made to be extremely energy-efficient, many homeowners find they can also qualify for rebates and tax credits, saving them even more money. When appliances are included with a home that is being sold, the value of the home always increases.
In addition to these upgrades, other possibilities include renovating an attic or basement, building a deck or patio, or installing a new front door or garage door. Yet no matter which upgrades are ultimately done, a home’s value is likely to increase by thousands of dollars. Whether selling or making plans to stay put for decades, these upgrades are well worth their cost to most homeowners.
