7 Home Improvement & Remodeling Ideas that Increase Home Value

Remodeling the Kitchen

Most people consider the kitchen to be the heart of the home, and because of this, updates in this room pay off, but you should never make your kitchen fancier than the rest of the house. If you plan on selling your home within the next five years, keep potential buyers in mind before you start on any major remodel; many people won’t pay for a fancy, deluxe kitchen. When it comes to how much you spend on a kitchen remodel, prices can run high. Get the biggest bang for your buck on a kitchen remodel by looking at color. Fresh paint, in modern colors, can go a long way towards updating the look of your kitchen. Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models. Potential buyers often look for ways to save money when shopping for a new home.

Bathroom Addition

If your home only has one bathroom, you can recoup a large chunk of your investment by adding another one. When it comes to finding room in your house for an extra bathroom, take a look at any extra rooms or underutilized spaces. Consider other spaces, such as closets or areas under the stairs, too. Like any project, the cost of adding a bathroom depends largely on the types of additions and accessories you want to use, and the cost of each of these items.

Reinventing a Room

Adding more square footage to your home with a new room can be an incredibly expensive project. Although you can recoup some of your investment, anywhere from 50%-83%, this project’s costs can quickly spin wildly out of control.

Reinvent the existing space in your home to save money. Finish a basement, or convert the attic to a bedroom. Many homeowners can also add small apartments in, or over, their garages – which they can then rent out as a room.

Before you demolish walls and rafters, try to think about the ways that you, and potential buyers, can use the space:

• Versatile rooms have greater appeal to potential buyers.
  
• Basements frequently work well as second living rooms, or game rooms. Many people also turn this space into a small apartment for an aging relative or a tenant.
  
• Attic spaces often work well for craft rooms and game rooms, especially if they have high ceilings. If you have kids, you can add swings to the rafters, and create a cool play room just for them.
  

Deck Addition

Adding a deck increases the value of your home. Outdoor living spaces have become more desirable, especially since more people stay home for vacation. If you make your deck and your backyard more appealing, your house will be more appealing to prospective buyers when you decide to sell. The cost of adding a deck to your home varies widely. Everything depends on its size, and how many bells and whistles you want added, like built-in seating, multiple stairs, built-in flower pots, and the size of the deck.