6 Projects That Add Value to Your Home

Some home improvement projects that add value to a home include:

1. 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. You can expect to recoup 60%-120% of your investment on a kitchen remodel, as long as you don't go overboard.

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. Plus, paint is relatively cheap.

Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models. Energy Star-rated appliances are better for the environment, and they also help you save money, because they use less energy. Potential buyers often look for ways to save money when shopping for a new home.

2. Bathroom Addition

If your home only has one bathroom, you can recoup a large chunk of your investment by adding another one. You can recoup 80%-130% of whatever you spend adding a bathroom.

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.

3. Reinventing 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. 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.

4. Installing Solar Energy

These days, buyers shop for homes with energy efficiency in mind. Because solar energy helps you save on your electricity bill, it's an investment that pays for itself many times over the 25+ year lifetime of your installation. But the advantages of solar energy extend well beyond electricity bill savings. If you're going to make home improvements, solar energy is pretty difficult to top. You enjoy lower electricity bills for as long as you remain in your house. And when it comes time to sell, solar energy can also fetch you a much higher asking price you recoup 100% of your investment thanks to your property's higher asking price.

5. Deck Addition

Adding a deck increases the value of your home. Outdoor living spaces have become more desirable. 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.

6. Energy-Efficient Insulation

Homes that haven't been modified with energy efficiency in mind cost more to live in and maintain. Seal cracks around the house to save even more money on energy costs, and to make your home more appealing to buyers. You can often discover leaks, and areas that need more insulation, around doors and windows, around the attic hatch, in the basement or anywhere ducts or wires go outside the house.

Another easy retrofit is to use CFL light bulbs in all light fixtures. CFL bulbs use 75% less energy than traditional bulbs. You also save on cooling costs because CFL's emit 75% less heat than traditional bulbs.

If you need to replace your geyser, consider spending a bit extra to purchase a high-efficiency water heater or better still, install a solar geyser. Savvy home buyers know these geysers can really trim energy bills.

Contact The Geyser Shop on 082 573 2012 for the best prices on energy saving solar water heating and heat pump systems. Contact Cybertrade Paints on 032 - 946 1453 for all your paint requirements.