Remodeling Your Home That Will Increase Value

It is easy to create a “want” list when it comes to ideas for remodeling your home, but the real question to start off with is whether or not you plan to stay in your home for a period of time. The answer to this question should change the items on your to-do list separating the wants and needs for your home. It can become all too familiar putting money into a home that you are planning on living in for years to come, but for those that are planning to relocate; you will want to make sure that any renovations that you make are in the best interest of selling your home and recouping value in your home.

Start off planning a budget for your projects, which will provide you the best payoff when you are ready to put your house on the market. Here are some ideas to inspire a few worthy remodeling projects to get the most bang for your buck.

Freshen Up The Paint:

Adding a fresh coat of paint to the interior and exterior is the largest contributor to the perceived value of your home. Not only does it provide the opportunity to update the color shade, but will enable you to add in more neutral schemes that appeal to a wide audience of buyers. Accent walls should be kept to the Living Room, Master Bedroom and Home Office. Limiting the accent walls and colors in your home will be less work that a new buyer will need to possibly change, while still showcasing the vast possibilities of your home in keeping up with the latest trends. Paint is one of the easiest and low cost upgrades that you can make to your home.

Add Kitchen Enhancements:

Potential home buyers pay extra particular attention to the Kitchen in homes they are pursuing. Used for cooking, entertaining, work space and for congregating, the Kitchen is the most used room in the home and thus holds the biggest impact in a decision on whether or not to purchase a home. An appropriately upgraded and current Kitchen will hold its value more than any other room. Choose wisely when considering the upgrades for your space. Make sure that appliances and fixtures are up to date with recent trends and color scheme. Add pleasing options such as spacious countertops or an island, a deep or specialty sink, plenty of storage space, and make sure that the traffic flow is convenient through the space.

A Functional Home Office or Work Station:

With the available technology these days, a functional work station is more important than ever. Most families have a least 2 people in their household that use a computer or laptop on a regular basis. Whether for space to pay bills, work from home or just to have a comfortable spot for social networking, a home office can play many roles. A dedicated space can be added to a loft, a countertop spot within the Kitchen, or by converting an existing den or bedroom. Make sure to add shelving and have the needed electrical outlets for such items as a computer, printer, and charging station for devices to accommodate various types of needs.

A Patio for Entertaining:

A nicely laid out patio for entertaining and family time can be helpful when selling your home. If built correctly and to code, a patio addition will last for many years to come. Already have a large covered patio? An existing patio can be given a face lift with upgrades, such as adding ceiling fans, decorative stone finish on the patio columns, or even including a built in barbeque with a bar top for guests to mingle with the cook! Home buyers will be able to easily imagine their friends and family over for get-togethers when they see your professional looking patio.

Flooring Must-Haves:

New flooring in a home provides the feeling of being fresh and clean. Flooring is a task that a future buyer does not always want to make on their own dime, so having new flooring in a neutral color scheme could be your selling point. Larger scale tile in lieu of standard 12x12 tiles adds an upscale feeling to a home. Decorative tile at entryways or in transition areas can add the perfect architectural touch. If adding tile to wet rooms of the home, such as Kitchens and Bathrooms, make sure that the grout is sealed and low maintenance non-slip flooring is chosen. Many homeowners will shy away from flooring that requires regular maintenance, polishing or staining upkeep. Do you love the look of wood flooring? Porcelain wood plank tile is the latest trend in flooring. It has the look of real wood, but with added durability and less maintenance. There has been much advancement in the flooring industry and thus an endless array of materials and colors to choose from to get the perfect look for your home.

Ideal Balance of Lighting and Natural Light:

Plenty of natural light has always been a good selling factor in any home. With that comes the topic of energy efficiency. If your home has beautiful large windows overlooking your manicured lawn or other scenic view, you will not want to defeat the purpose with windows that are older and not energy efficient causing higher living expenses for a future buyer. The leading cause of heat getting into your home creating higher electricity bills is through your windows. Did you know that you can save up to 30% in energy costs by upgrading your windows? There are many types of windows on the market to meet your needs and budget. Make sure that you choose a complimenting neutral frame color for your new windows to match your home.

The perfect balance of lighting and natural light will make your home seem more spacious and can be used to focus on just the right areas. You will want to have a good variety of lighting depending on the room as well. For instance, a child’s bathroom could have timed lighting that will shut off after no activity, whereas the Master Bathroom should have appropriate lighting for hygiene needs with dimmable lighting for a more soothing and relaxed atmosphere. Pendant lighting along a countertop bar and under cabinet lighting in a Kitchen are also popular alternatives to only having standard recessed lighting or a chandelier.

Low Maintenance Landscaping:

Landscaping that is low maintenance and worry free is preferred in todays fast pace environment. A beautifully decorated yard can provide the first impression that you need to succeed in selling your home. Though the interior of the home is often thought of before the exterior when considering making upgrades, do not forget about the importance of curb appeal.

With low interest rates and the current opportunities in the housing market, now may be the time you think about relocating. If that is the case, we hope that these ideas have inspired you to make a few needed upgrades to your home that will help you get the selling price you are looking for.

Need help getting started? Todd Whittaker Drywall Inc. has been in the valley since 1996 serving customers just like you with their home improvement needs. Check out their website at www.twdaz.com for additional tips and ideas to help you get the most out of your home.