7 Ways to Add Value to Your Home

If you are wanting to have your dream home, you need to know the value of your home NOW!. All values are statistical assessments, not guaranteed. 

So now you have your estimate! Where do you start? You may be thinking, should I renovate my home and sell? Renovate and live in my cozy new improved home? Should I not renovate and sell as is? These are crucial questions when you are thinking to put your home on the market.

With these 10 improvements, you can get some ideas on your future project, or some improvements to add value to your home!

1. Improve Your Kitchen (Potential Value Added: 15%)

Any kitchen update equals an added value. You don’t have to start from scratch either! This is one of the most important improvements and can start just by swapping out one small item.

You can start with swapping out your cabinets. This is one of the most affordable ways to look new and modern.

One design idea is to not be uniform. If you want your humble abode to sell for premium or add a refreshing looking, change out your upper cabinets for a lighter color and your lower cabinets for a darker color.

Zillow reported in 2018 that this style could at a $1,500 increase to your home! After your cabinets, or instead, you can throw out those tile counter tops! Redoing your counters can be done quickly with granite or quartz and can improve the look and value of your home instantly.

Lastly, refresh your sink and facet. Just adding a new faucet can make all the difference in your home and give a ‘wow’ factor to that special cook in your home.

2. Improve Your Master Bedroom with Conservation (Potential Value Added: 10%)

 

Improving your master bedroom is a big-ticket addition. Adding conservation efforts in any room will help make your home quieter, lower your energy bills, and add value when it comes time to sell.

You can switch out your old windows with a set of vinyl ones. You can also add oversized windows to increase natural light, so you do not have to use lights as much. 

Some other additions to your master bedroom could be ‘spa-like experience’ in your bathroom with a heated floor system, steam shower and free-standing tub. You can add an exquisite closet space.

Cramped closets are a turn-off for home buyers, so design a beautiful, walk in closet if you don’t have one already.

Make sure to add additions that look like they’ve already been there. If your master bedroom is decked out and your home has a smaller concept, something will look off. Keep it casual but elegant.  

 

3. Get a New Bathroom (Potential Value Added 3-5%)

Small updates are one of the smartest moves. If you can’t afford a full remodel, small changes will improve your value. Keep your existing layout for a more reasonable price.

Choose an exposed shower rather than a concealed model. You can start with a bold bathroom color like blue. Neutrals might look good in the kitchen, but in the bathroom, it could add great contrast.

Most buyers, and yourself, want to see a new and shiny bathroom, so repainting will add instant value. Adding a new toilet can actually be one of the most valuable upgrades if it is replaced with a more efficient and modern look.

One of the most efficient returns will be replacing the vanity. These improvements will guarantee a bange for your buck. 

4. Create an Open-Plan Living Area (Potential Value Added: 3-5%)

“Creating an open concept floor plan starting with the kitchen into the living or dining room is a very effective renovation that adds value to homes,” says Yeheskel Sharbani. Owner of EliteKB.

Visually increasing your home’s square footage will dramatically add value. The goal is to make your house feel larger. Adding attractive shelving to an underused space can help with storing any clutter you may have.

You can transform your space by knocking down a wall separating a kitchen and living room. If knocking down a wall is not an option, you can add a rear or side extension. With people working, eating, entertaining, and studying from home, an open layout is desirable.

 

5. Add Some Curbside and Entry-Way Appeal (Potential Value Added: 25%)

Do you constantly run into your garage door? Or is it getting rusty and outdated? A new garage door isn’t hugely pricey and can make your house much more appealing. Garage doors boost safety, curb appeal, provide safety, and can help on energy bills.

Adding steel entry doors can boost outside attraction. They are sleek and clean and come in a variety of choices. They will not rot or warp and will stand wear and tear. Lastly, a little stone veneer can complexly change your home’s exterior and aesthetic. 

The other improvement could be your entryway. It is a MAJOR selling point for buyers. Is it invitation? Are there chips in paint? Your entryway should be a showplace and set a positive impression from the start.

6. Convert Your Basement (Added value of up to 30%) 

Basement transformations can be one of the least complex home improvements. AirBnB is huge today and could attract buyers wanted to bring in an extra income, or could be a great in-law suite, OR even add both those bonuses to your life. This could be the key to selling your home for a premium price. 

 

7. Decks, Patios and Garden Appeal (Potential Value Added: 0-10%. They could add no value, but engage buyers) 

Adding outdoor seating space could be a finishing touch for your home. Imagine a few comfy cushions on furniture, an outdoor rug, a grill…even a tv for a covered deck? This will expand the square footage of your home as well.

Adding a deck or patio in your backyard will instantly add appeal. They are the 6^th most desirable outdoor upgrade in NAR’s 2018 Remodeling Impact Report. 

Look at your neighborhood home values. If the location is simple, keep it simple. Go to open houses, follow Building Ideas Inc. for ideas, and pay attention to kitchen, baths, flooring, fixtures and discover ways you want to refresh your space!