This year, homeowners are projected to spend 4.4% more on their homes than they did last year. Why? Because a healthy housing market has homeowners feeling good about investing a little bit more in their homes, and not just in the necessities. Another, not so positive reason people feel comfortable investing more into their homes is that many people simply cannot afford to move. Despite how much their homes may be worth, for a lot of homeowners, moving would mean relocating to a more affordable (and oftentimes less desirable) neighborhood, or downsizing. With those two options, many people would prefer to stay put and just fix up the homes they already have.
With that in mind, here are 6 home improvement projects that are bound to make your home a little more desirable:
“Shut The Front Door” – and then spruce it up a bit…
Life is all about great first impressions, a rule of thumb that dictates every aspect of our lives—including our homes. Your front door is the first thing that visitors see when they come up to your home, so investing in a good one will increase your home’s value significantly. The most effective door for increasing your home’s value? A midrange 20-guage steel door, which, according to research, is worth 117% more than the money you put into it.
Add A Fireplace, Or Restore The One You Have
Everyone loves a fireplace, especially if it’s an updated one. How much do people love fireplaces? Well, according to the National Association of Realtors, a fireplace can increase the value of your home by as much as $12,000. Who knew?
Ditch The Carpet For Hardwood Flooring
Carpet is nice, but only in areas where coziness is a requirement, like the bedrooms. Outside of the bedrooms, hardwood flooring is preferred. Hardwood flooring gives the home a sleek, clean and glossy look, which carpet just cannot provide. Furthermore, hardwood is much easier to clean than carpet, and is better in areas where there is going to be a lot of foot traffic or eating.
Keep The Garage
A lot of homeowners will convert their garage into an extra room or living space, mistakenly believing that the extra square footage will add value to their house, but in fact, it does the exact opposite. Most people want the option of parking their car indoors, and taking that option away from them will steer buyers away at the initial stage of researching.
Recycle Your Materials
Chances are, when you’re done with your renovation project, you’ll have materials left over. Whether it’s a half can of paint, a slab of granite or some extra plywood, don’t throw it out! There are some really cool projects you can do with leftover renovating materials, and if you don’t want to do a project with the leftovers, you can sell the materials to someone who will be more than happy to take them off of your hands.
Keep The Future In Mind
Sure, following the latest trends is fun – for now. But what about 10 years down the road, when fashionable wallpaper is no longer in fashion? Or when those white hardwood floors are scuffed and scratched by the 2 toddlers you didn’t envision back then? While you can always redo some things, hardwood floors, while not permanent, are quite an expensive undertaking, and “changing them out” isn’t all that simple. Same with the wallpaper: while it’s not permanent, taking down wallpaper isn’t easy or fun.
Some other things to consider when designing your home is future needs. Do you plan on living in your house for the rest of your life? If so, consider implementing a front porch to which a ramp can easily be attached. When remodeling your bathroom, consider installing pull bars into the tile. There are extremely nice ones available that don’t scream “you’re getting older!”
If you plan on remodeling or painting your home this year, keep Liberty Paint & Construction in mind. We’ll gladly come out to give you a FREE ESTIMATE for any interior or exterior painting or remodeling needs!
With that in mind, here are 6 home improvement projects that are bound to make your home a little more desirable:
“Shut The Front Door” – and then spruce it up a bit…
Life is all about great first impressions, a rule of thumb that dictates every aspect of our lives—including our homes. Your front door is the first thing that visitors see when they come up to your home, so investing in a good one will increase your home’s value significantly. The most effective door for increasing your home’s value? A midrange 20-guage steel door, which, according to research, is worth 117% more than the money you put into it.
Add A Fireplace, Or Restore The One You Have
Everyone loves a fireplace, especially if it’s an updated one. How much do people love fireplaces? Well, according to the National Association of Realtors, a fireplace can increase the value of your home by as much as $12,000. Who knew?
Ditch The Carpet For Hardwood Flooring
Carpet is nice, but only in areas where coziness is a requirement, like the bedrooms. Outside of the bedrooms, hardwood flooring is preferred. Hardwood flooring gives the home a sleek, clean and glossy look, which carpet just cannot provide. Furthermore, hardwood is much easier to clean than carpet, and is better in areas where there is going to be a lot of foot traffic or eating.
Keep The Garage
A lot of homeowners will convert their garage into an extra room or living space, mistakenly believing that the extra square footage will add value to their house, but in fact, it does the exact opposite. Most people want the option of parking their car indoors, and taking that option away from them will steer buyers away at the initial stage of researching.
Recycle Your Materials
Chances are, when you’re done with your renovation project, you’ll have materials left over. Whether it’s a half can of paint, a slab of granite or some extra plywood, don’t throw it out! There are some really cool projects you can do with leftover renovating materials, and if you don’t want to do a project with the leftovers, you can sell the materials to someone who will be more than happy to take them off of your hands.
Keep The Future In Mind
Sure, following the latest trends is fun – for now. But what about 10 years down the road, when fashionable wallpaper is no longer in fashion? Or when those white hardwood floors are scuffed and scratched by the 2 toddlers you didn’t envision back then? While you can always redo some things, hardwood floors, while not permanent, are quite an expensive undertaking, and “changing them out” isn’t all that simple. Same with the wallpaper: while it’s not permanent, taking down wallpaper isn’t easy or fun.
Some other things to consider when designing your home is future needs. Do you plan on living in your house for the rest of your life? If so, consider implementing a front porch to which a ramp can easily be attached. When remodeling your bathroom, consider installing pull bars into the tile. There are extremely nice ones available that don’t scream “you’re getting older!”
If you plan on remodeling or painting your home this year, keep Liberty Paint & Construction in mind. We’ll gladly come out to give you a FREE ESTIMATE for any interior or exterior painting or remodeling needs!