Upgrading your home can generally improve the quality of life for your family. Other than making your home more enjoyable, some renovations add significant value to your home. When asking yourself what upgrades increase the value of your home, here are some ideas you can consider.
Renovate Your Bathrooms
As a homeowner, when thinking of what upgrades increase the value of your home, a bathroom should be on the top of your list. Since bathrooms are smaller, renovations can easily be done with the proper planning. There is less flooring to do, a smaller countertop, and fewer cabinets to upgrade. Start by changing the bathroom countertops. Since the countertop does not take as much beating compared to kitchen countertops, you have the freedom to factor in appearance over everything. However, quality is important since you will be placing a few things on it, like a grooming kit, a makeup kit, or even a potted plant.
If you want to save on costs and at the same time change the look of your bathroom, then you should choose to refinish the existing items, like the tiles, sinks, and the shower. If you do not switch the location of the sink and toilet, you can save up on plumbing costs. The cabinets, too, can use some touch-up. You can completely replace the old cabinets or simply repaint them a different color depending on what you want. However, use quality cabinets where you can put your toiletries, important drugs that you purchase through private medical insurance cover, a first aid kit, and shower supplies. There are many elements in a bathroom that you can change when upgrading it. Get an interior designer and discuss your options.
Remodel Your Master Bedroom
If you are looking for what upgrades increase the value of your home, then consider remodeling the master bedroom. For starters, they are no large appliances to install or plumbing pipes to fix, making it easy. It is all about lighting, painting, wallpapers, fabrics, flooring, and many DIY projects, saving you on costs for a bedroom. Start with repainting the bedroom. There are no right or wrong colors to paint the bedroom if you can be able to blend it well with the other decor in the room. Therefore, paint whichever color speaks to your heart. Another important aspect is lighting.
Apart from the usual ceiling light, incorporate some task lighting, such as a desk lamp for reading or writing, and accent lighting for the dressing table. The next thing should be the bedroom furniture. Purchase functional furniture like a bedside table, lamp, and dresser. A dresser not only adds class to your bedroom but can help you with organizing items. You can use the drawers to store personal care items and jewelry, like your wedding band. Install new flooring, especially a hardwood floor, as it is aesthetically appealing and will last you a long time. When it comes to bedding, rugs, and curtains, it is all about what you want. However, pick a theme and let that guide you into choosing colors for such items.
Expand Your Kitchen
A kitchen is an important element of the house. Therefore, as you try to figure out what upgrades increase the value of your home, include the kitchen on your checklist. Before you start expanding the kitchen, it is best to remove any clutter lying around. It is common for clutter to make any space look smaller than it is. You will find small appliances like blenders, mixers, and food processors often placed on countertops due to lack of proper storage. Therefore, you can control clutter by investing in storage units to accommodate the appliances.
However, there is also the chance that you want a bigger kitchen than what you have. The common option is removing a wall to get the additional space and adding an island or a kitchen peninsula with seating. Remove the wall that separates the kitchen and the dining area, opening up space for the island. It may be a little costly, but it is completely worth it. It is also crucial that you work with a professional who can help you in planning. Since interior walls are structural, if removed, you have to replace them with a header beam. You may also need to add electrical fixtures and some plumbing.
Turn Your Attic or Basement Into a Spare Bedroom
When it comes to looking for that extra space for a bedroom, start with the basement and the attic. For the attic, a common problem with homeowners is the steep slope of the ceiling. It limits the headroom and space in general. You will therefore need to be very intentional with the designs to get a great room. Also, because of the sloped ceiling, you have less wall space to work with. You have to come up with unique storage solutions that will not take so much space.
Create shorter closets and install shelving units into the walls to save on space. When it comes to painting, keep it simple and use a light color to not overwhelm the room. When you pair light colors with natural lighting, it makes the room appear bigger. Since your attic is hotter than any other part of your home, you will need proper ventilation. Therefore, consider installing an HVAC unit. When it comes to the basement, they tend to be cold, so start by insulating the walls. Since basements get low amounts of light, you will have to make use of artificial light. Also, choose warm colors for the room, like orange, gold, pumpkin, and melon. Such colors bring out warmth under any lighting conditions.
Update Your Home’s Plumbing Systems
When you think of what upgrades increase the value of your home, updating the plumbing system of your home should be one of them. You need a good plumbing system that delivers water to different fixtures, faucets, and any other appliance using water. It should also carry away all wastewater from the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room without clogging. Also, freshwater supply lines, plumbing vents, and sewer and drain pipes should be placed in the right locations for convenience.
It is essential to get a qualified plumber to update your home’s plumbing system. Faulty installation can lead to slab leaks, giving you the additional cost of slab leak repairs. Another tip when it comes to updating the plumbing system is installing a lot of shut-off valves to make it easy when it comes to fixing any plumbing issues. When an individual connection has its own shut-off valve, you can fix the affected area without having to switch off the water main. If you are fixing the kitchen sinks, then you only switch off the connection for the sink, but you can still do laundry or take a shower.
Consider New Roof Installation
When thinking of what upgrades increase the value of your home, a roof should also be on your list. There are different types of roofs to choose from that are aesthetically appealing and functional as well. You can tell that you need to replace the roof if it is too old. A roof has a lifespan of about 25 years, so if yours has reached this age, it is time to get a new one. If you also notice missing or broken shingles, it is time to get a new roof. Aged roofs start losing granules that end up in the gutter. Inspect your gutters to see if they have granules. If they are many, your roof has served its time, and you need to replace it. Another sign that you need a new roof is if the current one is sagging. It may be a structural issue, in which case you need to address it immediately.
Get a roofing contractor to install a new roof rather than doing it yourself. When it comes to re-roofing, choose roofs of quality material. They may be slightly costly, but they are durable, saving you the replacement cost any time soon. While it is common for contractors to install new shingles on top of old ones, you can choose to get rid of the old ones completely. That way, you can tell if the plywood underneath is damaged and to what extent you need to repair it. Additionally, even when you have installed a new roof, you have to maintain it by fixing any repairs immediately when they appear and by cleaning it occasionally.
Consider Solar Panel Installation
When researching what upgrades increase the value of your home, you should also think of solar panels. There are many solar power benefits, so you will find more and more homeowners opting for solar energy. For starters, it is clean energy that does not pollute the environment. You also get to reduce your utility bills significantly. You may not be able to produce 100% of the energy you use at home, but you will still save a lot of money.
Before you install solar panels, factor in how long you plan to live in that house. While your electricity bills will reduce immediately, before your investment finally pays off, it may take around five years, considering the panels and installation is costly. Also, it will depend on the amount of energy you consume to power your home adequately. If you use high amounts of energy, you have to purchase more panels. Therefore, factor in all the pros and cons and decide whether solar panels will suit you.
Add a New Garage Door
As you think of what upgrades increase the value of your home, you should consider installing a new garage door. Start by shopping around for the ideal garage door for your home. Nowadays, garage doors come in different materials, shapes, and sizes, leaving you spoiled for choice. You can opt for aluminum, wood, steel, and composite wood. They all come with different features, benefits, and prices. Whichever you pick, ensure the door is insulated to keep the garage at a moderate temperature. You should consider other accessories and components, including panels and windows, child safety features, garage door tracks, and springs. Finally, always go for the garage of good quality that will serve you for a long time.
Renovate Your Garage
Apart from housing your car, your garage can be a storage room for the tool as well as a working station on your car. It can also be an entry and exit point for the house, hence the need to keep it safe and in good condition. Hire garage door contractors to help you upgrade your garage door for safety. Your garage flooring is prone to oil and grease stains, especially if you work on your car from time to time. The concrete floor will last you a long time, and it is also easy to clean off any dirt. You should also consider painting the walls a new color, something that blends with the floor color. Insulating your garage is very important, especially if other rooms share the ceiling, floor, and wall with the garage. Extreme temperatures can affect your cars, especially your Kawasaki vehicles that you have parked, waiting for that off-road trip. Therefore, ensure you have properly insulated the garage to reduce the energy bills as well.
Pave Your Driveway and Add a Basketball Hoop
When considering what upgrades increase the value of your home, you should also factor in the driveway. It is what welcomes you and your visitors to your home, and therefore it should be as appealing as possible. When it comes to paving the driveway, it is best to use asphalt material. It is more flexible than concrete and will not crack easily. It is also cheap to install yet less prone to damage from ice melt and rock salt. When resurfacing your asphalt driveway using a sealant, you do not have to call a professional as it is not a hard task. Add a basketball hoop and a decorative mailbox in the driveway to improve the general appearance of your driveway, too.
You will find that basic upgrades like repainting and repairing the roof to get rid of any mold go a long way. They keep your house looking fresh, solid, and safe. Therefore, when looking for what upgrades increase the value of your home, start with the basic things.