Your home is more than a place to live. For most people, it’s the single largest investment you’ll make. It’s natural to want to improve your property, anything that reflects your personality or makes it a more comfortable place to live is worth considering.
However, in most cases, your home will only be one of many. At some point, you’re likely to move, to upsize, downsize, or simply relocate. In other words, any home improvements you make should increase the value of your home.
The rules of home improvements apply whether you’re buying your first home, an investment property, or considering a vacation house.
Add a Screened Porch
Since COVID-19 the most coveted features in a property have changed. The most popular homes are those with home offices and outdoor spaces. This is in keeping with wanting a better quality of life, more people working from home, and an increased interest in nature.
Using a reputable screened-in porch builder means you’ll have a stylish structure added to the back of your home. Best of all, they won’t just build it, they’ll take care of all the permits for you.
A screened-in porch gives you a place to enjoy the sunshine without being harassed by bugs. It also offers protection from the sun and is a great spot to host events for your friends.
As a bonus, it gives you somewhere to soak up the sun, even on the cooler days. Best of all, because outdoor spaces are so coveted, adding a screen-in porch will increase the value of your property.
Create A Home Office
A recent study suggests that, by 2025, 22% of the workforce will work remotely. Unsurprisingly, these people want somewhere comfortable to work.
In short, properties with home offices are worth more than those without. At the top end of the scale, you can build an extension to create a home office and perhaps other rooms. If your budget doesn’t stretch this far, or you can’t get permission, look at which rooms can be shrunk and build partition walls to create an office space.
If you work from home it will benefit you as well as increase the value of your property.
Repaint the Interior
You may be surprised to learn that repainting the interior of your home is one of the best ways to increase its value and costs you very little.
Obviously, it’s a good idea to repaint regularly to keep your home feeling and looking nice, making it more pleasant to live in. If you’re thinking of selling, repainting, especially in a neutral color, will make the home more appealing to potential buyers. That increases interest in your home, which increases the value.
Repainting the exterior can also help as it makes the home look more attractive and cared for. That’s a big plus point at selling time.
Convert a Basement or Attached Garage
Garages and unfinished basements are generally just used for storage. That’s a waste of space. You can potentially make a return on your investment of 75% by simply converting this space into something useful.
You simply need to think about what your home will benefit from the most; a home office, extra bedroom, games room, etc.
The key is to make sure this is a heated space and, therefore, effectively part of your home. It will increase your floor space and effectively put your home in the next price bracket.
Opening Your Floorplan
Open-plan houses are exceptionally popular. They are great for families to share space without being on top of each other. It also works well for people wanting to put their own stamp on a home. An open-plan house is easy to adapt to individual personalities.
However, you do need to check which walls are structural before you start taking them down. To truly make the most of the space, consider speaking with an interior designer. A professional—like those at Missy Stewart Designs—can help you create a layout that’s both functional and uniquely yours. A professional ensures that every design choice complements the flow of your home while enhancing its character.
Consider a Pool
You don’t need to live in California or Florida to install a pool. An in-ground pool can be covered with a glass enclosure, effectively creating an indoor pool. This makes it usable all year and an attractive option for many buyers.
It’s even possible to use solar power to heat the pool, making swimming an enjoyable experience. However, a pool is an expensive investment. It should increase the value of your home by more than it costs to install. Either way, you should only install one if you are going to use it regularly.
Minor Remodels
Simply remodeling your kitchen and bathroom by replacing the hardware, the cabinet doors, and any countertops can revitalize an old kitchen or bathroom, increasing the value and appeal of your home without excessive spending.
Summing Up
It’s natural to want to improve your home. However, while you may feel that you’ll never move, most people do. That’s why, every home improvement you make should be a balance of what will improve your life and simultaneously increase the value of your home.