America’s love of home improvement shows no signs of stopping. Recent studies show that money spent by homeowners on home renovations is on the rise. Improvements that make a home better suited for a homeowner’s lifestyle get the most attention. The recent increasing popularity of improving an existing home rather than moving to a new one accounts for increases in renovation spending.
Organizing your List of Home Renovations
Unfortunately for most people, the sky is not the limit for home reno budgets. No matter how big or small your budget is, you’ll still have to prioritize which projects are most important. A conversation with your contractor will help. As an expert, a contractor can give valuable advice that will save money and time in the long run.
Defining your goals will also help you decide which projects to tackle first. The renovations you choose to make may depend on your plans for the future. Are you improving your home for a quick resale, or to make it more livable for the long term?
Safety First
When it comes to spending money on home improvement, choosing projects that increase the safety of your home is the most important thing. Understandably, most homeowners want to spend their budget on a project that improves the look of their house. As tempting as it is, choosing fashion over function may not be the best use of your money.
Before you build your dream kitchen, make sure these following home systems are updated and in good repair:
- HVAC system
- Roof
- Foundation
- Plumbing
- Electrical
Updating your home’s internal systems will save money in the long run, and it will help you prepare for more exciting changes to come.
Increase Your Square Footage
If you have plans for building an addition, put that at the top of the list. Living in a fixer-upper can already be challenging. Coping with the mess, strangers working in the house, and ongoing projects is stressful. Doing all of that in a home you’ve already decided is too small is even worse. Build that extra bedroom or bathroom now so at least you’ll have room to move around as construction continues.
Delaying needed expansion will cost more in the long run. Why spend money improving an undesirable kitchen if you plan on tearing the walls down next year anyway?
Improve the Garage
According to the 2021 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine, replacing a garage door is the best ROI home improvement you can make.
Homeowners often overlook the functional and aesthetic appeal of the garage. The garage accounts for approximately one-third of the curb appeal for most homes. Replacing an unattractive or poorly functioning door will improve the look of your home and increase the security of this extra space.
Kitchen Remodel: Yes or No?
Not much in the world of home renovation is more satisfying than a new kitchen. Remember to keep improvements universal if you have plans to put your home on the market in the near future. Those high-style cabinets and that eco-friendly concrete countertop may be beautiful, but they won’t be to everyone’s taste.
A kitchen that has been recently renovated to a very specific style can turn away more potential buyers than it attracts. Most buyers would prefer to keep shopping than to tear out brand new high-end finishes and appliances just because they don’t like the style.
On the other hand, if your fixer-upper is the dream home where you hope to live for many years, feel free to create the chef’s kitchen you always wanted.
Boost the Bathrooms
The price of a bathroom remodel can get out of hand quickly, but if you stick to your budget the return on investment for refreshing a bathroom is favorable. For a mid-range bathroom remodel you can expect to get about two-thirds of your investment back in equity.
If your focus is improving home value, avoid the following:
- Spa tubs (go for a large glass shower instead)
- High-end finishes that aren’t in line with the rest of the house
- Colors or design touches that are too unique
- Trendy tiles—unless your home is going on the market tomorrow, chances are the trends will change by the time you sell
- Smart toilets and showerheads (unless your entire home features Smart technology)
- Luxury extras like a pop-up plasma TV or faux fire-place
Do include energy-saving features and adequate storage space for the size of the room and home.
Calling on the Experts
The experienced contractors at Seven Valley Home Renovations LLC can help you with every stage of home improvement. From making sure your fixer-upper is safe and basic maintenance projects are completed to adding the grand primary bedroom you’ve always dreamed of. Our team of professionals will make the home renovation process as easy as possible. If you’re ready to get started on your home improvement list, contact us today.