As a homeowner, it can be difficult sometimes to determine the best areas of your home area to upgrade. With any home improvement project, it’s important to balance the benefits to your quality of life with what the return on investment is likely to be. While not every decision about an upgrade needs to be financially motivated, you should always understand how the changes you make will affect your home’s value. Some home improvements hold their value better than others, while some projects can turn into money pits quite easily. Whether you’re looking to make some upgrades before a sale or just want to improve your property, read on for five great tips on how to spruce up your home.
1. Try a fresh coat of paint.
You’d be surprised how much of a difference a pop of color can make in a room that feels empty or drab. If you’re worried about overwhelming the space, you can always opt for an accent wall or some type of backsplash in a kitchen or bathroom to add some visual interest. Keep in mind that bright colors on all four walls can make a room feel small, whereas a colorful accent wall tends to have the opposite effect. Neutrals like grey can do a great job of getting rid of the sterile, all-white look without making it difficult to design the rest of the room.
2. Invest in exterior improvements.
When it comes to upgrades, outdoor improvements tend to hold their value well and boost your home’s curb appeal too. This can include everything from landscaping to ensuring your exterior doesn’t chip, paint, or fade. The way your home looks and the first impression prospective buyers have should be a priority both for yourself or to prepare for a sale. Look for well-regarded local businesses, like Crash of Rhinos Painting, when it comes time to search for the right company to help with your project. You want to focus on companies and contractors that provide do an excellent job, have a visible web presence, and receive positive reviews from customers.
3. Consider upgrading to smart technology.
Smart technology is the latest trend in home upgrades and it looks like it’s here to stay. Energy efficient appliances can help bring down your utility bills, as can features like smart thermostats that allow you to operate your HVAC machine on a timer. This enables you to stop leaving it running when you’re asleep or when no one is home. Not only can smart and energy efficient technology help manage day to day tasks and reduce your energy consumption, they’re also attractive to prospective buyers should you choose to sell one day.
4. Repair or replace windows and doors.
Your windows and doors are much more important to maintaining your comfort and safety indoors than you might realize. Cracks and crevices can develop over time, even if you take good care of your home, which can easily let in hot and cold drafts and moisture. Not only does this make it more difficult and expensive to regulate the temperature inside, it can also cause property damage if you have anything around your windows. Make sure you inspect all your outdoor-facing windows and doors at least once per year and invest in repair or replacement immediately if you notice significant damage.
5. Don’t neglect home maintenance.
It’s easy to neglect regular maintenance if you’re not careful. What regular maintenance entails depends entirely on your home and what types of systems and appliances you have. Being thorough about your home maintenance is even more necessary if you’re preparing to contact a real estate agent and look for buyers or getting ready for an open house. You don’t want potential buyers to come in and lose interest because of clutter or a failure to clean up and make sure any messes are completely out of sight. Maintenance is also a way to keep yourself safe, as components in disrepair can cause serious damage.
It can be difficult to know where the best places to allocate your money are when it comes to making upgrades to your home, and there’s no one size fits all answer when it comes to home improvement. Still, there is plenty of information available to help you find the right projects that will improve the value of your home and your experience living in it. Safety, comfort, and the return on investment should all be taken into account as you go through the entire process of home improvement. Ultimately, there are few investments that are more worthwhile than ones made to the comfort and safety of your home.
