Home improvement is an ongoing task for every homeowner. As times change, so should your home. From replacing the kitchen cabinets to upgrading the heating and cooling system, there are a few tips that every homeowner should know when it comes to home improvement. Otherwise, your home’s value will decrease and, while paying a lower property tax might seem like a good thing, when you go to sell your home you won’t see a high selling price for it. If your home isn’t up-to-date or features some improvements from when you purchased it, then you will be disappointed when you decide to sell it.
Potential buyers will overlook your home for others that might be smaller or in a less desirable neighborhood simply because the other homes might have some minor improvements. Here are some tips you can use that are sure to help you see a good return on your investment!
Sprinkle your small projects
As a homeowner, you don’t need to do all your home improvement projects at once. Instead, sprinkle them through your time as a homeowner. Replace faucets, upgrade the thermostat, change out the light fixtures, put in a new garage door… these tasks don’t all have to be completed at one time. Instead, these are projects you can complete in a day or two, don’t take much money and shouldn’t cause you a headache. Of course, owning a home is stressful. Some reports indicate that millennials actually regret owning a home. Instead of trying to tackle a Pinterest-worthy renovation in one day, take your time doing the renovations so you can actually enjoy the experience and don’t get overwhelmed.
Cosmetics can wait. Fix the foundational issues first
Your home can look like something out of a magazine, but if the foundation or bones of the home are poor, then there’s a huge chance you’ll have a low value and will get skipped over in favor of a home that might need a bit of work but doesn’t have any foundational issues. While fixing the underground items isn’t fun, it’s highly necessary. Unfixed foundational issues can actually endanger you, your family, and anyone who spends time in your home. From cracks to electrical issues to plumbing, it’s important to get those foundational issues fixed as soon as they present themselves.
Think beyond trends
While trendy looks good, they tend to come and go. Instead, put your focus on improvements that are practical and will continue to make life easier for your home for years to come. Trends are things that others might choose to change after you leave. If you spend time putting new, trendy features into your home right before selling, just for new homeowners to come in and change them, then it was almost as though the money you spent was for nothing. Choose improvements that will give you a great return in the coming years. While you can take inspiration from trends, be sure to put in features that will make life easier.
Don’t forget the outside
Your curb appeal will influence how people feel about your home. Remember to maintain your front lawn – and the outside of your home. Simple tasks, such as power washing, can make a real difference in how your home looks and feels from the outside. Be sure to do these tasks regularly. While you don’t have to do them frequently, creating a schedule for these outdoor tasks will make subtle improvements to your home throughout the years. You can switch out flowers, install new light fixtures along your driveway, power wash the pavers to your front door (or install some if you don’t already have any), plant fresh grass seed after a long drought, or do any other task outside of your home that will make it feel brand new and improved.
Get rid of the chain-link fence
Chain link fences don’t make your home feel very cozy. If you have a fence to symbolize your property line or enclose the space your dogs can run around in, consider getting a taller wood fence or putting hedges on either side of the chain link to hide the metal. That way, you add some green outside but you also hide the monstrosity that is a chain-link fence. Since wood fences require a lot of maintenance, this can be a great alternative. If you’re already planning to do weekly yard maintenance, then adding some hedges and bushes to your maintenance routine shouldn’t overwhelm you.
Give the bathroom a facelift
A bathroom that still uses appliances and fixtures from decades ago isn’t one that will sell well. Give your bathroom a facelift to improve its value in your space. To afford more expensive parts of the renovation, such as refinishing or replacing the tub, make considerations of where you can save funds. Choose to install RTA cabinets instead of pre-assembled ones, find fixtures and hardware from local antique or salvage stores or consider tiling your shower yourself. Updating the bathroom will give your entire home a fresh feel, and it’s a much less expensive renovation than other parts of your home, such as the kitchen.
Paint the walls
Most of the time, bedrooms don’t need much to improve. However, the one thing you can do to improve the bedrooms is put on a fresh coat of paint every once in a while. As kids move out, seasons change or general wear and tear occurs in your home, add fresh coats of paint to make it look fresh and new. Fill in spots where you had put nails or other mounting material, and paint over scuffs or scratches in the paint. You don’t have to change the color of the walls, but giving them a fresh coat will make the space feel completely new.
Home improvement can seem daunting if you’ve been just doing projects without any plan or purpose. However, with some simple tips that every homeowner should know, you can start to complete home improvement projects quickly and easily.
