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When it comes to renovating your house, there are numerous things you can do to increase its value. However, there are other projects you can undertake that aren’t worth the extra expense unless you’re not planning on selling your property ever.
If you can see yourself
putting your house on the market sometime in the future, here are the top home
improvements that give a good return on your investment.
Upgrades
One thing you should think
about before spending a substantial amount of money on any home improvement is
to address the basics:
- Make sure the attic is well insulated
- There are no leaking taps
- Your gutters and downpipes aren’t rusty
- There are no leaky windows
You might have become
accustomed to all these niggly jobs, but
it’s very likely a potential buyer will notice them first.
Essential
renovations
The
kitchen is the heart of any home, and it’s often the first place
any potential buyers will look. It’s also the room where families spend a lot
of their time together, but when you look around
your kitchen, it can be confusing to know where to start. Installing
granite worktops and stainless steel
appliances will immediately improve the aesthetics of the room. In a kitchen, there are also lots of opportunities
for adding unique details such as a shiny new faucet or unusual
knobs on your cabinets.
The bathroom is another
room that is ripe for improvements. If your toilet and vanity are looking
decidedly tired and worn, change them for something that’s more eye-catching.
Bathrooms are often damp and dingy, so consider adding a window to allow more
natural light to enter the room. Bathroom improvements often require the help
of an expert, as there are plumbing and electrical issues to contend with. Luckily, Focus
Development is a Chicago real estate development company who can
help.
Not all properties will
have a cellar or basement, but if you’re
lucky enough to have one, invest in transforming it
into a living or storage space. It’s not that difficult an improvement
to make either!
Think Energy Saving
A major selling point for
anyone looking to sell their home will be whether it’s “energy-efficient.” We’ve all become very conscious of the effect we’re having on our environment, and not
only that, an energy-efficient home is going to save money on energy bills. A
house needs to be correctly insulated, and
the windows should have low-E coatings. Changing your water heating system for
a more up to date one is also a good improvement to make.
Aesthetic Upgrades
Landscape the Front and Backyard
An increasing number of
people are appreciating the benefit of having a garden. Not only is it
something nice to look at from your living room window, but it’s also very enjoyable
to spend time outside. You don’t need to spend a vast amount of money on the landscaping, but it can potentially
bring a return of as much as four times what you pay.
Many of the repairs and
maintenance that need doing only cost a few dollars but have the potential to
increase the value of your home by a few hundred. It’s a buyer’s market when it
comes to selling your house; only those
in the best condition get a second look.