If you’ve ever thought about making improvements to your home, you’ve probably wondered how much of that cost you’ll get back when you sell. The reality is that a lot of popular home renovations cost a lot of money… without a lot of return on investment. Fortunately, there are quite a few improvements that can help your home sell for more!
Home Improvements That Really Pay Off
The key to an efficient home upgrade—that is, one that adds value to your home but doesn’t cost you a lot up front—is focusing on smaller updates with big aesthetic impact. If you want to get your home ready to sell, here are five home improvements to consider.
Minor bathroom or kitchen remodel
Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes—but major kitchen and bathroom renovations cost significantly more than they’ll recoup, in most cases. Instead, if you feel like either or both of these rooms could use a facelift, focus on smaller, more visual improvements.
In your bathroom, start with painting, caulking, and replacing hardware. For a larger-scale project, consider replacing the flooring, tub, or toilet. In the kitchen, a minor update might include replacing hardware, refacing cabinets, adding solid-surface countertops, and updating flooring.
Garage & front door replacements
Kitchens and bathrooms might sell homes, but first impressions are everything, and your home’s first impression starts at the curb. Keep your existing motorized garage door opener and swap the door for something stylish and new for an upgrade that pays for itself. Updating your old front door for an energy efficient steel door is another affordable and easy update.
While you’re outside, take a walk to the curb and view your home with a critical eye. What other improvements might be needed? Powerwashing, re-siding, and repairing any shutters or railings are all cost-effective updates that typically pay off in the long run.
Finishing basement or attic
Adding square footage to a home usually requires a hefty upfront cost; additions aren’t a high-ROI upgrade. However, an unfinished basement or attic could provide an alternative that, while still costly, yields a much higher return on your investment. Because you’re not required to actually add raw square footage to your home, basement and attic improvements are a great way to add space without a massive cost.
Basement and attic refinishes typically require installing drywall, flooring, and paint, in addition to some type of heating or cooling. In the case of an attic, you may also need to add a staircase. Want to learn more about the process? Check out our step-by-step basement remodel renovation!
Deck or patio addition
Outdoor space is a hugely sought-after amenity, particularly now that more people are spending more and more time at home. Having a comfortable and functional outdoor space is a huge selling point for a home, and if yours doesn’t have one, it’s worth adding!
A deck or patio addition is a fairly simple project, and won’t usually come at too much of an inconvenience to you. Outdoor spaces are easy to spruce up when it comes time to sell, too; add some outdoor furniture, potted plants, and string lights for a fun and festive patio party setting.
Painting (inside and outside)
Painting is one of the easiest and most cost-effective improvements you can make to your home. Most interior painting can be done on your own at a very low cost. When selecting colors, try to stay with light neutrals that are easy to match and can complement a variety of styles or decor. Beiges, greys, and light pastels are all typically good options.
If your exterior paint needs a little work, you are probably better off calling in an expert. Obviously, this will add to your upfront cost, but a fresh coat of paint can give your home a whole new look!
Thinking of Making Some ROI-Friendly Improvements?
Have you been considering making some seller-friendly updates to your home? Not sure which might be best? We can help! At Raleigh WoodWorks, we tackle projects large and small, inside and outside, and we’d love to take yours on, too. Contact us today, and let’s talk about your home improvement plans—and whether they’ll pay off when you sell.
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