Considering your home, and considering that you may want to make improvements in your home, what will be the best smartest returns on your investment and what will not?

Here is a list of the top 10 home improvements that bring the most value to your home.

• New Kitchen
• Bathroom upgrades
• Double or triple-glazing windows
• Landscape garden and patio make-over
• Extra bedrooms
• Home extension
• Loft Conversion
• Solar Panels
• Upgrade central heating and improve energy efficiency
• Paint and Decorate

The Kitchen

You’ve probably heard the saying that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses, and it’s true. An up-to-date modern kitchen is one of the best ways to add value to your home. After all, it‘s the hub of your home!

Updating a kitchen can be as simple as giving your cabinets a fresh coat of paint. Or, it can be much more complex and involve an entirely new kitchen and layout.

If you plan on buying a new kitchen, ensure the amount you spend on it is proportional to the value of your home. For example, a $800,000 home requires a higher spec kitchen than a property worth $250,000 (and vice-versa). Otherwise, you may forfeit adding any substantial value.

The Bathroom

Years ago, bathrooms were rooms that only needed to be utilitarian. However, nowadays, people are looking for their bathrooms to be a luxury place to relax and unwind in an almost spa-like home experience. Modernising a bathroom to reflect this is a great way to add value.

A completely new bathroom suite isn’t always necessary, and you’d be surprised how different a shower can look with new hardware and tiles. However, ripping a whole suite out and starting afresh may also be beneficial, particularly if you want to change the room’s layout.

In addition to kitchens and bathrooms, there are other considerations for maximum value added. There are few floors that last a lifetime. Even if your floor hasn’t worn out, it may look outdated. Window and door replacements will bring a good return on investment.

First impressions matter. If your house is lacking in this department, think about modernizing and giving it some oomph. You can achieve this by painting, landscaping, adding siding, etc.

Turning an ugly house into an attractive one is a home improvement that gets buyers through the door while also adding value.

Things that don’t

If you’re planning to sell your house, you might be tempted to go overboard with upgrades to fetch the highest price at the closing table. While some projects—such as replacing your garage door or doing a minor kitchen remodel—do add value to your home at resale, others almost never do. Here are seven upgrades that seem as though they would add value to your home—but really don’t.

• While you and your family will certainly enjoy a pool, prospective home buyers might see it as a safety hazard and a maintenance hassle.
• Overbuilding for the neighborhood can be a mistake. Buyers generally don’t want to buy a $500,000 house in a neighborhood where the average sales price is much lower.
• Invisible improvements, like a new HVAC system, usually don’t increase a home’s value.
• Losing a bedroom to use for expanded bathroom, for example, can hurt your home’s value. Bedrooms count – even if they are small.

• Luxury landscaping by way of paying a premium for mature trees, for example, will look nice but won’t add much value.
• The days when carpets in bathrooms and kitchens were desirable are long gone. Likewise, patterned carpets and linoleum tiles are no longer wanted.
• While expensive flooring can yield a good return, things like paint and wallpaper won’t. Once the paint is on the walls, nobody will ever know it’s from a luxury tin. Likewise, a feature wall worth $200 in wallpaper won’t pay you back.

Contact us

If you’re considering a home improvement project, it’s smart to ask yourself if the upgrade is something you will truly enjoy or if you’re just trying to increase your home’s value. If a pool will give you years of pleasure, you may be able to justify the cost, even if you don’t recoup your money. On the other hand, if you plan to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a remodel just to boost your home’s sale price, you’d better make certain that you don’t choose the wrong upgrade.

When in doubt, compare relevant features in comparable homes in your neighborhood, research real estate trends, and consult qualified experts, including home designers, real estate agents, and contractors. Tucker Benner Realty is happy to help. Call or text today 231-730-8781.

Marilyn Tucker

Tucker Benner Realty, LLC Michigan’s destination for Our Michigan Home

#ourmichiganhome