Using extensive surveys of HomeLight agents, data from experts from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the practical experience of first-tier agents, such as Gina Baum, from Northern Maryland, we've put together this list of 25 home improvement recommendations so you can make better decisions about where to invest your money. Statistics show that the replacement of an existing entrance door with a steel one has recovered between 65 and 91% in the case of resale in the last four years. Buyers appreciate the metal's energy efficiency, low maintenance, and cold-blocking ability. You don't have to repaint your entire house to make it look new again, especially if you're on a tight budget.
Touch up chipped or chipped paint, or paint the front door and trim. Shoppers who participated in the NAHB survey prefer white (24%) or brown (17%) for the front door, but designers often recommend a striking color, such as light blue, forest green or buttery yellow, in contrast to a neutral exterior. When it comes to the features that buyers like to see in an outdoor space, 17% of the top real estate agents surveyed by HomeLight mentioned a fire pit as one of their top priorities. This provides a welcoming environment for friends and family to get together, even when the nights are out.
they are colder. If your home is 10 to 15 years old, some expensive items that buyers may have to repair or replace in the coming years may cause them to look elsewhere. Make some repairs now to help you get the most cost-effective price. Toilet technology has improved since 1994, when federal law restricted toilet tanks to 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF).
One of the most affordable and effective ways to add value to your home is to simply clean it and sort it out. A clean home looks good and allows prospective buyers to see themselves living in their space. At these prices, it only makes sense to optimize your home renovations so that they increase the value of your property as much as possible. The Federal Reserve has also increased interest rates, making it more expensive to borrow money to finance home renovations.
Adding an additional parking area can increase the value of your home, especially if it's covered. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends eliminating sources of pollution, such as gas stoves, increasing ventilation by adding windows, using heating and cooling systems that bring air into the house from outside, and investing in air filters. However, since solar panels represent a large financial and structural commitment, they only make sense if you expect to increase value in the long term, not if you are looking for a quick boost. While there's a lot you have to pay up front, you can more than recoup the cost by increasing the value of your home and saving on utilities.
If your home doesn't have a cooling system, adding one could increase property value up to by 10%. Improving your home has the obvious initial benefit of making it more comfortable and enjoyable to live in, but it can also be good for your finances by increasing the value of your home. Not surprisingly, studies have found that home values increase as pollution levels decrease in an area. Making your home more energy efficient, adding square footage, upgrading the kitchen or bathroom, and installing smart home technology can help increase its value.
Remember, when thinking about how to increase the value of a property, it's almost always good to improve the experience of living in the home, both for you while you have it and for potential buyers when you're ready to sell it. Kitchen improvements tend to offer the best performance of any type of home renovation, increasing the value of the home by 32% to 86% of the amount spent on remodeling. Now let's discuss the improvements you can make to your home's structure to increase its value. Adding insulation to key areas of your home also increases your home's energy efficiency and saves money on cooling and heating bills.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about home improvements that increase home value.