Renovations That Instantly Increase Your Home’s Value

Your home is a sanctuary in a sometimes chaotic world, but over and above that, it’s an investment—perhaps the biggest one you’ll ever make. If you purchased well and spent your time living there wisely, it should be worth more when you sell it than it was when you bought it.

Some of these are major projects, others not so much, but all of them will make your home a happier place to be while you’re still living in it.

Garage Door Replacement

Replacing a garage door is big for curb appeal, and it’s also big for recouping the cost of the project.

New Front Door

A new entry door can add value, partly because it adds curb appeal and partly because it makes the home more energy efficient. The ROI is almost as high as replacing your garage door.

If you go this route, consider installing a iron entry door. Although expensive, it will add to your home’s resale value and make a statement before potential homebuyers even enter into your home.

Install a Kitchen Backsplash

The kitchen is full of big-ticket items, but the backsplash doesn’t have to be one. In fact, you can comfortably install a backsplash in just one weekend. Get rid of that 6’ matching backsplash and place custom tile.

Upgrade Kitchen Lighting and Cabinet Pulls

Kitchens are the new multi-purpose room. Not only do they need to accommodate the cook, they also serve as a workstation for kids and adults, a gathering space for family meals and dinner parties—and the list goes on.

While kitchen lighting plays a big role in setting the mood for these tasks, it’s easy to create a custom solution to suit your family’s needs and the restraints of existing wiring. If your kitchen is under-lit, adding additional can lights to the ceiling is a low-cost task for a handyman. You can also consider under cabinet LED string lights to add close-up light as a cheap and easy-to-install upgrade.

Updating cabinet pulls is the easiest way to bring your kitchen up to date, for a cost of under $150. This is a simple upgrade that you can do with only a screwdriver, yet it punches well above its weight when it comes to transforming the look and feel of your cabinets.

Repainting Adds Value and Appeal

A fresh coat of paint instantly updates and transforms the entire interior of your home. wWhen you consider the average cost of a gallon of one-coat coverage paint is about $38, this is the biggest bang for your buck you can get.

Remember to stick with neutral colors. It’s great to have a style, but keep in mind what most buyers will want to see. Having bright or loud colors often deters buyers—they don’t want to do the work.

Window Replacement

Addressing your windows isn’t just window dressing. Potential buyers will notice them, and so will appraisers. Since the windows themselves are expensive, and they require professional installation, which is also expensive, many homeowners put off this purchase until absolutely necessary. However, consider only replacing a few windows at a time, especially those that are in the worst shape or those that take the brunt of the sun (those that face south or west).

If replacing all or even some of your windows is not in your budget, it’s important to at least make sure that they open and close properly, as well as lock. Cleaning your windows, especially the window sill and track, is an inexpensive way to improve the look of your windows when they are otherwise old.

Roof Replacement/Repair

The roof is one of the most important and expensive to replace parts of a home, so fixing roof problems and replacing it when needed is an important project that home buyers will notice. It also turns out to be a pretty good investment.

To possibly head off the need to replace your roof, have the roof professionally inspected. Often minor repairs can be done to the roof such as fixing mud balls, replacing flashing, or replacing cracked tiles, that will prevent you from having to replace it completely, saving you thousands.