How to add Value to your home with 3 easy budget friendly projects.

As homeowners we are all trying to add value and make our property more appealing whether we are thinking of selling anytime soon or not. We all have a laundry list of projects we are looking to do on our homes but how do we know which ones will add the most value? How do we know which ones we should prioritize? Here are some projects that you should consider if you are looking to add value, without having to do a huge renovation and without needing a large budget.

The first step in this process is deciding what your intent is with your home. Are you looking to stay in this property for a long time, 15…20 plus years? Or do you see yourself moving in 3 to 5 years? Is this an investment property for you? Is this your forever home? First answer this question before making any plans for your projects. For instance if you are only going to be in the home for only a couple of years it probably doesn’t make sense to do very high end luxury specific upgrades. You may want to consider something more budget friendly and neutral in taste that will appeal to buyers.

Ok so now that you know your intent let’s talk about a project that will instantly add value and isn’t going to break the bank. Most people will tell you to remodel your bathroom or kitchen as those places do bring the most value when selling your home. And yes that would be great but if you don’t have that luxury of doing a full remodel or it would be highly inconvenient to be without those areas of your home, that’s not going to work for you.

So my first recommendation would be flooring. People love hardwood floors. If you do have hardwood floors in your home consider having them refinished if they are no longer in the best shape. You can do this project yourself, however it is very tricky and doesn’t cost that much extra to hire a professional.

I can tell you from experience it is entirely worth it to have someone else take care of it for you. If you’ve every seen the show “Dexter” you would need that level of plastic everywhere in your home to protect your furniture, walls, belongings etc.. as the dust goes everywhere. I do have someone that I work with that is excellent though and when they were finished there was ZERO dust in my home. It was great.

So this project does require your to be out of your home for a day or two, HOWEVER it is a cost efficient way to build equity in your home.

Another flooring option that is even easier and less expensive than refinishing your hardwoods is vinyl flooring.  You can get click and lock flooring that is super easy to install yourself and best of all you do not need to leave your home. This can be a great option if you know you are hard on your floors because maybe you have pets or kids in the home. When installing it you can lay it right over an existing floor and you are good to go. I do suggest making it as uniform as you can throughout your home; try and have all the big spaces in the same flooring to create a nice flow.

Ok #2 Storage!

This is one of the key words I hear over and over again when I am showing properties to clients or hosting an open house. Everyone has a lot of stuff these days and we need somewhere to conveniently and neatly store these items. This is a project you may not think about but it will not only make your home more appealing to buyers if you are looking to sell, but even if your are planning to stay in your home for awhile it will just make your life easier and more organized. And who doesn’t want that?

So let’s first take a look at the type of storage you have. Do you currently have a pantry? Do you have a walk -in closet? A linen closet? A convenient place to store holiday decorations? Now that I mention these types of extra storage do you see any of these making your life easier if you had them? In your home is there any area that you aren’t using that could be turned into storage?

As an example when we bought our house, in the kitchen we had a large cabinet, about 6 feet tall that was used to store an ironing board. It folded out and you could iron right there in the kitchen. This was something that my husband and I just didn’t find useful and so we decided to re-purpose this space. We turned it into a spice rack/pantry space and it is so much more convenient and useful than it was before.

Another area you may not think of but could easily double your storage is if you have a knee wall in an upstairs bedroom. You can take a dresser and recess that dresser into the wall for instant easy and organized storage without sacrificing any square footage.

Or you can add a door and then store bins like holiday decorations behind that knee wall.

With maximizing your storage no space in your home will be wasted and you will not only increase your value but instantly your living space will become decluttered and more organized all of which add value to your home.

#3 Good Ol’ Fixtures.

Ok first off what is a fixture? So in real estate a fixture is anything attached to the property that is nailed, screwed in, or permanently attached. Think …..Chandeliers, ceiling fans, curtain rods, hardware on kitchen cabinets, doorknob handles etc…Updating these items in your home can make a huge impact. They are also a chance to show the style and feel of the home. Is it modern? bohemian? Farmhouse? These are great ways to elevate the overall aesthetic of the property all while adding instant value.