If you own a home, it’s likely your biggest and longest-term investment. Whether you’re sprucing up your home to sell or planning a renovation for personal reasons, even relatively minor changes can net you some big gains in home value. So what areas should you focus on to get the most efficient return on your reno dollar? Here’s how to make smart home investments and avoid fixes that can fall flat.
DO: Install an energy-efficient steel door. Selling your home is all about making a good first impression, and first impressions start at the front door.
DON’T: Install a fiberglass front door. The higher cost won’t mean a higher sale price.
DO: Add a spare room. Converting unused basement or attic space into an extra bedroom opens your home to exponentially more buyers.
DON’T: Add an extra bathroom. Plumbing, wiring and tiling make these small spaces extremely expensive add-ons. (However, if your home has only one bathroom, adding a powder room can be a major selling feature.)
DO: Paint. The cheapest and easiest way to refresh a room is with a new coat of paint. If you do it yourself, the only cost will be for paint and brushes.
DON’T: Wallpaper. Anyone who’s had to remove old wallpaper knows what a dreadful task it can be.
DO: Replace cabinet hardware. Changing the handles in the kitchen and bathroom is a cheap and easy way to add some flair.
DON’T: Remodel your home office. Many buyers will look at built-in shelving and desks as something they’ll have to spend money on converting back to a bedroom.
DO: Landscape your property. A mix of hardy perennials and some vibrant low-cost annuals will give your home that all-important curb appeal.
DON’T: Install an in-ground pool. Many buyers will balk at the ongoing maintenance and be fearful of long-term repair and replacement costs.
DO: Make minor repairs. Scour your house from top to bottom for chipped paint, missing or cracked outlet covers to replace and so on. These low-cost DIY tasks will reap untold rewards.
DON’T: Add a sunroom. They’re expensive to install and, when dated, buyers will be leery of the cost of replacing aging windows.
DO: Upgrade your appliances. Energy-efficient ones may qualify for a tax credit or rebate (check out this state-by-state directory of available energy incentives), and you’ll cut back on your utility bills for as long as you’re in the house.
DON’T: Add a backup generator. While the peace of mind may help you weather any storm, buyers typically will not pay a premium for this addition.
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Read more: 9 Garage Upgrades That Could Increase Your Home’s Value
By Allan Britnell
Jason Strong says,
My parents are making plans right now to renovate our home. They have a good idea of what they want, but aren’t sure how to go about making this all happen. I’ll have to show them this and see if it can help them out at all.
James Bay says,
I had no idea that there were energy efficient doors. My wife and I will be remodeling our home next year in preparation for selling. We will have to keep that in mind. Thank you for your help!
Zach Thalman says,
All of the doors we chose for our home that led to the outside were made of steel. We chose that design so it would be more secure. I didn’t really think of it as a first impression type of deal. We just thought that it would be better than having a door that isn’t going to hold up if someone tried to break it down. We are starting to do a bunch of home improvement down in the basement by getting wood doors for all the rooms. They are sturdy and they make everything look and feel more home-like.
Eric Johnson says,
Extremely useful information for everyone. I have just moved to new place, everything is untidy.
Raylin Sutter says,
These are very great tips! My husband and I rent homes and have done a few remodels. It’s sort of a hobby of ours. One thing that we have noticed is how much gets thrown out as the process goes on. We are very environmentally friendly and so we made sure to put recyclable things in one dumpster and everything else in another to go towards trash hauling.
Carter Michaelson says,
I have done a lot of different work with renovation and my wife and I want to make some big changes to our current home. We are thinking about adding on so the use of a crane might be necessary. Consulting with a contractor will probably be my first step so we will definitely incorporate these tips. Thanks for sharing.
Owen Camden says,
It is really interesting that opening up a new room in your house could potentially help you sell it better. Honestly, just about any type of home improvement could help you sell you house more efficiently. Buyers definitely like finding homes that have been recently improved and remodeled.
Steven Harrison says,
This is exactly what I needed. I was curious as to what I should avoid, and what I should do. I want to renovate my home, but I was really out of my element until I read this. It’s relieving, I didn’t want to bother with wallpaper for the very reasons you listed. It appears to be becoming a thing of the past.
Kyle Ross says,
I appreciate your tip to paint. My wife and I didn’t really like the feel of our kitchen. We considered remodeling, but decided to just paint first. It totally changed the feel of the room and we both love it! It definitely can improve things with minimal expense.
Rachelle Reeves says,
Thanks for these tips! I want to renovate my kitchen, and I’ll start with the tiles. I want to replace it with hardwood floors. I’ll also paint it to give it a new look. Where is the best place to get paint?
Deanna R. Jones says,
Thanks for the tips! There are a few renovations that I want to do around the house. The kitchen is my first priority right now. You made a great point about how painting different rooms in my house is a good way to renovate my house. The kitchen could do with a paint job, especially since the paint is peeling in some spots, so that should be the first thing I do.
Nick Mallory says,
Thanks for the post. I agree with the section about not wallpapering; it can look good, but it can also be difficult to install. I once spent days trying to remove wallpaper from a bedroom, so unless you plan on never changing anything it’s not the best option. The rest of the tips are great, too! This gives me some guidance to our summer remodel.
Skylar Mitchell says,
I have been wanting to renovate my kitchen for a while, but I haven’t really been sure what to do. These are some excellent suggestions for renovations. I was thinking about adding a sunroom, but it sounds like that may not be the best option, since they are so expensive to build and keep in good condition. I will look into doing other things like making smaller repairs and then updating the appliances to make my home look nicer. Thanks for the great post!
Fitz says,
Hello, and thank you very much for sharing this information on kitchen remodeling. There are many benefits to using the right methods to remolding a house to get the best results possible. I think renovation is fun, and it’s a good idea to research and see different options and ideas to remodeling your own kitchen.
Rhys Rawson says,
Thanks for the tip about installing an energy-efficient steel door. I never would have thought replacing my door could make a difference, but it’s so true that the door creates the first impression! Do you have any other advice for me?