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17 Jan

Home Renovations with the Best Returns on Investment

General

Posted by: Fred Knowles

Before you jump in to a big home renovation it’s important to do your research – especially if you are trying to maximize your returns on investment. Find out which projects are going to get you the most bang for your buck and which projects are just going to be for your own pleasure. Not that there is anything wrong with doing a home renovation purely for your own enjoyment – especially if you planning on living in the space for a while – but if you are planning on selling it’s important to learn what will add the most value to your home.
This research can be very time consuming. So I’ve done the leg-work for you and I’ve compiled a little cheat sheet to share with you here.

The Cheat Sheet

1. Start With the Basics: Paint! This gives your home a fresh feeling and almost always pays for itself in the added value upon sale. 

Check out this HGTV article for great tips that work for any budget!

2. Next focus on the the things that make your house work. Things like the furnace, the A/C, the roof, the foundation – if any of these are suffering it’s going to be obvious and it’s going to hurt the value.

A great HGTV Article with lots of great tips

3. Kitchen and Bathrooms: It’s pretty simple really – typically the more utility something gets, the better ROI it will have. So rooms like the bathroom and the kitchen that get a lot of use are always going to be the best place to start. Of course these rooms are also the most expensive to update. But if you’re even semi-decent with a screwdriver and a paint brush there are some pretty easy ways to do a full makeover of these rooms yourself. But more on that later!

4. Honorable Mentions: Landscaping and Exteriors, High Efficiency Appliances, and Hardwares.

Summary

1. Paint

2. Home Maintenance (Furnace, A/C, Roof, Foundation Etc.)

3. Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations

4. Landscaping and Exterior (New Siding, Front Door, Windows, Garage Doors)

5. High Efficiency Appliances

6. Hardwares (New Lighting Fixtures, Moldings, Interior Doors Etc.)