Home ownership offers many benefits. Not only do you have a place to call your own, a home can be a smart investment. Although the news continues to report the doom and gloom of the housing market, responsible property ownership can still be a solid investment strategy.
A few strategic updates to your home can help protect your investment for many years. For those who plan to remain in their homes for a few years, these updates will make the time in your home more comfortable and enjoyable.
When you’re ready to update your home, it’s wise to be as economical as possible. Plan to make changes that will pay off in the future. This report provides some information to ponder regarding home improvements that will increase the value of your home.
2. Your home is your castle. To keep it looking and
feeling that way, occasional home improvements can
update and beautify it.
They can also add to its value, which becomes most
important if you should want to sell your home.
Here, we'll focus on those improvements that add
the most value for the money you invest.
3. Sprucing Up the Exterior
"We shape our dwellings,
and afterwards our dwellings shape us.”
-Sir Winston Churchill
4. Your Home’s First Impression
• The exterior is important because it’s the first
thing visitors to your home see. As they say, “You
never get a second chance to make a first
impression.”
• The condition of your home on the outside can
show that your home has been loved and well
cared for (or not!).
• Keeping your home’s exterior neat and clean can
be one of the wisest home improvements you can
make.
5. Curb Appeal
Sweep away leaves
and cobwebs
monthly.
Use your hose to
wash down your
house. A pressure
washer can damage
loose paint and make
it look worse.
Clean window frames
and windows at least
twice a year.
Re-paint if necessary.
Beautify the look with
some simple
landscaping.
Remember to
maintain porches,
driveways, and
walkways.
6. Exterior Painting
With exterior paint,
quality matters in terms
of how easily the paint
goes on and how long
the house's surface
retains a fresh
appearance.
Spray your house
down to wash off
dirt a day or two
before you paint
and allow to dry
completely.
Avoid painting
anything outdoors
if it's damp outside.
Paint and water
don’t mix well.
7. Simple Landscaping
• Mow regularly, water deeply once a week in the growing season,
and keep it weed-free.
Attend to your grass.
• Consider planting at least 2 or 3 trees to provide shade and
aesthetic value.
Trees
• A few bushes can spruce up the look as well –
especially flowering bushes.
Bushes
• Add some flowers. Perennials come back every year, so you don’t have to
buy more each year. Pick a color scheme to unify the design. Blooming
flowers draw the attention of buyers and enhance curb appeal.
Flowers
8. Porches, Driveway, and Walkways
Keep the porch swept
and uncluttered. Mop
occasionally. Paint it a
color that complements
the house and decorate
with a seating area and
a few plants.
For driveways and
walkways, a pressure
washer does wonders!
Clean them every 3
months.
Edge your driveways
and walkways whenever
you mow your grass to
keep grass and other
plants from encroaching
and making them look
unkempt.
10. Remodeling The Kitchen
The kitchen is the single most important room in
the house. A clean, modern kitchen increases your
enjoyment of your home and enhances your home
in the minds of prospective buyers.
Experts agree that you should get back 85% of
what you spend in added value to your house when
you update your kitchen.
For the greatest appeal, keep the paint fresh and
clean and arrange your kitchen so it looks as
spacious as possible.
11. Updating Your Kitchen – Details
Cabinets may
just need
cleaning and
polishing
Sink – replace it
if it’s damaged.
Vinegar will
loosen water
deposits and
make it sparkle
Countertops –
replace if
damaged
Install a
backsplash.
Tile adds to the
value
Appliances –
update them
with new styles
Tile floors. Tile,
linoleum, and
vinyl tile are
best.
Linoleum is the
least expensive.
Lighting – think
bright and airy
12. Spread Out The Cost
• Although well worth it, updating your kitchen can
be time consuming and expensive. However, it’s
easy to make this a project that you can complete
one bit at a time.
• For example: one month you might paint the walls,
and another month install a backsplash. One year
you could buy a stove and another year put down
some new flooring.
• Each improvement will bring you more enjoyment
and increase the value of your home.
13. Bathrooms
• Check for mold and replace if necessary. You could even do away with
the cabinet and opt for an airy, modern look with no cabinet at all!
• Modern styles abound, including sinks that are stylish glass bowls.
• A new countertop can transform the bathroom with a totally new look.
• Update to new faucets and showerhead.
• You can resurface porcelain and fiberglass tubs if replacement is too
costly.
• Consider installing tile on the wall around the tub.
14. Interior Lighting Makeover
Shop for deals – save 50% or more on clearance items.
Walk through every room with pencil and paper in hand,
jotting down where you’d like to make changes.
You can also set a mood or bring out a
dramatic focal point with lighting.
Lighting makes a big difference. Most people prefer
as much natural light as possible.
15. Insulation Re-Do
Improving the insulation in your home is an
eco-friendly home improvement. Extra
insulation conserves gas and electricity
and home buyers like that!
Have 2 or 3 experts check
your insulation. Many will
give you a free consultation to
come up with an estimate of
how much you need and what
it will cost.
Get written estimates before
you choose a contractor.
16. Home Improvements Just for You
"You are a king by your own fireside, as much as
any monarch in his throne."
-Miguel de Cervantes
17. Only For Your Own Enjoyment
Some home improvements are for your
own enjoyment. These improvements,
although nice, might not enable you to
recoup your investment by adding
significant value to your home.
Complete remodels where you tear out
rooms and replace everything usually
fall into this category due to their
large expense.
Unless your house is in Florida and
California, most buyers don't want
to spend the money or time for
the constant maintenance of an
in-ground swimming pool.
18. Home renovations enhance the enjoyment of your
home, while also adding to it’s value.
To keep the costs manageable, make home
improvement an ongoing project,
doing a little at a time.
19. We hope you enjoyed your Special Report!
Curtis Roese is an experienced professional with extensive experience in
personal finance and small business matters. Curtis writes and
publishes articles, courses, guides and special reports on his personal
finance blog.
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