Home improvements are an excellent way to beautify your home. Not only this, but they can really increase its value.
Here are 5 tips for anyone planning a home improvement project.
Update your kitchen. When planning an improvement, keep an eye on the future. Homes with the most up-to-date furnishings tend to sell faster than ones that don't, all other things equal. Dark, out-dated kitchens, in particular, make it hard to sell a home. If you aren't sure which area of your home to focus on, give serious consideration to your kitchen.
Update your bathroom. Aside from kitchens, remodeled and updated kitchens rank high on the list of the most profitable ways you can improve your home. Replacing old, cabinetry and aged sink basins is an excellent way to inject new life into an old bathroom. If you can afford it, replacing vinyl tiling with ceramic or stone is definitely worth it. If you just don't have a lot of money, consider various hardware replacements, such as new drawer and cabinet door handles, new faucets, etc. You don't necessarily need to spend a lot of money to create a significant visual change.
New additions. Adding a new room to your house is an excellent way to increase its value. Dens and family rooms, for example, offer added space in which to read, socialize or watch television. Plus, if you have a small home, the extra livable square footage will help when it comes time to sell.
Longevity of materials. It can be hard to know what type of material makes the most sense. If it always seems to be a tradeoff between price and longevity, that's because it is. Here is a rough guide as to how long you can expect certain materials to last.
- New roof shingles (asphalt): Minimum of 15 years. As much as 30 years.
- Wooden deck: Most will last up to 15 years, possibly more if properly sealed and maintained.
- Ceramic tile: If ceramic is treated properly, there's no reason it can't last up to 100 years or more.
- Vinyl: Vinyl is not the most aesthetically appealing choice, but it can last from 10 to 20 years.
- Wood flooring: Properly care for, wood flooring can last 50 to 100 years.
Longevity of appliances. When replacing appliances, it's always a good idea to bite the bullet and go for quality over economy when possible. Buying a cheap appliance might seem like a good solution at the time, but you can wind of spending as much or more replacing or repairing cheap appliances compared to the cost of having simply bough a quality appliance from the start.
