Real estate can be lucrative, but only if you make the right investments. Are you wondering about how to maximize the sale of your home? Here are 18 home improvement choices that appeal to buyers and add the most value.
Kitchen Revamp
Did you know kitchen renovations have an ROI of 85%? Well, this is true, according to Bankrate. Adding a kitchen island, renovating paint, upgrading appliances, and replacing countertops are some of the most valuable improvements you can make to your home.
“The kitchen remains one of the most-used rooms in a home. Buyers often look for updated, modern kitchens, so a kitchen renovation may significantly increase your home’s appeal.”
Loft Conversions
Loft home designs have become a modern appeal to many. Instead of having all that empty space over your living area, you add more features, like an extra livable floor, to your home. High-end loft conversions give buyers the impression that they have more rooms to enjoy without defeating aesthetics.
Bathroom Remodeling
With an ROI of 66%, renovating your bathroom can also be your key to unlocking immense real estate value. Give your bathtub a new look, install walk-in showers, improve natural light penetration, invest in large mirrors, and even add luxurious wall-mounted basins to the mix.
Vinyl Windows
Want to make your windows stronger and use this as an extra point to entice buyers? Vinyl window installments are an excellent choice. Not only are they more high-quality and sturdy, but they also come with their own aesthetics and prevent heat from escaping out of your home.
Solar Installments
Improvements in energy efficiency beat kitchen remodeling, as they come with an ROI of 103%. Now, it’s not just about future-proofing against climate change or controlling your own power supply. Solar installments can also make your buyers money in some states in the U.S., according to Paradise Energy.
Exterior Makeovers
First impressions matter a lot in real estate, so much so that investments in your outdoor property can get you over a 100% ROI. Replace your garage door, install unique front doors, beautify the walls with stone veneers, or just install new siding made of vinyl or fiber cement, and see your home value skyrocket.
Basement Improvements
Many people neglect their basements so much that they’re afraid to even go there. For your home and buyers, it doesn’t have to be like this. Give your basement a complete makeover by converting it into a well-lit office space or a gym and customizing its staircase. If you don’t have a basement, you can create one for an extra living space.
Install New Flooring
Flooring can add a sense of luxury and durability to your home. Although luxury vinyl tiles are great, engineered wood is perceived to be of better value. Do you know what’s best? Hardwood. It may be the most expensive, but hardwood offers you the most ROI from flooring installments—an ROI that can be up to 80%, as Realtor shares.
Beautify Your Lawn
In the spirit of making good first impressions, you should also find a way to improve your curb appeal. Embark on a wide landscaping project where you convert the lawn into a garden, plant some trees, install solar-powered lighting, or even mount a fountain if you have the money and space for it. A professional landscaper will be helpful here.
Outdoor Kitchen
If you have some outdoor space on your property that you don’t know what to do with, installing a kitchen can help. Outdoor kitchens are great for BBQ parties and family get-togethers, and your buyers may find this appealing if they want something luxurious and functional.
Making Your Home Smart
AI is taking over, so why don’t you use it to your advantage? Smart homes allow you to control appliances with gestures and voice commands, or even remotely through your phone when you aren’t at home. Buyers appreciate the ease and future-proof experience this brings to them.
Roof Renovations
Metal roofs and asphalt shingles are considered some of the best improvements you can make to your home. Not only do these last longer, but they can increase your home’s value by up to 60%, as Iko shares. They also give your house a shorter time on the market and improve negotiations with buyers.
Updating Color Palettes
Sometimes, the color you paint your kitchens and bedrooms determines how much you make from selling your home. Zillow explains this well. “Dark gray is associated with higher offer prices than white in every room of the home that Zillow studied: the kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom.”
Feature Walls
Instead of giving your indoor walls that bland texture and only beautifying them with paint, convert them into feature walls. Feature walls allow you to introduce a new personality to your home. You give your walls unique architectural features like stone veneers, mounted artwork, and lush wallpapers that buyers wouldn’t find anywhere else.
Installing a Covered Terrace
Just like with outdoor kitchens, covered patios are another way to add a livable area to your home from the outside. They aren’t extravagant renovation projects, but they offer excellent versatility that buyers would absolutely love. Add unique lighting, install air conditioners, or include a bar area while you’re at it.
Improve Plumbing
Buyers don’t want to buy a home with old or low-quality pipes that could cause a flood. You can improve your appeal here by installing new copper, PVC, or PEX pipes. Help buyers save water by installing pressure-reducing valves, water-saving toilets, and hot water recirculation systems.
Add a Recreation Room
If you have a room you aren’t using, that’s space you can convert into an entertainment area. You can make it into a music room, mount plush seating furniture there, set it up for gaming, or even convert it into a full-blown in-house cinema. Of course, how you design this room should depend on your target buyers.
High-End Security
Assuring your buyers that they’ll have peace of mind during their night’s rest is a game-changer. This is especially true if your home is in a particularly delicate neighborhood. By installing systems for intrusion detection, fire protection, and controlled locks, you don’t only deter criminals, but you also reduce insurance costs for buyers, as David Pope explains.