If you’re considering selling your home or improving your home’s equity, renovations can be an cost effective way to increase the value of your property. That said, not all renovations are created equal. To help ensure you get the most bang for your buck, we’ve listed renovations with some of the best benefits and highest return ratios you can find.

Manicure Your Front Lawn

There’s always one house on the block whose beautiful landscaping makes it stand out. Fortunately, transforming your yard doesn’t have to be a professional gardening nightmare. A few simple changes to touch up your landscaping can add substantial value to your home.

 

Lining a front walkway with easy-care plants like hosta and boxwood will add visual interest to your entryway, and a memorable materials like flagstone or brick will set your house apart from the run-of-the-mill concrete pathways that belong to surrounding homes.

 Planting vibrant, colorful flowers adds a welcoming feel to your yard. Experiment with bold, bright hues and interesting textures to make a statement, regardless of your space. If you happen to belong to a homeowner’s association, be sure to check your neighborhood’s rules regarding where you can and can’t plant in your yard, as regulations vary from location to location.

Evergreens also add a classic look to your lawn that’s easy to maintain and lasts year-round. Be careful, though, to make sure that the plants you choose will mature to a size that fits your long-term plans. Some evergreen shrubs and plants get quite large, and you don’t want any plants overshadowing all the other hard work you’ve done.

Update Your Plumbing

Plumbing is an important consideration for home appraisers and new home buyers. Fortunately, while replacing old pipes used to be a major undertaking, contemporary methods and materials now make the process relatively simple. PEX (plastic tubing) competes with copper piping as the re-piping material of choice, and it can be run through your walls as easily as an extension cord. This major change from heavy metal piping substantially decreases the cost of upgraded plumbing systems, and the financial benefits when it comes to increasing your home value are significant.

Once the pipes are swapped, don’t forget to also upgrade the plumbing fixtures in your kitchen and bathrooms to quickly improve the aesthetic value of your home. Switching from standard chrome fixtures to brushed nickel, antique copper, or brass fixtures is a relatively inexpensive upgrade. Make sure to coordinate both kitchen and bath upgrades to create a cohesive look throughout your home.

Over 25 percent of water consumed for indoor use is flushed down the toilet. Low-flow showerheads and toilets reduce water usage and allow you to modify the rate of water flow without sacrificing water pressure. These are a wonderful investment: they contribute to your home’s appearance, add to its overall value, and decrease your monthly water payments.

Remodel Your Kitchen

Many people still consider the kitchen to be the heart of the home, so updates to it will pay off in the long run. According to HGTV, the average homeowner can be expected to recoup between 60 and 120 percent of your investment on a kitchen remodel, as long as the kitchen updates aren’t overly trendy or outlandish (classic is always best!).

High end appliances can also surprisingly make it harder to upsell your home. If you have a need for professional-level appliances, then by all means, upgrade as needed. Bear in mind, though, that most home-buyers won’t need these appliances, and often won’t be willing to pay extra for a deluxe kitchen.

That said, replacing old appliances with energy-efficient models is a fantastic idea. Energy Star-rated appliances are better for the environment, and their energy savings translate to money savings for homeowners. Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances combined with a fresh coat of paint can drastically improve the state of your kitchen for a fraction of the price of a full-scale remodel project. Paint is relatively cheap, and a modern color scheme does wonders to invigorate the space.

Improve Your Insulation

Insulation limits the effect of outside temperatures on the internal temperature of your home, and is therefore a major priority when it comes to upgrades. Homes built before 1980 often lack proper insulation, and bringing your home up to current standards will save you anywhere from 10 to 50 percent on your heating and cooling bills.

On each type of insulation, the label will indicate what’s known as the R-value per inch, a measure of resistance to heat transfer. A larger R-value indicates more effective insulation, which is necessary where space is tight, such as within wall cavities. As a rule, the more insulation you add, the more money you will save. However, there is a tipping point that varies depending upon where you live, beyond which you’ll get diminishing returns on the money you save.

To increase the effectiveness of your insulation upgrade, it is good practice to seal air leaks first. Insulate around recessed lights, which often have vents that open into the attic, with airtight baffles. Lights labeled ICAT (“insulation contact and air tight”) are already sealed. Look for this label next to the bulb. If you don’t see the label, assume yours leaks. Tightening up around windows and doors with caulk and new weatherstripping will further reduce drafts and preserve your new insulation.

Have questions about whether or not your renovations have increased the value of your home? Contact us for a consultation with one of our certified industry experts. We’re always within reach, so don’t hesitate—call us at (770) 760-1967 and schedule your inspection today!

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