Home Improvements That Can Help Sell a Home

With several cable channels devoted to home improvement, the industry has seen a boom in recent years. Many people are choosing to do renovations on their own rather than pay someone else to do them. If a project is being done with hopes of one day selling the home, some remodeling projects provide better payoffs than others.

Home improvements that pay off

Before deciding on which remodels should be done to decide what the goal of the project will be. If it is simply to make the home more enjoyable for the owners then the decisions are up to them. If there is the hope of selling the home soon, one or more of the following projects might be more appealing to potential buyers.

*Kitchen – This area typically suffers the most wear and tear but is also frequently known as the heart of the house because it’s where the family gathers and where entertaining is often done. Adding functionality with dual sinks and more counter space is a good start. Improving the look of cabinets and countertops will go a long way. Other changes like painting the ceiling and walls, and replacing the flooring, also add value.

*Bathroom – Of any household room, the bathroom has probably changed the most over the years. It is ideal in today’s market to have more than one. If there is only one currently, add a half bath from a small, unused closet. Other popular additions include glass block windows, couples walk-in showers and skylights. Installing an environmentally-friendly addition like a low-flow toilet can change the look and save money on utility bills. Ceramic tile flooring is preferred over others because it handles water better. If money is tight, even changing the water fixtures can add a dramatic change.

*Decks – Perhaps the easiest and least expensive way to add square footage to a house is to build a deck.

*Adding space – If the house is broken up into many small rooms, consider opening things up by safely taking out a wall or two and creating larger living spaces. This can be more costly than some of the other projects but about 80 percent of the costs can be recouped at the sale.

*Windows – Another environmentally-friendly project, installing energy-efficient windows lower heating bills in the winter and cooling costs in the summer. Avoid fancy models that can be more expensive but may or may not be appealing to new home buyers.

Selecting the projects to remodel a home is a matter of personal taste but if the owner is looking to gain back the cost during the sale of the house some projects are timeless. Renovations that add space and functionality never go out of style and are more likely to catch the eye of any potential buyer.

Guest author Katherine Watkins writes for a site that has information on HELOC loans and features an equity loan calculator that shows homeowners how much they could borrow to pay for home improvements.