5 Top Projects to Do During a Home Remodel

Ready to make a home more comfortable or turn it into a desirable home for buyers? Cleaning up and remodeling a home can add value and interest instantly, even in slow real estate markets. Homeowners that want to love their residence even more than they already do, can turn nearly any house into a dream home with a little effort. Experts, however, understand that the value and enjoyment of a home can depend on what projects people choose. Here are the choices listed by professionals for the first five projects to do during a remodel.

Replace Garage Door

An old garage door can create security concerns, become a problem to operate, and lower the curb appeal of the home. Replacing a garage door may not be first on the list for every home remodeler, but any door with operational issues or covered with dents, dings, and rust needs to go. The value of the effort becomes obvious immediately with its appearance and how it favorably accents the home, as well as how easy it becomes to operate.

Freshen the Kitchen

A complete remodel of the kitchen is the top priority for many homeowners. Most of these people will never see a return on their major investment. Too often, people remodel a room that already has working appliances, solid cabinets, and adequate lighting. Investment in a total redo is a waste of money. To get the most out of an investment, homeowners should target a few key areas and replace those. Some options include new cabinet hardware, a fresh coat of paint, and the replacement of light fixtures. Many people will discover they love their kitchen once the most obvious problems disappear.

Replace the Stairs

Staircases greatly impact the visual appeal of the interior of a home. Sometimes a coat of paint or a carpeted runner is enough, but creaky, split, chipped, or otherwise damaged treads need replacement. Replacement of the treads only is affordable in comparison to value it adds to the home. Awkwardly positioned staircases that require a complete replacement and new alignment will add much more expense to the overall budget. Despite the cost, it is still usually worth the effort if it helps to improve the layout of the home.

Add Outdoor Space

Decks, patios, and other outdoor living areas allow people to increase their living and entertaining areas affordably. The benefit for potential home sellers is how desirable the spaces are to home buyers. The time and money spent to maximize the usefulness and beauty of the area outside the home are often returned in full in added value to the home. Homeowners that have no plan to sell also benefit from the added value if they choose to refinance or obtain a home equity loan.

Increase Home Efficiency

The replacement of old windows reduces energy loss, but there is much more to do to make a home as efficient as possible. Important considerations include updating HVAC systems, sealing gaps, installing more insulation, and replacing exterior doors. The addition of appliances with high energy star ratings or modern items like a solar water heater or geothermal heat pump can add to the value, comfort, and efficiency of the home. The project pays for itself in a few years through the added value to the home and the savings on utility bills.

Homeowners often want to add luxury items to their homes like a pool or a gourmet kitchen. Projects like these may look wonderful, but they are usually not the ones that draw buyers or add value. Pools can even make it difficult to find affordable homeowner’s insurance and add a lot of maintenance cost and time. Homeowners who want to spend their money wisely and those who have a modest remodel budget will get more satisfaction from the projects listed above.