I’ll never forget the day I walked into my house to see my husband standing in a pile of brick and drywall where my kitchen wall used to be. Sledgehammer in hand, he knocked a few more chunks of wall down as I yelled “what are you doing?!” over the bangs of the hammer. “Just a little kitchen remodel” he replied, nonchalantly, “great for resale” he added. And as much as I hate to admit it that my husband is right, there are certain home improvements that add value to your home, even by adding simple quartz countertops to your kitchen can increase the value of your home.
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 2013 showed steady improvement in the remodeling market that is predicted to continue throughout 2014. From minor updates like painting the exterior of the home, to more major undertakings like full kitchen remodels with a High end cabinet design or changing the siding, homeowners are giving their homes a freshening up at an increasing pace.
As a Realtor, I am often asked by clients about the ins and outs of home remodeling. If purchasing an older home, my buyer clients want to know if they do a little work to the property if it will increase the value of the home? My sellers want to know if they update a few things can the fetch a higher price for their house? My answer is the same to both parties–Yes, home remodeling can add value to your home–but in order to reap the benefits you have to do it wisely.
A wise home remodel doesn’t mean just wearing safety glasses while you wield your nail gun (or sledgehammer) in my case. Note, if you are not overly handy, the wisest thing you can do in your home remodel might very well be hiring a professional general contractor. All kidding aside, a wise home improvement looks at current trends in the property market area and takes into account what buyers are looking for in their new homes. It is also important to evaluate what projects will give you the best return historically. For example, replacing your front door or changing the wallpaper of your room. Even if you plan to change wallpaper then make sure you are checking reviews online to make sure you pick a right one for the task. This is actually one of the best ways to not only make your house look good, but yields the highest percentage return on your investment, as well as replacing your roof, roofing energy costs tend to go up with the years, so knowing that you are moving into a house where no roofing replacements are needed is a plus.
By now you’ve probably guessed that landscaping is one of the best ways to increase the value of your home. In fact, landscaping your property can lead to a 200 to 300% ROI increase according to real estate experts. Lesser known, however, is the value that comes from your attention to the hardscape on your property. Installing pavers on your property is one of the best ways to increase your home’s value and enhance its aesthetics. If you’re new to this process, you might want to consider pavers first. There are countless reasons why installing pavers is a great idea for your home, but increasing your home’s value is one of the best. If you’re looking to spruce up your home and increase its worth, consider starting the process with pavers. Let’s learn more about increasing your home value with pavers.
Installation and Durability
If you live in an area that’s more susceptible to earthquakes, you should consider installing pavers. They promise durability while poured concrete cracks and weathers easier. In the event of an earthquake, poured concrete will crack a substantial amount more than pavers will. Pavers utilize an interlocking system that allows the surface of the ground to flex as the earth moves. Essentially concrete is not capable of flexing in the same way that pavers can. If the ground were to move, the concrete would crack with it while the pavers would stay intact. When you’re listing your house for sale in one of these unpredictably shaky areas, home buyers will be attracted to the durability that pavers offer. In the long run, you’ll be able to get a better offer for your property.
Compared to other home modifications, installing pavers shouldn’t give you a headache. In no time, you’ll have a newly paved walkway, driveway, or patio and can use it almost immediately after installation. Meanwhile with a concrete pour it can take much longer. That means that when you install pavers there’s no sitting around waiting for your driveway to cure. Anywhere from days to weeks, concrete has to cure before reaching its full strength. With pavers, however, you’ll be good to go in no time. Pavers utilize an easy interlocking technology that doesn’t require any mortar to set the stones. And just like that, you’ve increased the value of your property.
Since I am a visual learner, I pulled together this infographic to highlight the home improvements that add value to your home, as well as the top features that buyers are looking for in their new house to help my clients in their “fixer-upper” endeavors.
Happy hammering, friends!
