BACKYARD BLOG

5 Ways To Increase Your Home Value In 2014

Dec.16.2013

Home value improvements can be small or large, easy or complicated, but the goal is always the same. We want to increase our overall curb appeal while increasing our home value and resale value – and we want to put our dollars to good use. Homeowners should always be looking for the most cost effective way to increase home value. So what projects are the most popular and give us the best bang for our buck? Let’s take a look at some affordable and smart improvements that will skyrocket those property values exponentially.

Plant trees and add low maintenance landscaping: Trees not only provide shade and cut down on energy costs, but they can make your home more desirable by providing a more mature and lush landscape. We can never underestimate the value of curb appeal! Remember: low maintenance landscaping is the most favored, since it requires less water and manpower and draws more interest. Add color by planting vibrant, manicured outdoor flower beds.

Make your home feel larger by visually increasing square footage: Size affects value. Making your home “feel” larger can create the feeling of more space without the expense. Replace heavy drapery with shutters or blinds that allow in the light and opens up the space. Remove clutter and make the room look less cramped, which creates create the illusion that the room is larger than it is.

Bring the outdoors in: Full view glass doors can really brighten up a home. Replace standard windows with an opening for sliding or French doors. With a view of the outdoors, a room really looks larger, not to mention more breathtaking. Build a deck off the kitchen and be sure all can see the beautiful deck view by adding doors with a view to this area. By adding a deck you also are extending the square footage of the kitchen, in a sense. A pergola is also a nice touch that can add outdoor seating and dining. This is money well spent and can be enjoyed by the family at all times of year here in Arizona.

Update and spruce up your home’s entrance: Your home’s entrance plays heavily on the house’s overall curb appeal. Quality doors can compliment your home’s overall design. Window awnings are an attractive and inexpensive way to make your home look welcoming and well kept. Awnings also add to energy efficiency by keeping direct sun from heating up your home. Consider making this investment and observe all the compliments your home will receive.

Kitchen and bath remodels are king: These areas bring a big return, netting on average an 80-85 percent return. You don’t have to do a floor-to-ceiling makeover to see results like this either. Modest changes such as replacing worn sinks and appliances or maybe an updated vanity in that bathroom can bring great rewards. Flooring changes don’t have to be expensive but can create a great first impression. Hands down, most experts believe that if you are only able to update one room in your home, it should be the kitchen. Large, open kitchens will be popular for the year 2014. Our kitchens have always been the “hub” of the home and are is still the “king” when it comes to making decisions about where to put our dollars to do the best work.

Go solar and save that energy: More and more, homeowners are becoming more energy conscious and concerned about being ecological. Solar water heaters and solar energy systems are gaining in popularity. These systems can get pricey, but they can slash your energy bills in the home by as much as 80 percent. These systems are always money well spent and can be not only a great home improvement but a property value builder!

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