Renovations That Can Maximize Your Home Value
Over the years, I’ve been keeping up on articles about home renovation, and what changes you can make to your home that add value. Many of them are the same regardless of the year, like kitchens and baths. But as the pandemic drags on, a few new things have circulated back, or come back new to the list.
The first one is outdoor space. Outdoor space is always a premium to some extent, but the way in which people are using their outdoor space is changing. With social distancing and bar and restaurant shutdowns, people are looking to get outside and do so safely. They’re also looking for outdoor space compatible with social gatherings, as the CDC recommends larger gatherings of people stay outdoors. Obviously in the Midwest, this is difficult. (It’s 28 degrees here and snowing as I type this), but when warmer weather rolls around again, there’s no guarantee things will go back to the way they were. At least for a while. Pergolas, outdoor barbecues and bars and fancy land/hardscaping and greenery are on the list here. (I know it’s on mine, too!)
Next is kitchens. Yeah, kitchens are always important. But even more so when you’ve been relegated for the better part of a year inside with no eating out. I didn’t hate our kitchen when we moved into our home, but I really started to hate it when I realized how outdated it was, how some of my cabinets didn’t open or close properly, and my silverware drawer was always bottoming out into my pans below, even after 75 fixes. Be careful of getting too trendy, though. Those all-white cabinets are already going out of style in favor of color.
And bathrooms. Can we talk about bathrooms? When everyone is at home 24/7? Gah. If there is ever a time when one needs an updated bathroom with maybe a nice jetted tub, now is the time.
Hardwood floors seem like they are here to stay, too. They’ve been on the list for quite some time. The jury is out as to carpeted bedrooms, but living areas seem to want to remain hardwood, at least for the near future.
And I don’t know about you, but my electric bill has been crazy since COVID started. Between all the electronics running, and the 1000 lights my kids always seem to have on, regardless of what time of day it is, it’s been a huge bill. LED lights are on the list this year, too.
And hey, if you don’t like where you live, now is a great time to sell your house and find something new. Plenty of my clients are finding that the layout of their current home doesn’t work anymore for their “new normal” (gag) lifestyle, and are upgrading, downgrading, or just changing the type of home they live in.
