Sign Up to Our Newsletter

HOME

Improvements that can add value to your home

Home improvements can help enhance your lifestyle and make staying at home more enjoyable. In choosing home remodeling projects, however, it’s best to pick those that can help increase the value of your property as well, especially if you’re planning to sell it in the future.

We have highlighted three home improvements that will give you good returns on your investment while adding to your comfort and convenience.

  1. Bathroom Upgrades
    Buyers looking at Smith Mountain Lake properties for sale will often inspect the bathroom more closely than any other room. This means a bathroom upgrade can make your home more attractive and add value to it.

    In cold climes, a bathroom with a heated floor will really grab peoples’ attention. According to Zillow, the cost of heating your bathroom floor will be around $5 to $10 per square foot. This does not cover the cost of the flooring above the heating. If you do make this investment, you can expect to see an increase of around 24% on the value of your property.

    Everybody loves a shower after a long, hot day. And for something that is truly invigorating, there is nothing quite like a steam shower. The total cost of having a steam shower installed is anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000. The cost will depend largely on whether you are installing a steam shower from scratch, or having an existing shower upgraded. The higher end may seem like a large outlay, but homes with steam showers may sell for around 29% higher than those without.

  2. Kitchen Remodeling
    The heart of the home is the kitchen, and upgrading it can pay off in the long run. Replacing old kitchen appliances with new, energy-efficient models is one way to add value to your property.

    For something a little more special, consider having a pizza oven installed. Zillow reports that this can cost you around $500 to $1,000 if you do it yourself, and between $1,500 to $4,000 if you have a professional do it for you. This relatively low-cost investment can increase your property’s value by around 26%.

    If you fancy yourself as a Gordon Ramsey in the kitchen, then you are also likely to want some fine wines to go with your creations. What better place to keep them than in a wine fridge? Many wine fridges can be concealed in cabinets, so they blend in seamlessly with your interior. Having one installed can cost anywhere from $200 to $2,000. The higher-end models will offer more functionality such as the ability to have different temperature zones for different wines. Depending on which you go for, a wine fridge can add on average around 22% to your property’s value.

  3. Solar Panels
    Solar panels are a clean energy option that helps you do your part in protecting the environment. That’s not the only attraction, though. They also allow you to go off-grid and thus get substantial savings on your utilities bill. After tax credits, you can expect to pay around $11,000 and $15,000 for a 6 KW system. On average, homes with solar panels sell for around 21% more than those without, while those at the lower end of the market can sell for around 40% more than they otherwise would.

Thinking of selling your home and looking for ways to improve its value? As a Smith Mountain Lake real estate expert, I can help. Call me today at 540.493.1690 or send an email to Jane(at)JaneAtTheLake(dotted)com.