House Upgrades and Additions that Increase Property Value

Whether you’re planning to sell your home soon or not, it’s never a bad idea to start thinking about increasing its value.

Home upgrades are not only necessary right before you sell, but can also help you better enjoy your space.

Keep reading to learn 6 house upgrades that can increase your property value and help you love your home even more.

1. A Kitchen Upgrade

Families spend an incredible amount of time in the kitchen. Whether you’re cooking a meal, enjoying a midnight snack, or helping the kids with homework at the kitchen table, you can understand why it is sometimes called the heart of the home.

When buyers are checking out a home, the kitchen is one of the first things they look at. They might check out whether it has room for the whole family. Or if there is sufficient counter space for preparing your favorite meal.

They’ll also look at the age and quality of the appliances. After all, having to replace old, worn-out appliances can cost thousands of dollars.

Upgrading your kitchen is one of the biggest returns on your investment you can get in a remodel. Experts report that you’ll see 83 percent or more of a return. 

In theory, if you were to spend $100 on your kitchen, you’d see an $83 return on your investment. Of course, you’ll need to spend more than $100 if you want to make a big impact on your space.

2. Extra Storage

The last thing anyone wants to do when they move into a new home is to immediately fill it up with clutter. But unless you plan to toss out tons of your belongings from your previous house, you’re going to be moving with some baggage.

Showing potential homeowners that your house has plenty of space for storage is a great way to alleviate their worries.

While your home may have a basement or garage, these aren’t always ideal for storage.

A basement can be a great hangout space for the family or even make room for additional bedrooms. Homeowners can’t use it in this way if the basement is full of boxes. The same goes for the garage.

Instead, consider adding a storage shed to the backyard. There are plenty of benefits of having a shed. Not only does it offer easy storage without taking up other parts of the home, but they also make it easier to store outdoor tools like lawnmowers or children’s toys.

If your home is smaller than their previous one or if they are combining their belongings with a new spouse, this storage space will be a welcome relief. They won’t need to worry about finding and paying for a storage locker or cramming their stuff into bedrooms and basements.

3. Add a Bathroom

If your home has just one bathroom, you’ll likely scare away plenty of potential buyers.

Even if a person lives alone, a single bathroom can be a major inconvenience. When guests come to visit, the homeowner and their friends or family will all be stuck using a single toilet.

For couples or families, a single bathroom is a serious problem.

Adding a second bathroom, or even a third if your home is large, can make your home much more attractive to potential buyers. It’s also a big investment.

You’ll need to have pipes run for water and waste, as well as electricity. If you don’t have a large closet that could be converted, you’ll also need to put up walls.

But your bathroom addition will generate a big return on your investment.

4. Increase Your Lighting

This upgrade won’t necessarily translate to a tangible increase in the value of your home. But it can help you score a higher price when it comes time to actually sell.

If your home is dark and dim, buyers won’t be able to really see its features.

Your rooms will look smaller, and maybe even older. Buyers won’t be able to appreciate the size of your master or the brand new tile in your bathroom.

Adding additional lighting to your home while it’s being shown to buyers can go a long way to helping you get your asking price.

5. Energy-Efficient Windows

Today’s buyers are always on the lookout for eco-friendly upgrades. One that’s not only good for the Earth but also useful for homeowners is energy-efficient windows.

Energy Star-rated windows help trap in heat and air conditioning. This means that less is lost to the outside, which in turn lowers your energy costs.

In fact, energy-efficient windows could help homeowners save $500 a year on heating and cooling costs.

Adding windows, especially to a large home, is expensive. But if you have old or drafty windows, this is likely an area that will concern buyers, and that could lower the offers you receive.

6. Outdoor Upgrades

Besides a storage shed, there are several other outdoor upgrades you can make to increase your home’s value.

Adding a deck or patio space extends your home’s living space. This gives homeowners a chance to enjoy the outdoors with ease.

You can even take this one step further with built-in outdoor kitchens or fire pits. These are great for entertaining and may help buyers better imagine themselves entertaining friends in their new backyard.