Rebecca Theriot

How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home A Guide to Low-Maintenance High-Value Home Renovations Table of Contents Introduction Transition Spaces 3 4 7 9 11 How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home 2 Kitchens Bathrooms Curb Appeal 2 Introduction While the primary function of a home is to provide an enjoyable sanctuary for those who live there, it is expected to be a wise real estate investment, as well. Frequently, however, a house will not have reached its fullest potential for either of those purposes at the time of purchase. Homeowners will then have decisions to make about where their dollars can make the most difference. The information in this publication can help you decide which home improvements projects offer the greatest ROI (Return on Investment). How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home 3 Kitchens Architect Steve Straughan, a partner in Los Angeles-based KAA Design Group, says that the two places in a home where you can easily tell whether or not money has been well spent are kitchens and bathrooms. They also happen to be the best areas for residential investment. As Straughan points out: “They're the most expensive areas of the home in terms of construction. And they're where people spend time in their homes.” A kitchen renovation doesn’t have to be daunting. While many homeowners would love to have more space, or even just more storage, neither objective requires a full kitchen remodel. How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home 4 Alternatives to a Full Kitchen Remodel Streamline Design – A different layout could create a more open space, giving the room a bigger feel, and eliminating the necessity for tearing down walls or building out. Swap Out Older Fixtures – Add new appliances, countertops, lighting, or create a wall of windows. Maximize Storage and Space – A multitude of space saving cabinet features are available today: trash can drawers, pull out shelves for pots and pans, and much more. Improve Flow and Entertainment Features – When the space doesn’t lend itself to major transformation, one can still add elements that enhance the space and flow, like counter height frameless windows. Both operational windows and seamless pass thrus, maximize counter space and are entertainment friendly. Cover Glass USA Not only do most kitchen improvements net a significant return, but homeowners are almost unanimous in their satisfaction with the results. How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home 5 Here are some estimated numbers, according to Remodeling Magazine, that you may find useful when making decisions about a kitchen renovation. Full Kitchen Upgrade $30,000 is the national median cost of a kitchen upgrade. 67% return can be expected upon resale 95% of homeowners were happy or satisfied with the result 82% developed a greater desire to be at home due to their upgraded kitchens. Minor Kitchen Remodel $15,273 is the average cost of less than full scale renovations ROI has exceeded 100% in diverse locations across the country, such as New Orleans and Providence, RI. In San Diego, for example, a kitchen update which cost just under $18,000 was estimated to return $27,000 from the property’s resale. How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home 6 Bathrooms As with kitchens, bathroom renovations are one of the best residential investments you can make. In fact, if you are debating whether to add an extra bedroom or an extra bathroom, you may be interested to know that adding a bathroom can increase the sale price of a home by more than twice as much as adding a bedroom. In prime real estate markets such as San Diego, Atlanta and Washington DC, bathroom remodels frequently provide triple digit returns. So homeowners in those areas not only recoup their investment, but actually make a nice profit, making bathrooms one of the top choices for home improvements ROI. How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home 7 Top Bathroom Remodels Flooring – Less square footage means lower costs, but they can be further reduced when used as high impact accents. For instance, an intricate marble tile design with under floor heating can be installed just in the space directly in front of the tub or shower. Vanities – Replacing only the counter tops and faucet fixtures may be all that’s needed to take a bathroom from “pretty” to “magnificent”. Tub/Shower – Replacing a regular tub with a spa bath or, for the many homeowners too busy to soak, installing walk-in or floor-toceiling steam showers. Lighting is one of the most practical, and least expensive, ways to add pizzazz to your bathroom. How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home 8 Curb Appeal While homeowners will naturally enjoy coming home to a lovely property, curb appeal is absolutely crucial when it comes time to sell. Dick Gaylord, a real estate agent with 27 years of experience, says: "If people drive by your home and are not impressed they're not going to walk inside." But even if selling is not on your agenda, giving your house exterior some love makes a difference. Other than value, it adds a welcoming factor to the neighborhood (and can wow your guests). How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home 9 Ways to Boost Real Estate Curb Appeal Landscaping is one of the least expensive ways to transform the curb appeal of your home from humdrum, or worse, to extraordinary. Adding drought-resistant landscaping can mean lower maintenance costs, as well. Siding provides the added benefit of being low maintenance. According to the “2015 Remodeling Impact Report” the national median cost of a vinyl siding replacement job is $12,000, and usually returns a whopping 83% on resale. Fiber-cement siding costs a bit more, with a median cost of $19,100, but still returns 79%. Amazingly, a full 100% of homeowners said that they were happy or satisfied with the way their fiber-cement siding replacement turned out. Adding a Walk-Way is a practical addition, as well as an aesthetic one. Options include natural stone, cement, wood planks, etc. Doors – Both your front door and garage door have significant impact on curb appeal. Choosing the right materials that are both energy efficient and design-oriented is the goal. Windows – Adding just one special window design or glass doors can give a house a whole new look. How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home 10 Transition Spaces A 2014 Home Trends Survey from the American Institute of Architects reveals that more and more homeowners are adding outdoor living spaces to their houses. But rather than just limiting these to the usual decks and patios, there is now a trend toward bringing the outdoors in. For instance, building a large atrium or adding frameless sliding glass doors into the walls between a family room or master bedroom and the outdoor patio is a cost effective way to expand living spaces. Both size and functionality are expanded, rather than being limited to just a TV/entertainment space. How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home 11 Conclusion Re-thinking living areas, functionality and curb appeal contribute to turning a home into a smart real estate investment. One single change to a room, by adding frameless sliding glass doors for instance, can impact the value and the look of your home dramatically. It can open the floor plan so it is more practical; it brings in more light and natural ventilation for added comfort; it seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor, considerably expanding the living and entertaining space; it gives your view its “milliondollar” name and improves the layout both horizontally and vertically. How to Increase the Look and Value of Your Home 12 Welcome the Outside In 13