Once you own a home, the work never ends. Whether it’s the kitchen, basement or exterior, there are always ways to improve your house. After all the structural and mechanical problems are addressed, the aesthetic upgrades can begin. This is the fun part, but it can also be the expensive part.
Table of contents
Put Your Money Where Your Mortgage Is
What is the point of improving your home if you can’t do it the right way? Of course you want to make your residence as nice as possible, but sometimes it’s just not feasible to sink a ton of money into every area that needs a touchup. The good news is that there are few tried-and-true tricks that can give your home a facelift without giving your wallet one.
New homeowners spend an average of $34,000 just to get their house looking the way they want. That percentage is just a slice of the total homeowners that plan on doing some renovation to their property each year. The most common approach when starting renovations is to attack multiple rooms at a time. Generally owners attempt to remodel 2.5 rooms when they begin a project. And spending on renovations in common living areas is up over 10 percent.
Are You Ready?
So where do you begin? With so much to improve – and not a vault full of cash to do it with – it’s tough to know where to start. This plan could change based on what your long-term goals are. If you’re planning on selling soon, make sure you target the high-value sections. If you’re in it for the long run, it might be better to begin with spaces that you use frequently. Hitting the relaxation zones first can have a positive impact on your morale when gearing up for tougher renovations, and it will give you a refuge that you’ll look forward to when wanting to get away.
With 75 percent of homeowners having a greater desire to be in their house after remodeling, it’s no wonder that renovations are such a common practice in the United States. But it’s the outside of your home that will give you the biggest boost in value. Roof, garage door and window replacement will bump your property’s worth more than almost anything inside the house. Since these can be expensive changes, here are a few easier ideas to dress up your exterior without mortgaging your future:
Focus on Your Yard
It’s not hard to make the exterior of your home look great when your yard already shines. The front lawn is the entrance to your house – the first thing that neighbors see. Maybe it doesn’t increase your home’s value by as much as some of the bigger ticket items, but it will certainly be recognized faster than a few new shingles or fresh windows. That’s why you should invest in a good lawn care company. They’re well worth the double-takes your neighbors will give when you have the lushest lawn in the neighborhood.
Introduce a Splash of Color
Brightening up a few accent pieces of your exterior can vastly improve the look of your home. Don’t go overboard, but make sure you change enough to make a difference. This can be done with shutters, flower pots or even some signage. Just make sure you introduce a little variety to the overall pantone of the property.
Create a Great Outdoor Space
It can be a fire pit, hammock area or garden… really anything that helps you relax and breaks up the monotony of a yard. A gathering place of any sort is going to be a great addition for hosting. It won’t even require much work: Take the big open space you have and add a few nice stones for a fire ring and a couple of wood seats. With the rustic charm that is taking over today’s home and garden trends, it should be easy enough to find a few old stumps and wooden chairs to circle the pit. Your local antique store and dozens of online outlets will have plenty to choose from.
If you’re willing to spend a few Saturdays working on the yard and a few evenings searching for the right pieces of furniture, your outdoor space can be a source of envy for the entire neighborhood – all without spending a bunch of money or time on the project. Of course it wouldn’t hurt to try all these tips and see where you end up. We’re betting it will be in a good place.