Tips to sell your home Archives - Bruzzese Home Improvements

How To Maintain Your Home Over the Winter Before Selling

January 17, 2020January 17, 2020Bruzzese Home Improvementshome improvement, Tips to sell your homehome improvement, home remodeling, home sellersLeave a comment

If you’re planning on a spring or summer home sale, winter is a great time to tackle some of those projects you’ve been putting off. When bad weather forces you indoors, you can make the most of your time taking care of property maintenance sure to impress prospective buyers. Here are a few winter home improvement ideas to bide the time until you list.

Take a look outside

Perhaps you live in a mild area, or maybe your location is lucky enough to have some clear weather days in the winter. Take advantage of breaks in the weather to get a jump on spring yard cleanup. Clear out overgrown flower beds and any debris left over from fall, as well as taking care of any pruning you may have missed (or put off). If your home is in a wooded area, take note of any dead or dying trees and limbs, and put a call out to a local tree service professional. When it comes time to list, you’ll be happy you took care of the major yard work, allowing you to focus on the smaller details when your home finally hits the market.

Take on the heat

If you turned your thermostat over to heat without calling in an HVAC professional, take the time now to make an appointment for a check-up. There’s nothing worse than having a furnace die in the middle of winter, especially when any problems could have been addressed with a little pre-season maintenance. While you’re at it, change out your filters from the summer air conditioning use and keep a close eye on your furnace filters as well. It’s better to discover an issue now rather than upon a prospective buyer’s inspection.

Energy-efficient remodeling

While winter may not be the most opportune time to replace old windows, tackling a basement renovation may be just the project your home needs for a facelift. Taking a basement area from dank and dark to finished creates more livable square footage and is incredibly appealing to prospective buyers. Winter is a great time to tackle large indoor projects — make your basement area one of them.

Get a new coat of paint

So, maybe you’re not looking to invest a great deal of money on major renovations you won’t get to enjoy. Instead, give your home a facelift with a fresh coat of paint. Paint manufacturers run some of their best deals over the winter months, and painting professionals are usually less booked. Choosing to paint your home interior over the winter can translate into great cost savings and give you more bang for your buck when it comes time to sell.

Upgrade the hardware

While it is possible to sell a home with an old kitchen, and truthfully, you won’t really see a return on your investment if you remodel, there are affordable ways to give it a facelift. When a full kitchen remodel is not in the works, you can affordably update an outdated kitchen by refreshing the look of your cabinets. A little paint and some new hardware can go a long way.

Instead of completely renovating, consider updating or adding a backsplash or some tile work or changing out the sink or faucet. These minor changes can make a major impact — without completely killing your budget — when buyers are walking through your home.

No matter how small the project, taking advantage of the winter months to tackle home improvement and maintenance can get you better prepared to sell in the spring and summer. Not only will you have seen to areas in need of repair or a little TLC, but you’ll be free to focus on any unexpected challenges that may pop up throughout the selling and moving process.

Flip it Right: How to Fix up a Residence for a Quick Resell

August 20, 2019August 6, 2023Bruzzese Home ImprovementsHome Improvement Tips, Tips to sell your homehome improvement, home sellers, real estateLeave a comment

You finally decided to sell your home and want to do it quickly. The problem is, your house needs a little TLC before you can put it on the market. Should you try to sell it as is, or you should you find a way to fix it on the fly to make as much money as possible? Obviously, you want to list your home at the highest price possible but with so many homes already on the market, which repairs should you focus on for quick resell? Here are the easiest ways to fix and flip your home.

Hire a General Contractor

Unless you’re handy around the house, you need to hire a general contractor or handyman. Schedule time where you can walk through home and decide which repairs are most important. The idea is to repair things that stand out to potential buyers as red flags. For example, defective plumbing or leaking ceilings usually send buyers running in the opposite direction.

Review Repair Costs

Get quotes for all the repairs you’re thinking about and ask about the timeline from start to finish. If you’re not able to afford all of the repairs at one time, you can choose the most important ones first and go on from there. The key here is to pick ones that bring you the most value.

Consider a Loan

If you really want to sell your house quickly but just can’t afford the repairs, you should consider fix and flip loans. This type of loan is specifically geared towards people who want to sell their homes quickly. This is probably the most important thing you can do to get your house sold quickly. Even homes needing repair look 100 times better when they are organized and free of clutter. If you aren’t sure what to get rid of, you might want to consider hiring a professional organizer.

Boost Your Curb Appeal

The outside of your home is probably more important than the inside. Potential buyers won’t even set foot inside if the exterior is in total disarray. Make a point to cut the lawn, plant shrubbery and power wash your house, sidewalks and patios.

Selling your home quickly may not be easy, but it is possible. Address issues that lower face value of your home first. Prioritize what you think is most important and if needed, enlist the help of a house flipper to help you navigate your way to closing.

3 Financial Reasons to Get a House with a Mother-in-Law Apartment

August 16, 2019August 9, 2019Bruzzese Home ImprovementsHome Improvement Tips, Tips to sell your homeaddition, apartment, home additionLeave a comment

If you are married, it is quite understandable that you value and cherish your family. This is to be expected and admired. It also contributes to a more lasting and fulfilling relationship. At the same time, there will come some practical considerations that you will need to take into account as the years go by. One of those will be how to take care of your mother-in-law. She might be alone and in need of some family to be close by, while still retaining much of her independence. At the same time, you might not want her living entirely on her own. With that in mind, here are three financial reasons why you will want to consider getting a house that has a mother-in-law apartment attached to it.

Avoid Long Term Care Costs

As people age, long term care costs can quickly grow almost out of control. In many cases, this is an unnecessary expense. If you are able to take care of your mother-in-law, there is no reason to not have her nearby. Even the expense associated with assisted living can drain the finances of even the most well-off of families. Do not let this happen to you. Having your mother-in-law in her own apartment attached to your own home makes financial sense. You will not have the added expense of long term care to worry about.

Rent The Space

You may not have someone living in the mother in law apartment. This is a great opportunity to rent the space. You can rent it to a working professional or as a short term rental. When you visit a furniture store, you’ll want to make sure that you have all the essentials as you would have at a hotel stay. Make it comfortable, decorate it. Having this supplemental income can help you pay your mortgage. The great part if you’ve paid your mortgage is it becomes residual income.

Equity

When you have a house with an unfinished basement your appraisal is going to be much different than if it has a finished mother in law apartment with a separate entrance. Having two kitchens, more bedrooms and bathrooms is going to make your equity and re-sale value skyrocket. It is worth renovation pricing to significantly increase the value of your home.

These three reasons alone highlight the usefulness of a mother-in-law apartment. If you are in the process of looking for a home and you see the need to take care of her looming on the horizon, this is a great option to consider. In the long run, it can also make a great amount of financial sense. That alone should cause you to give the idea some serious thought.

Selling or Refinancing? 4 Factors Affecting Your Home Property Values

December 6, 2018October 18, 2023Bruzzese Home ImprovementsTips to sell your homereal estateLeave a comment

There are over 136,570,000 housing units in the United States, and that number continues to grow each year. At any time, there are approximately 1,250,000 homes for sale. The great news if you are looking to sell a home is that number has steadily declined from a high reached in 2010. If you are thinking of selling or refinancing your home, there are many things that can affect its value.

The Neighborhood
The value of your home is largely determined by its location. Home mortgage companies demand a report showing what comparable homes in your neighborhood have sold for lately before they will consider loaning money on it. Its location value is primarily determined by the home’s proximity to good jobs, shopping and entertainment opportunities and the quality of the local public school system.

Home Size
In most markets, the price of the home is determined by the amount of usable square feet in the home. Realtors rarely count unfinished basements, garages or attics in their figure of usable square feet. Therefore, if you want more money for your home, you might think about finishing the basement or adding an attic workspace or bedroom. According to the National Home Builders Association, adding an extra bedroom can increase the value of your home by 20 percent.

Move-in Ready
Buyers want a home they can enjoy without having to do a lot of work on it, and they will pay for upgrades that the seller has made to the home. All upgrades are not equal, however, so if you have a limited budget think about upgrading the kitchen first by installing matching stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops. You can generally expect to gain $3 for every $1 you spend in kitchen upgrades.

The Market
The housing market varies tremendously across the United States. In markets where there are more homes for sale than people looking for homes, then prices usually go down. The opposite is also true. In markets where there are more people looking for homes than homes available, then the price usually goes up. If you are wondering if now is a good time to buy property or sell a home, then look at economic projections in your community because housing prices will usually follow them.

Considering these four factors will help you determine if now is a good time to buy or refinance a home. It will also let you know if now is the right time to sell. In the end, however, it often comes down to an emotional gut decision.

Looking to Sell Your Home? 5 Important Steps to Prepare Your House for the Market

December 4, 2018November 20, 2018Bruzzese Home ImprovementsReal Estate Tips, Tips to sell your homehome sellers, real estateLeave a comment

The stabilized real estate industry is encouraging sellers to place their homes on the market. Before a homeowner can become a seller, however, the home requires preparation. Get your home ready for the market by following these five steps.

Team Up with an Agent
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who understands the industry inside and out, and their expertise is invaluable. A realtor is knowledgeable about the real estate process, including marketing, pricing, staging, listing, bidding, and mortgage. The agent remains abreast of current and upcoming industry trends. In addition, the agent has a Rolodex of connections like home inspectors, home insurance providers, title companies, and escrow companies.

Tame Landscaping
The lawn can grow out of control without continued maintenance, scaring away buyers. A tame landscape is the first invitation for buyers to venture inside the house. Make the home welcoming by mowing the lawn weekly or biweekly. Remove weeds that stick above the lawn, remove litter, and rake the leaves. Tame bushes and shrubs through pruning and trimming branches. Lastly, plant flowers around the front lawn and in flower beds.

Make Repairs
Major or minor, it’s important for sellers to fix incomplete, postponed, and just-discovered repairs. Buyers are expecting all major and minor repairs completed before bidding, so it’s best to reserve funds for those repairs. Serious repairs like an unstable foundation, gaping holes, missing tiles, and an unfinished basement are glaring repairs requiring immediate attention. Afterwards, focus on broken windows, leaky faucets, a leaky roof, jammed doors, and scratched wood floors.

Pay Attention to the Kitchen
A major selling feature in the home is the kitchen. Buyers view the kitchen as an important room for entertaining guests and family members, so a functional and eye-pleasing kitchen is necessary. A renovation or remodel is great if the funds are available, but buyers should focus on upgrading appliances, changing the faucet, and updating hardware.

Hire a Professional Cleaning Service
No buyer likes purchasing a dirty home, and professional cleaning service (for example, a carpet cleaning service) may be necessary. Professional cleaners can sweep, mop, vacuum, dust, wash, and scrub the home to immaculate status. Further, they can remove dirt and stains from carpets, clear away leaves from gutters, and pressure wash the exterior. Hire more than one service, if necessary.

With competitors in neighborhood, city, state, and national markets, buyers don’t need to accept less than stellar results from sellers. Above are the basics sellers must match or exceed to obtain buyers into their vicinity.

7 Simple and Affordable Additions for Your Home

August 25, 2017adminhome improvement, Home Improvement Tips, Tips to sell your homeDIY projects, home improvement, home trends, real estateLeave a comment

Whether you’re trying to sell your home or simply upgrade it for your own enjoyment, additions do not have to be that pricey. OK, OK, so as you haven’t been born yesterday you do know that any high-quality improvements to your house – the only type worth doing – won’t be as cheap as your daily shop. But the following additions have been selected for their relative low cost and high impact.

The seven recommended additions are applicable to you especially if you feel like modernizing your house, have guests to stay with specific needs, are buying or selling your home and are aware of updates needed.

Garden

It’s always easy to forget the outside area and palm it off as a “dad-job” for a Sunday in the far far distance! Sometimes those days arrive sooner than you think and a good job too because taking care of your outside area is as important as your house.

Built-in seating can be a great alternative to expensive garden furniture and one way to make your outside space guest-friendly and welcoming in a matter of days. Recycling concrete blocks and stacking to make a rectangular bench can be transformative. Top with an upholstered foam mattress and pillows and you’re good to go!

Patio

Patios are pretty self-maintaining year round aside from the odd weeding but if you want them to be extra special you could consider putting in a little more care. More and more folks have opted for patio walls over the last few years to create a homelier space. Adding in a custom-built fireplace to the area will make your regular patio every home-owner’s hosting dream. If you need to start from scratch you certainly can build your own patio yourself and save on the tiresome labor costs!

Railings

Injuries do unfortunately happen regardless of your capabilities and a railing to help you get around the bathroom and in and out of the bath itself is a must. These guys are quite literally a life-saver. Whether in or outside the house – preferably both depending on the terrain – railings give much needed support as well as detail. Protect you, your family and your guests with railings where you need them the most – they can be beautifully designed to match your preferences, too!

Smart Appliances

Smart appliances are the quickest way to add value to your kitchen, your house and to your life! We all know a good real estate agent will make the most out of these centerpieces of our kitchen – dishwasher, fridge-freezer, oven and microwave. If yours could do with some updating it may be time to take the plunge. They can instantly modernize your kitchen into a chic and sleek operating room – stainless steel appliances are still a la mode – and raise your house-cred immeasurably.

Connectivity, intelligent communication and full-on integration is what people want in their new appliances to the point where your fridge will text you when you run out of an ingredient! If you don’t have that much to spend on a major appliance, try revolutionizing your kitchen routines with some of these portable options, however you might want to check second hand options before giving up!

Lighting

Much like your smart appliances, improving your lighting game is a quick and easy addition to your household that will bring admirers wide and far! Looking at spotlights for example bring a welcome minimalist feel to a home whilst not massively interfering with your interior décor. Lighting is also an easy way to bring balance to a room through adding or taking away warmth depending on the style of fitting and the glow emitted.

Lighting should be uniform throughout your house to some degree to give continuity, therefore if you aren’t careful this can rack up a bill. However, simply moving to energy efficient lights in the meantime will be a fantastic addition to your household.

Upholstery

The DIY and home improvement community has talked about up-cycling a lot for good reason – you have unpolished treasures in your room as you read this and you’re considering buying replacements?! A perfect and easy-going initiation into the up-cycling club is re-upholstering a chair, sofa or headboard. It is guaranteed to be far cheaper than buying new furniture, allows you to pick out exactly the material you want and adds to the atmosphere of your room in a relatively low-effort way!

Windows

I won’t start with a quote about windows and eyes and souls, but windows are very important. Seasonal Affective Disorder sufferers are particularly sensitive to amount of light in their living areas and frankly the majority of us are too. So let’s get as much light as possible into your houses! The easiest way to do this without complete overhaul of your existing windows is adding in a sky light where possible.

So, this may be in the same cost ballpark as smart appliances, however adding in a skylight will entirely transform your space and your mood, and add major value if done properly to your property.

Additions do not need to be time consuming, complicated or massively expensive, however they do need to be well thought out. Positioning, overall design and feel and appropriateness all come into play when making changes to your house regardless of how small they might be. But one thing is for sure, simple home additions can bring major positives to your life whether practical and adding convenience or aesthetic and adding comfort!

Author Bio:

Kacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.

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Outdoor Living Spaces: Three Things Homeowners Must Know

August 12, 2017adminHome Improvement Tips, Real Estate Tips, Tips to sell your homehome improvement, home trends, Outdoor Living, real estateLeave a comment

Anyone who has watched cable television’s popular shows on home remodeling or home selling knows that outdoor living spaces are all the rage. Capable of adding extra space and comfort to homes in just about any location, these spaces go beyond the porches, decks, gazebos, and bare patios that were once the only options for outdoor seating and entertaining. In addition to being popular, a beautifully designed, outdoor living space can offer even more benefits. If you are a homeowner who is wavering about whether or not to invest in adding an outdoor living space to your home, the following information can help you see what this type of space has to offer your family.

1. Increased Living Space Offers Comfort for Growing Families

No matter how carefully families choose the home they buy, there will still be many times when it feels too small for comfort. Growing children, visiting relatives, and many other situations can cause a home that was once spacious to feel cramped and small.

Adding an outdoor living space provides another area suitable for use from spring through fall in most areas of the country. If the space provides comfortable seating and cooking facilities, it can even become the chosen location for family dinners, helping to reduce traffic in the house and keep it cleaner and more organized.

2. Entertaining is Easier With an Outdoor Living Space

Many homes today are built without a formal dining room, making it difficult to host large gatherings for meals and snacks. An outdoor living area offers a spacious location that can be furnished to handle gatherings of any size. If the outdoor living space also provides electricity to power small appliances, along with a sink, cooking surface, and a cooler or refrigerator, complete meals can be easily prepared and served outdoors, making cleanup far easier.

Many people also add some type of heat to their outdoor living spaces, such as a fire pit, outdoor fireplace, or specially designed outdoor heating appliance, to make these spaces more usable in cooler weather.

3. Outdoor Living Spaces Add Real Value When Selling a Home

Just like porches and patios, outdoor living spaces are considered as part of the base area of the home. Although the base area is not the same as finished interior space, it will still be able to add value in the eyes of both a real estate appraiser and prospective buyers.

To get the most value from your outdoor living space, sellers will want to:

make sure the planned outdoor space fits well with the neighborhood and architectural style of the home
make sure the size of the planned outdoor space remains in balance with the size of the yard and does not diminish the usefulness of the backyard space
make sure the planned outdoor space is attractive both when in use and during the off season
make sure the planned outdoor space offers privacy from prying eyes of neighbors or people passing by

For more information about how an outdoor living space can be a benefit, homeowners should consult their real estate professional.

Through the use of recent listing and sales data for similar homes with and without outdoor living spaces, homeowners will be able to gain a better understanding of the amount of added value their home would have after the space is completed. This information can help homeowners create a realistic plan for these improvements, as well as a suitable budget.

Top 5 Outdoor Home Projects to Increase the Value of Your Home

August 10, 2017adminhome improvement, Home Improvement Tips, Tips to sell your homehome improvement, Outdoor Living, real estate, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

When it comes to doing renovations, many homeowners upgrade their kitchens or bathrooms. Their thinking is understandable: They believe these projects add to their home’s bottom line come sale time. However, many outdoor projects also increase a home’s value as well as its curb appeal. If you’re looking for some outdoor projects, start with these five. They’ll add to your home’s beauty today and its value tomorrow.

1. Light up Your Landscapes

Lighting up areas like sitting nooks, backyard fountains, and, of course, the porches makes your home cozy come evening. Additionally, if you’re planning on adding any other outdoor features, you’ll want to light them up, too.

If you’re planning an extensive outdoor remodel, it’s best to map/sketch out your plans for lighting at the same time that you’re planning everything else. This ensures that you’ll have enough wiring for all the lights you install. Also be sure to have a lush lawn, as many of the other additions will look a bit too fancy for a dead lawn. Orem lawn care specialists can offer advice for restoring a damaged lawn.

2. Outdoor Rooms

According to Today, adding an outdoor room increases the value of your home. But these rooms do more than that: They expand your living space. Today prices outdoor rooms like outdoor living rooms starting at $12 a foot, going all the way up to $50 a foot. Outdoor kitchens can run anywhere between $15K and $100K.

There is one more thing to consider, however, if you’re going to build outdoor rooms: Pests. Bugs and other creepy crawlies can detract from an outdoor room’s enjoyment factor, especially if you’re cooking outside. Companies can give you a quote for pest control. Ask about one-time visits as well as maintenance visits to see which plans best suit your outdoor living needs.

3. Garage Door

Aside from your front porch and the front door, your garage is one of the major contributors to your home’s curb appeal. It’s also one outdoor home project that offers plenty of ROI when you sell your home. Typically, replacing your garage door nets you almost an almost 90% ROI at sale time. However, that’s not the only advantage. Replacing your garage door increases your home’s security and even lowers your monthly heating bills. The heat can’t escape out of the cracks around the door.

4. Front Door

If you’re going to change out your garage door, you may want to consider also changing out the front door. Its sale-time ROI runs in the 85% to 100% range. A steel door replacing your existing door will bring the most bang for the buck.

That said, an attractive front door says “Welcome” like few outdoor features can. The porch and door become the backdrop for many of your seasonal decorations. It’s also a place where your lighting investment really pays, too.

5. Water Features

Outdoor fountains and fish ponds add a magical element to your outdoor space. They also provide your backyard with a focal point (or a secondary focal point if you’re also adding an outdoor room.)

A landscape designer as well as a pool designer should give you a hand with this project. The advantage of hiring these professionals is that they’ll guide you toward the right kind of shrubs and greenery as well as the right “ingredients” for your pond or fountain. In the latter case, it’s especially important to get a professional opinion if you’ll add fish to the pond.

Remaking your outdoor space expands your living area and adds to your overall quality of life. The right renovations also add to your home’s bottom line. Even just changing out your front door can bring you a significant amount once you sell your home. However, adding an outdoor room, a water feature, and some lighting adds even more value.

Guest Post By:

Anica Oaks

Freelance writer and web enthusiast
Read some of my published work on my Google+ page.

How a Few Simple Renovations Can Increase Your Home’s Resale Value

June 24, 2017adminHome Improvement Tips, home remodeling, Tips to sell your homehome improvement, home renovation, real estate, renovationsLeave a comment

When you are preparing to list your home for sale, you will likely have a long list of things to do. By performing some simple renovations now, you can avoid requests for remedy later. These four home renovations are also likely to get all of your investment back through a higher sales price.

Refinish or Replace Your Counter Tops

One of the most important parts of your home is the kitchen. When prospective buyers enter your home during a showing or open house, they are likely to make a beeline for the kitchen. Refinishing or replacing your counter tops will make a big improvement in how the kitchen looks. Granite is a top-of-the-line material. Some other good choices include concrete and Corian. You might also consider refinishing or replacing the fronts of your cabinets if they are old and worn, dented or dinged. If the cabinets themselves are in good condition, a replacement of the knobs and drawer pulls provides an affordable facelift.

Install a Wood-burning Stove

A wood-burning stove is a delightful addition to the living spaces of your home. If you have a family room, adding a wood-burning stove creates a cozy space that is just right for cool autumn and winter weather. Wood-burning stoves in Woodinville, or in other areas, can also be at home in a four-season room or a den. A wood-burning stove adds value to your home because it gives the new owners an affordable and efficient method of heating. Wood-burning stoves are also safe in case of a power outage. Today’s wood-burning stoves offer ideal levels of safety and efficiency. If you have a log cabin or rustic styled home, it will fit right in with your architecture and decor.

Give the Walls a Fresh Coat of Paint

Giving the interior and exterior walls of your home a fresh coat or two of paint is a quick and affordable way to increase the structure’s resale value. A quality paint job can hide many minor imperfections that would capture the attention of prospective home buyers. Choose a neutral yet attractive color for the outside of your home. Make sure that you conform to any homeowner’s association or historical society rules governing exterior colors for homes in your neighborhood. While many real estate agents recommend going all neutral for interior wall colors when selling a home, you could add a little bit of visual interest by painting the wainscoting or trim in a brighter color. You could also turn to less frequently used neutrals such as buttery yellow for the kitchen or a warm gray for a child’s bedroom.

Replace Worn-out Carpeting with New Floor Coverings

Another way to make a big impact on your home’s resale value is to remove the old, stained, worn-out carpeting and replace it with new floor coverings. If your home has hardwood floors underneath carpeting, arrange for the floors to be professionally finished. Hardwood flooring that is in good condition could add thousands of dollars to your home’s selling price. Consider replacing old carpeting with laminate or engineered wood flooring. Cork and bamboo flooring are environmentally friendly options. Ceramic tile flooring is an ideal solution for front hallways, entryways and guest bathrooms. Many homeowners do enjoy the comfort and warmth of a plush carpet in the bedrooms and family room of the home.

Each of these simple home renovations only takes a few days to complete. You could schedule the renovations for a time that is convenient to you. Be sure to schedule any updates and repairs so they are complete before you want to list your home for sale. Account for potential project delays to give yourself some wiggle room when selling.

4 Simple Ways Homeowners Can Increase Their Home’s Value

June 14, 2017adminHome Improvement Tips, Real Estate Tips, Tips to sell your homehome improvement, home remodeling, real estateLeave a comment

Homes tend to appreciate over time, as long as you take care of them and keep them in good shape. However, there are some things you can do to your home that can increase their value, and you don’t necessarily have to spend a ton of money on them. Here are four simple ways homeowners can increase their home’s value.

Do a Kitchen or Bath Update

Kitchens and bathrooms are two of the most-used rooms in a house, and they also are the rooms that buyers focus on the most. That’s why it’s important to make periodic improvements to these rooms. You don’t have to break the bank and spend thousands and thousands of dollars. In fact, minor remodels are the ones that tend to add the most value. Some simple things you can do include replacing appliances, replacing a vanity, switching out water and light fixtures and updating your tile and counter tops.

Concentrate on the Exterior

Most people focus on making interior improvements when remodeling their home, but you can actually get the most bang for your buck focusing on the outside. Many of the improvements that have the most return on investment are exterior ones. These include replacing your entry door or garage door, adding or repairing a deck, and sprucing up your landscaping. All of these improvements will be investments that pay back more than they cost to complete, when done correctly.

Structural Improvements

Doing things to the bones of your house aren’t cheap but they are necessary. Take your roof, for example. People do not want to buy a roof that leaks or has broken shingles. Some companies, such as Select Exteriors, know that if this is the case with your roof, you might consider investing to improve it. The same goes for your home’s foundation. Structural improvements can be expensive, but not doing them when necessary can greatly reduce the value of your home.

Make Energy Improvements

Many of today’s home buyers want an energy-efficient home, so you can boost your home’s value by making some simple energy changes. This can include installing a programmable thermostat and changing to compact fluorescent lights. If you want to make a bigger investment, replacing windows or installing solar panels can be good choices.

Making these and other improvements to your home can greatly increase your home’s value. Some improvements require a big investment, but others do not. Either way, you are likely to recoup most of what you spend on these improvements.