Everyone wants to improve their home
in one way or another. The list of possibilities is almost endless but what
home improvements will increase the value of your home the most and provide you
with the best return on your hard earned dollars? A recent survey of realtors
nationwide has produced the following list of the top 5 home improvement
projects guaranteed to get you the most “bang for your buck”.
# 5 – Sound Advice
Today’s home buyers are more tech
savvy than ever before and homes with built in speaker systems are definitely
seen as an added value. There are actually 2 separate systems that will appeal
to buyers and it’s better to install both if you can. First off a central sound
system with a speaker in every room has become quite popular and depending upon
the features can be very affordable. It should have a remote to control the
music from anywhere in the home for convenience and can be as simple as a radio
tuner but could also include the ability to play CD’s, MP3’s and so on.
The second system should be a
surround sound system for watching videos wherever your big screen is located.
Everyone enjoys a good movie or watching their favorite band in concert with a
good surround sound speaker system.
# 4 – Everyone Likes a Beautiful Lawn – No One Likes the
Work!
Some home buyers are truly impressed
with beautiful landscaping while others tend to think “Wow, that’s a lot of
work”. Whether you have an award winning garden or a simple grass lawn an
automatic sprinkler system is definitely a great investment whether you are
staying for the next 20 years or planning to sell in the near future.
# 3 –The Greener the Better
The demand for energy efficient
homes is definitely on the rise with home shoppers and the more, the better.
More than ever before in history people are concerned with ecology and the
environment and this is no more evident than in the housing market. Any home
improvement that saves energy is a great investment today be it as simple as
ceiling fans in every room or storm doors or as complex as multi-zone energy
efficient HVAC systems and triple paned windows. In today’s market educated
consumers are definitely keeping an eye out for “energy wise” housing.
# 2 – A Great Bathroom Sells Houses
Nothing can scare away a potential
buyer quicker than a dirty or outdated bathroom. Niceties such as recessed
vanities and bright lighting are a must and a dirty or stained bathtub gives
the impression that the entire home is not well maintained. “If the bathroom
looks this bad, what about the things that we can’t see” is the first thought that a house shopper will have and just
as importantly the assessed value of the home will be dramatically affected.
# 1 – The Kitchen Remains the Most Important Room in the
Home
Studies have shown over and over
again that the kitchen is the one room in a home that has the most effect on its
value. Some of the most popular
improvements throughout the country today include upgrading to stainless steel
appliances and installing authentic granite countertops. As in the bathroom
proper lighting and cleanliness are vital as well and even small improvements
such as new faucets and cabinet handles make a big difference.
If you are planning to invest money
into your home any of these projects are money well spent. Tomorrow’s blog will
feature the top 5 worst home
improvements for homeowners to consider.
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