Cost effective Home Improvements

It’s that time in Grand Rapids for the annual remodeling and new homes show taking place at the Devos Place January 9^th – 11^th.  Which gets you to thinking are you looking to make some improvements to your home, but are concerned about budget?  There are plenty of projects to take on this coming spring that won’t break the bank and will add value to your home – in case selling your home is a possibility.  Some projects like flooring and a bathroom tune up can be done during the winter; others may have to wait till spring such as landscaping.

Invest in lighting

One way to really make an impact is to invest in lighting.  Lighting can  make all the difference in opening up a space without having to do a major renovation like tearing down walls.  One economical and energy efficient way is by adding a solatube.  Solatubes are great because they don’t require any structural changes to have them installed and can instantly light up a space such as a kitchen without increasing your electric bill.  Solatubes are also known as tubular skylights, sun pipes, or light tunnels.  More information about solatubes can be found here.

Simple Maintenance

A home well maintained is very appealing to buyers.  Look into having your furnace inspected and tuned up.  This will eliminate any costly surprises during an inspection report if you plan to sell or help your furnace running optimally for years to come.  Adding insulation to your attic is also an easy and relatively inexpensive way to improve your home.  Proper insulation in the attic can go a long way keeping your home cool in the summer and warm and toasty in the winter.

Bathroom Tune-Up

You don’t always have to spend a mint in the bathroom to make it look like it’s been updated.  Easy fixes such as replacing old fixtures and replacing outdated hardware can instantly make your bathroom look great.  Having the grout cleaned up and re-caulking can also go a long ways in giving the bathroom a nice little facelift.  If you’re really ambitious you can re-stain, paint, or reface the cabinetry in the bathroom for a cost friendly update.  It takes a little elbow grease but something that can be done on your own.

Change up the color palette

Paint is always such an easy fix and one of the most common complaints when it comes to someone looking to buy a home.  Plan a paint party with friends and neighbors to instantly give your house a new look.  Giving your home a fresh coat of paint on the inside or outside can make all the difference in selling your home.  If you’re considering putting your home on the market in the future paint your home with neutral colors that are more palatable to anyone looking at your home.

Flooring

Flooring can be expensive to replace but it doesn’t have to be.  Simply shampooing carpets might be enough to renew.  Or invest in some nice rugs to hide some wear and tear on carpet.  If you cannot get by without replacing some carpet make sure not to do wall to wall carpeting.  Focus on the bedrooms or common area.  Most people will want to replace wall to wall carpeting with their own tastes.

Liven up the landscaping

Ever judge a book by its cover?  Well consider landscaping the cover of a home.  Bad or no landscaping can instantly deter people from even wanting to look at the inside of your home.  Sprucing up the outside area can really make a huge impact and a great return on investment.  Something as simple as trimming the trees and shrubbery can make your home much more appealing.  Make it interesting and inviting.  You don’t have to spend a lot to make a nice visual impact.

Whether you’re looking to sell or simply just want to make some simple improvements this is a good list for reference.  These updates are all very cost effective ways to increase value and give your home the modernizing and upgrade it needs!