Owning a home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. When we work with buyers, we are not only trying to help you find a home you love, we want to make sure you are making a good investment as well. The same thinking should be applied to when making home improvements. We love it when our clients ask our opinion on the best home improvement for resale. It is always important to not only do something you will want to live with, but keeping an eye upgrades that will help sell your house.
Here are 7 home renovations to consider that will give you a good return on investment and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. You’ll be glad you made these home updates when it comes time to sell your home.
1. Don’t let your utility bills soar — Increase the Energy Efficiency of Your Home
You can get an energy audit to check out how sustainable your home is. A lot of utility companies will offer them, so why not take advantage of the service?
Electricity prices can be high, and utility prices a turnoff for potential buyers. Even though in comparison, North Carolina’s 
residential electricity rates aren’t in the top ten highest… there’s always a way to make a home more attractive to a potential buyer. Help them out by considering appliances that save energy.
Buyers in all price ranges look at utility costs. This is something buyers factor into their monthly payments. Making such improvements as adding additional insulation; getting a high efficiency furnace when it is time to replace your HVAC system; installing LED lights throughout your home; and getting Energy Star appliances are just a few types of home improvements that are good for you the home owner but are also great upgrades to sell your house.
2. Renovating Your Kitchen With Give You The Greatest Bang For Your Buck
The kitchen is a serious selling point for potential buyers. Gone are the days of simplistic kitchens with generic countertops, bland cabinets, and out of date appliances. Hey, a double oven is a beautiful thing and stainless steel is drool-worthy. If you have space for an island, buyers love these too.
Buyers like kitchens that are open to a living area and buyers in all price ranges like granite and stainless steel appliances.
Consider checking out some of the latest kitchen trends (is granite out as a countertop?) to make sure your house will have some allure in the kitchen. Updating your kitchen can add some value to your home, and bump up the price before you sell.
Besides, who doesn’t love a beautiful backsplash?
3. Ask Siri
Smart technology has been making its way into homes for a while now. If you’re about to put your home on the market, it’s a great idea to look into what sorts of smart updates you can make.
Replacing your thermostat? Kill two birds with one stone by installing a smart thermostat that saves energy. Lights, doors, security systems, and home assistants like Siri or Amazon’s Alexa give your home a high-tech feel that appeals to a generation who grew up with smart phones.
4. Remodel Your Bathroom
Bathrooms are a source of serious return on investment, they are second best to kitchens. If you update your bathroom while you’re getting ready to list your house, there’s a great chance your investment will pay off. New lighting, fixtures, vanity tops and cool mirrors all count. Sufficient storage space is important as well. If you can afford to upgrade your tile, that counts too but you might just need to work with what you have. That is ok too.
Consider the condition of your shower, too. It’s tough to get rid of lime stains and mold. If you can refinish your shower and tub, it’s probably best to do so.
Bathtubs, showers and vanity tops can be reglazed! This is a great way to save money and have things look really fresh. If you want to know more about this, just give us a call or shoot us an email. We are happy to explain this and share picture.
Alternatively, consider remodeling your bathroom with a theme. This year, the “Mediterranean” theme has gone viral.
5. Pay Attention to the Attic
Here’s a surprising little statistic: fiberglass attic insulation comes with over 100% ROI. Who knew, right? This update not only lowers your heating and electricity bills, but it also gives your attic a refined look. Face it, sometimes we neglect our attics. This means insulation might show wear and tear, which is something a lot of potential buyers might see as a turnoff.
While you’re up there, can you install solar vents? They’re less expensive than installing an attic ceiling fan, and worth the consideration to improve house circulation.
6. Boost Yard Beauty
Curb appeal is huge. If you’ve got a beautiful garden, stunning lawn, and new coat of paint on your home, you bet it’s going to attract more people! It pays off to consider updating the exterior of your house before you’re ready to sell. You can’t make a first impression twice!
Teaming up with a professional landscaping service will make your home look picture perfect from the road. What’s more? It’s know to boost your home’s worth up to 17%.
7. The Very Biggest Bang For Your Buck is Paint and Carpet
Modern paint colors and new carpet go such a long way. These are two of the best home improvements for resale. Don’t use too many colors in your house and make sure the color palate all works together. Today, the hottest colors are in the gray family and those colors that work with gray. Many people don’t know about Greige. What is this? It is a color that depending on the light can look towards the grays or the tans. They are wonderful colors because they are versatile.
Real Estate Experts
Unsure of what updates to make before selling your home? Or, alternatively, do you need a hand finding the best contractors for the jobs? Real Estate Experts is here to help. Visit us online. Call us today at 919-928-5131or e-mail us at [email protected] for additional information.