Remodeling Done Right: How to Invest in Your Home

With the market swinging back around and the economy climbing back up, now is the perfect time to improve your home.  Whether you want a remodel that will increase the market value of your property or simply a more luxurious living space, it’s important that your home improvements don’t become nightmares.  These simple steps will help you choose the best remodels for your home.

Consider the Whole Lifetime

Though you may not be hitting your golden years, it’s becoming increasingly popular to create homes that are accessible to all ages.  Consider adding a bedroom on the ground floor so occupants have the option of ignoring the stairs.  You can also create a semi-autonomous         area of the home where parents or in-laws can stay.  A bedroom coupled with a bath and kitchenette will achieve this nicely.  Ask for a Certified Aging In Place Specialist to give you more ideas.  Even if you never end up using these aging-friendly amenities, when it comes time to sell, you’ll have a huge advantage over homes without these components.

Go Eco-Friendly

The public is increasingly environmentally friendly, and having amenities that work within that framework will help you stand out.  This can be as involved as installing state of the art appliances, or as simple as replacing your faucets with the low-flow variety.  If any of your large appliances are aging, they’re probably costing you money and wasting both water and electricity.  Consider replacing these with newer, more efficient devices.  It will save you on your monthly utility bills, and when you put the house on the market, you can advertise the new appliances and the energy-friendly home you’ve created.

Compete with Neighbors

It sounds petty, but in the real estate world, it’s good advice.  If a potential homebuyer has decided on your area, you’re competing with all the other homes on the market in your neighborhood.  It’s a good idea to evaluate what they have to offer.  For example, if all the other homes have two bathrooms, and you only have one and a half, you may want to add another one.  Though the homes won’t be identical, you want to make sure you’re in the same league as the best homes possible.

Upgrade Kitchens and Baths

Nothing receives a better return on investment than a remodeled kitchen or bath.  Because this is where appliances are used most often and it’s most important that nothing goes wrong, buyers want to know that these areas are not only functional, but well cared for.  Something as simple as retiling can change the feel of the rooms and make them significantly more appealing.

Whether you’re remodeling for profit or for your family’s comfort, Fidelity National Title Agency hopes you have a successful project and that you are able to enjoy the fruits of your labors for years to come.