Budget Home Remodeling to Add Value

Budget home remodeling projects can add value to your home without breaking the bank. Let home magazines, remodeling TV shows, books, and websites inspire you with DIY projects.

Instead of taking on some major and time-consuming projects, try tackling some of these simpler ones. With a little effort, goodwill, and some help from family and friends, the value of your home will increase significantly, and you can confidently put it on the market.

Get rid of old carpet

Those old carpets are dated and worn out. And they may also trap contaminants and allergens, degrading air quality in your home.

Tile flooring or laminated floors are environmentally friendly and natural, and therefore always a better solution. Replacing your old carpets with a hard surface will reduce odors, make cleaning easier, and increase appeal to potential buyers.

Add insulation

As we noted in our post on energy-efficient insulation, a home loses as much as 40 percent of its energy due to air infiltration. The right insulation helps retain heat inside of your home while preventing air from leaking in. Apart from maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures, it also helps prevent roof and wall damage, such as leaks and mold.

Add trees and landscaping

In addition to adding value to your home through curb appeal, trees provide shade. Well-placed trees can help reduce cooling costs during the summer and lower the surrounding temperature.

Good landscaping design is sure to bring value to your home. See the Department of Energy website for ideas on Landscaping for Shade. If you don’t have the time for gardening, you can add low-maintenance shrubs and other colorful plants to add curb appeal.

Add a water filtration system

A water filtration system on your kitchen faucet is a small, inexpensive addition that will appeal to many home buyers. You can also stop buying bottled water .

Get rid of the popcorn ceiling

Popcorn ceilings were popular in the ’60s and ’70s. Applying texture to drywall and plaster ceilings was a quick and easy way to hide imperfections with no painting required afterwards. However, its rough texture attracts dust and cobwebs and makes patching cracks and holes a headache.

You could remove it yourself, but popcorn ceilings installed before 1980 may contain asbestos. To be safe, have a professional test it first. If it’s asbestos-free, you just need to buy a solution to soften the texture and scrape the popcorn away.

Update your bathroom

Remodeling your bathroom is a great way to add more value to your home. Perhaps a full remodel is not within your budget. But small changes can freshen it up, such as replacing the wallpaper or lighting, add some fancy cupboard knobs, or update the faucet and shower heads.

Add energy-efficient fixtures

Energy-efficient appliances lower utility bills and also increase visual appeal throughout your home. A ceiling fan can enhance a room’s decor while also providing light and a soft breeze during the summer. Ceiling fans can also reduce your reliance on air conditioning.

Update your kitchen

A kitchen update can do wonders for the value of your home. If your sinks and appliances are very old and outdated, look into replacing them first. Next, you can update your cabinets with new varnish or paint and swap out those old handles for modern ones.

Keep up with the maintenance

Perform regular maintenance. Look out for small things that need to be repaired or replaced so they don’t become larger problems. For example, a leak spot on the ceiling can cause great damage to your roof if not taken care of promptly. Even small visible issues can cause potential buyers to worry that there are more issues out of view.

Repaint your home

A new paint job is a simple and cost-effective way to improve your home and increase its value. Freshly painted rooms will look clean and up to date. If your home is up for sale, the best thing to do is to choose neutral colors. You can certainly do the painting yourself. But hiring a professional ensures a high-quality finish.

See also: Our post, Paint Sheens Explained.

Make your home appear more spacious

The bigger the square footage, the bigger the value. However, if you have a smaller home, there are some visual tricks to make it appear bigger. Rooms can be made to appear bigger by strategically rearranging furniture.

Or you can replace heavy closed draperies with blinds or shutters, which will let in more light. Another great trick is to add a single large mirror in a room which will visually double the space.

Clutter also makes a room feel smaller than it actually is. Store your clutter out of sight or add some attractive shelves to an underused space and keep your things organized.

Upgrade your water heater

An old water heater can be a turn off for some home buyers. Tankless water heaters are more efficient—heating only the water you need as you need it—and will certainly leave a great impression on the buyers.

Update your appliances

Today, most homebuyers are looking at energy-efficiency. Appliances with an Energy Star label use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than other conventional appliances. New models look great, and many are stainless steel which is a bonus. If you do not have the budget for new, modern appliances, at least opt for upgrading your lighting to Energy Star one.