Easy Home Improvements That Add The Most Value
Our affordable Custom Range Hood framing kits make an excellent choice for an easy home improvement project - By Archways & Ceilings
When buying and flipping a property, the best way to increase your profits is through economical home improvements. But aside from how much money they will cost, there are some other important factors to consider. Do the changes fit the style of the house? And will they appeal to the majority of buyers?
These factors help you determine which home improvement project will give you a better return on your investment. At the end of the day, you want to choose the most cost-effective yet impactful renovations.
So today, we look at some easy and effective home improvements that add the most value to a house.
Simple Home Improvement Ideas That Will Boost A Home's Value
The best home improvements to boost the value of a house you’re flipping are usually the simplest ones. These are the upgrades that make the biggest impact for the least effort and money. This in turn means bigger profits for you with the sale.
1. Upgrade The Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the rooms in the home that benefit the most from improvement. Kitchens in old homes can easily look dated. This will negatively influence potential buyers, as they will be concerned about the cost of a remodeling project if they buy the house.
Your aim is for buyers to look at the kitchen and visualize just moving in and being happy. The best way to achieve this is to update certain fixtures. So for a kitchen that looks fresh and current, consider the following upgrades.
Simple kitchen updates like countertops and cabinets can make a big difference in your house flip - Photo Credit: Pexels
New Countertops
A new countertop does wonders for any kitchen. Steer clear, though, of impractical materials and fashion colors. Potential buyers are looking for easy-to-clean surfaces in materials and colors that will not clash with their décor items.
Natural materials, or durable materials that mimic them, are best. And neutral colors, such as black, white, gray, and beige are the safest bet. If you want the look of stone on your countertop or backsplash without the expense, you could try a stone veneer. It offers practicality and appeal at an affordable price.
Upgrade The Range Hood
Replacing an old cooker hood with a new range hood is another simple fix for a kitchen with outdated décor. But choose one that is in harmony with its surroundings and complements the overall aesthetic. For example, a farmhouse-style home would benefit from a new Farmhouse Range Hood.
But a more modern home requires a more modern kitchen, and therefore a Modern Range Hood with straight lines and clean finishes would be the better choice. With our selection of range hood styles and the unlimited options available for finishing your range hood, choosing one to match your home or your investment property's style should be a piece of cake.
A Modern Range Hood kit being installed - By Archways & Ceilings
Faucets & Hardware
Faucets and hardware are fairly quick and easy to replace. But ensure that you choose fittings that complement the rest of the kitchen.
In most cases, something sleek and modern like chrome is the way to go. But if you are remodeling an older period home, go for items that will echo the overall style. For vintage homes, check a local flea market or antique shop to find hardware from that same region and time period.
2. Beautify The Bathrooms
Even though the bathroom tends to be the smallest room you'll remodel, it can make a very big impact on potential buyers. Just a few simple changes will make a dramatic difference, so try out a few of these easy improvement projects to give your bathroom a fresh new look.
New Fixtures & Faucets
Like in the kitchen, fixtures and faucets can have a big impact. Old ones are easily replaced but once again, keep the new fittings in harmony with their surroundings.
If it is a Victorian home, for example, the bathroom fittings will and should reflect this. A more modern bathroom, or a smaller space, will benefit from a minimalist approach.
New bathroom fixtures don't have to be extravagant to make an impact - Photo Credit: Pexels
Refresh The Tiles
Making sure the tiled surfaces are in good condition is a necessity. Depending on the condition of the tiles, they may need to be replaced entirely, but many times that isn't necessary and only the grout needs to be redone. New tiles can be a major investment, and if the existing tiles are still in good condition, replacing them isn’t economically sound.
But with fresh grouting, any tiled area can look like new again, giving the impression of new tiles. This is one of the simplest renovation projects, but it immediately gives any tiled surface a fresh, new look. You can almost never go wrong with fresh white grout, but depending on the bathroom's style, white may not be the best color. Don't be afraid to experiment with colored grout, but keep in mind you want to try to appeal to as many buyers as possible and something too colorful might turn some people off.
3. Wall Niches
Don’t underestimate the power of a wall niche, they're not only decorative but functional at the same time. Any unused space will immediately be brought to life with the addition of a niche feature. They can be the perfect complement to any room in the home to add some interest and functionality.
A wall niche can house shelves or be used to highlight a unique item of décor like a vase or special piece of art. Whether practical or purely decorative, a niche will squeeze every last drop of use out of every nook!
Not only are our wall niche kits easy to install, they're also sure not to break the bank. And the ordering process couldn't be easier, simply take your measurements, choose your style, install the wall niche and then apply the finish of your choice!
Newly installed Wall Niches waiting to be painted - By Archways & Ceilings
4. Ceiling Upgrades
Don’t think that you can get away with problem ceilings. Your potential buyers are going to look up there at some point, and when they do, the last thing you need is them pointing out any flaws or how outdated it is. This isn't a space that you can overlook simply to save money.
Of course any serious cracks or issues with dampness or mold have to be addressed. But what if the issue is merely a case of a big boring blank ceiling or something even worse, like the dreaded 80's popcorn ceiling. Our prefabricated ceiling kits can be the cure for the boring ceiling. Not only can they can they help open things up, but they also add a ton of interest and charm to the home at the same time.
Ceiling Kits
Your choice of custom ceiling kit should be determined by the style of the house. Period homes benefit the most from these updates, as they usually have ceiling and cornice features anyway. But even a modern home can be given an exciting new look with this enhancement, especially the master bedroom or dining room.
Our Oval Dome ceiling is the perfect complement to large rooms for a high-end look. And for a spacious entrance hall/foyer, we recommend our prefabricated Groin Vault ceiling for a touch of high drama.
An Oval Dome Ceiling kit from Archways & Ceilings being installed - Photo Credit: Raykon Construction
5. Fresh Paint
When it comes to paint there's no reason to try and reinvent the wheel. Usually, all that is needed is a new coat of fresh paint. This gives any and every room an immediate facelift. But no matter how good a color looks in color swatches on the showroom floor, it’s often a different story when viewed in natural light. It's always good to get a small sample and try it on the walls before you go buying several gallons.
Remember you want to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible, so think twice when choosing a "trendy" color or anything too dark or bold. White is always a safe choice, as it will not clash with anything and it's easy to paint over if the new homeowner chooses to do so.
Another reason why white paint is a great option is because the lighter the color the more spacious the room will feel. Not to mention, white paint usually costs less and you can save even more money by buying in bulk. This is especially helpful if you're working on multiple properties throughout the year.
White paint is always a safe bet when refreshing the walls for a house flip - Photo Credit: Pexels
Appeal To Future Buyers With Neutrals
Steer clear of loud or brash colors to retain a general appeal to the masses. Color trends change, but neutrals have a timeless appeal. To be safe, stick with white.
If you are concerned that an all-white interior will look too cold and severe, opt for soft neutrals like ivory, cream, or taupe. These are usually great options for the exterior walls, too.
6. New Flooring
Upgrades to ceilings, walls, and floors make the biggest impression on prospective buyers. While installing a new carpet, repairing hardwood floors, or laying new tiles can be very expensive, there are some cheaper alternatives.
It can be a lot simpler and more cost-effective to choose one type of floor treatment throughout the home. Try to work with what you have. Existing carpets can often be made to look almost as good as new with some deep cleaning. Either get a professional to come out, or you can rent a carpet cleaner from your local hardware store.
Depending on the severity of the damage, look into repairing wooden floors before deciding on installing an entirely new floor. Of course with things like water damage or mold you'll probably need to replace them, but if it's just a few cracks or chips, you might be able to repair them or only replace the individual planks.
But if the flooring is indeed too worn to salvage and you need to install new flooring, two excellent choices are wood veneer and cork.
Increase The Home Value With Wood Veneer Or Cork Floors
Wood floors have a timeless and classic appeal and always add value to a property. Most potential buyers will respond well to this home improvement. But if such costs are not in your budget, or you want something that is truly low maintenance, opt for wood-look laminate floors.
Another eco-friendly floor treatment is cork . Besides a low cost per square foot, it's a durable flooring material that also offers warmth and comfort underfoot. And like wood floors, cork will complement any décor theme.
Laminate flooring is a great low cost option for new floors - Photo Credit: Pexels
7. Boost The Property’s Curb Appeal
When remodeling a home, the outdoor spaces are often overlooked, to the seller’s detriment. The home’s exterior makes the biggest impact as it is what buyers see first. And you certainly don't want to drive them away before they even step inside.
But there are several home improvement projects for this area, too, and some of them don’t cost very much money at all.
You will give a huge boost to the home’s curb appeal with these simple home improvement ideas:
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Install a new garage door or front door. If you don’t need or want to replace the whole thing, updating your garage door and front door with wood restoring products or a fresh coat of paint can work wonders.
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Fix the mailbox post, repaint the mailbox, or install an attractive new one
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Paint the exterior walls and garden gate
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Replace worn house numbers
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Consider window replacement, at least for the front of the property
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Remove mold and mildew from exterior walls with a power washer
Painting the exterior of the house can greatly improve curb appeal - Photo Credit: Pexels
Conclusion
Home improvement projects are certainly an avenue to ensure bigger profits when putting any property on the market. As long as they're completed with quality workmanship, they're not cost prohibitive, and are done in a timely manner, you should see a nice ROI on any improvements you do.
If you're looking for some guidance on affordable, effective, and attractive home improvements, feel free to contact us today . Our friendly and knowledgeable staff can provide the expert advice you need in order to make your next home sale a success.