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There are plenty of reasons to decide to remodel your home. Perhaps you are planning to sell and want to make it more attractive to potential buyers. Maybe you just want to make your life more comfortable.
You could be planning on expanding your family which requires a lot of space… Whatever the reason behind your renovation is, you need to be aware that this is a challenging, time-consuming and expensive project, so you need to weigh your options.
Often, the budget and the time you have won’t allow you to remodel everything from scratch, and if you find yourself in a situation to have to choose one or a few projects, here are a few ideas that will contribute the most to your home’s functionality, and increase its value.
Bathroom addition
We always find it funny when, in some movies, the entire family lines up in front of the bathroom door, and everyone is screaming at each other to hurry up.
However, this is not so funny when it is happening to us in real life. An additional bathroom will not only make your life easier, but also increase the value of your home if you decide to sell.
In fact, according to the 2021 Cost vs. Value report, a bathroom addition recoups more than 55% of the money you have invested into it.
When designing a new bathroom consider equipping it with some of the things the first one doesn’t have. For example, if the existing bathroom has a tub, install a shower in the new one.
Kitchen remodel
Regardless of whether your kitchen is in bad shape or is just in need for some minor fixes, renovating this room is always a smart call, since it contributes so much to the functionality of the house and its market price.
Major kitchen remodeling projects recoup about 60% of the invested money, while minor works recoup, on average, 80% of the funds.
Large-scale projects usually consist of retiling, installing new cabinetry, painting, new plumbing and getting new appliances, while minor renovations include refacing the cabinets and changing the hardware.
Attic remodel
A house can be big as a castle, but somehow we always find ourselves lacking space for something. Additional space can always be found on the attic, which, if remodeled properly can serve as a kids’ room, master bedroom, guestroom, or for any other purpose.
The first and the most important thing with attic remodeling is adding fiberglass insulation. This is an excellent project even if you are not going to remodel the entire attic, because it recoups more than 105% of the invested money.
Depending on how you are planning on using your attic, the second thing you need to consider are attic flooring options which include plywood, laminate and hardwood, to name a few. What you do from there is determined by the purpose of the room.
Basement remodel
And if remodeling your bathroom is not enough, here’s another profitable project you can take on. This one recovers 70% of the funds you’ve invested, and it can allow you a whole new family room or a children’s play area.
It is also a convenient space to use if you have a teenager who needs a spot to hang out at a healthy distance from the parents.
One of the most common problems with basement remodeling is that the ceiling is often too low. The minimal ceiling height necessary to make it a functional space is seven feet. Also, you should solve the moisture and ventilation problems and insulate the flooring, walls and ceiling.
Upgrading the energy-efficiency
Maybe not the prettiest remodeling project, but definitely one of the most rewarding ones. Improving the home’s energy-efficiency consists of several smaller projects that differ depending on the biggest energy-efficiency problems in your house.
It usually includes improving the property’s insulation (and sealing any air gaps), changing the windows (installing double or triple glazed windows, or in a case of a historic property, storm windows), and switching from incandescent to LED or CFL lighting.
And while you are dealing with your home’s electricity consumption, you should also pay attention to the water usage, and introduce fixtures such as low-flow shower and toilet.
These five remodeling ideas can significantly improve the functionality of your home, and while they do require substantial investments, all of them can recoup a large part of the money you spent, by saving energy or by increasing the value of your home when it’s time to sell.
