It’s widespread knowledge that kitchen and bathroom upgrades provide the best return on their renovation investments. But what’s the wisest way to make those investments, and what else should you consider? If you’re considering renovations in Maple Ridge, continue reading. As you decide whether and where to put your renovation budget, it’s important that you’re informed about your options and their effects on your house’s long-term future.
Bigger is Not Better
When considering home renovations, you can avoid significant costs simply by maintaining the footprint of the original structure. It’s much simpler to completely gut a room—remove everything down to the studs—than it is to build an addition from the foundation up. It’s also worth mentioning that current homebuyers often prefer quality finishes over solely square footage. Many people looking to purchase a home see a larger house as more to clean, maintain, and furnish than a better investment.
Avoid HVAC Changes
Replacing plumbing lines and moving fixtures and appliances can add costs to a renovation because more specialized workers need to be involved. Simply replacing fixtures can update the look of a house without blowing your budget. Replacing decades-old linoleum or peeling paint can dramatically affect how people perceive the house. Other ways to control costs is to use mostly simple materials, such as a plain large-format tile, but splurge on the accent or trim tile to make the room feel special and to add interest to the design. Another option would be to install Ikea kitchen cabinets, and add high-end hardware or a quartz countertop to upgrade the look.
Energy-Efficient Changes are Key
If you’re looking to sell your house in the foreseeable future, upgrades such as refinishing wood floors or replacing the roof provide the highest return on your investment, typically recouping all of their costs at resale. Making these types of energy-efficient improvements can improve your home in the eyes of a buyer as well as cost you less to maintain while you still live in it. Adding spray-foam insulation, a new roof, or replacing windows might seem like an expensive change upfront, but these kinds of improvements pay off for the entire remaining life of the house structure, even if the owner changes. You’ll be bestowing your property along with its lowered ongoing costs, which can be appealing to prospective buyers.
Stay Within the Neighborhood Market
As you prepare for any renovations in Maple Ridge, consider your house’s total value and the value of the surrounding houses. There’s no sense in pouring so much money into renovations that your house becomes the most expensive one around. Part of the formula that real estate agents use when pricing a house to sell or making an offer on one to buy is the sale cost of nearby houses. A house that’s priced too high—or “out of the market”—can take a very long time to sell.
For renovations in Maple Ridge, consider Alair Homes. Their Client Control™ process avoids surprises by ensuring that the customer remains informed about both timelines and costs related to each project.