Every homeowner who genuinely cares about their property is constantly looking for ways that they can improve it. Even simple upgrades can potentially change how a property looks and feels. Whether you plan to stay in this home for decades or consider selling it, this can be a huge advantage.
Unfortunately, not every home upgrade is worth making, and it’s not always easy to distinguish good home upgrades from bad ones.
Are there any home upgrades you almost certainly won’t regret?
The Problems With Home Upgrades
There are a few problems associated with home upgrades:
1. Functionality letdown
Sometimes, people make an upgrade thinking it’s going to transform a room of their house totally, but in reality, it just doesn’t do much. As a simple example, you might install a new tub in your bathroom only to realize that nobody in your family enjoys baths as much as they thought.
2. Exorbitant costs
Exorbitant costs are also a problematic factor. You can mitigate this by shopping around with different contractors to get the best possible quote. Still, many home upgrades are so expensive compared to their benefits that they aren’t worth considering.
3. Quality issues
If you don’t pay attention to quality or hire the wrong contractor, your home upgrades can make your house worse. Again, this can be mitigated by shopping around and hiring the best people you can.
4. Overall ROI
We also need to consider the overall return on investment (ROI). In other words, how much does an upgrade cost compared to how much it increases the value of your home? How much money does it save you in other areas? The higher the ROI, the happier you’ll be with the upgrade.
Home Upgrades You Won’t Regret
These are some of the best home upgrades you can make:
1. Install a fireplace (or insert)
Fireplaces and fireplace inserts are excellent additions to the main room of your house. They serve as a supplementary heat source, making them capable of reducing your energy bills in winter. Many people enjoy their warm, cozy aesthetic. And while not every homebuyer has a fireplace at the top of their “musts” list, adding a fireplace will certainly increase the value of your home.
2. Give the kitchen a facelift
Completely renovating the kitchen from the ground up can be an expensive and complicated nightmare. But giving the kitchen a facelift is reasonably inexpensive yet capable of transforming how you look at this all-too-important room. Refacing the cabinets, replacing the countertops, and swapping in some new appliances may be just what you need.
3. Renovate the bathroom
Bathroom renovations can be expensive, depending on the state of your current bathroom and what new materials you’re considering. However, these are high- ROI projects that most homeowners greatly appreciate.
4. Replace the front door
Is your front door old? Is it hard to move? Does it leak air? If so, consider replacing it. It’s a cheap and quick job that can dramatically boost your home’s curb appeal.
5. Upgrade your old windows
Upgrading old windows has an impressive ROI – and for a few different reasons. Modern windows have far fewer air leaks, making your home much more energy efficient and reducing utility bills. On top of that, new windows have an impressive ROI, adding significant value to your home.
6. Replace the siding
If your siding looks worn or if it’s falling apart, you should consider replacing it. There are many siding options worth considering, regardless of your budget. As long as the job is done properly, your new siding will make your home look like new – at least from the outside.
7. Build a deck or a porch
Want to spend more time outside? Build a deck or a porch. If you’re willing to do some or most of the work yourself, you can get this job done inexpensively – and it can add value to your house for years or even decades.
8. Invest in landscaping
Landscaping work makes a huge difference in your curb appeal. Flower beds, trees, and bushes can instantly elevate your home’s visual appearance when properly chosen and aligned.
9. Finish the basement (or attic)
Finishing the basement or attic gives you extra living space, and it’s a huge plus for prospective buyers. Depending on the layout of your house, you may even be able to rent this area out as a separate room.
10. Paint
A fresh coat of paint makes your house look and feel newer and cleaner – and it’s a ridiculously inexpensive job. If you hire professionals to paint the interior of your home, you can expect to pay between $3 and $7 per square foot. If you do the work yourself, you can paint the whole house for a few hundred dollars or less.
Is it possible to make one of these upgrades and eventually regret it? Of course. Not all homes are suited to all upgrades. You could hire a lousy contractor. You could accidentally end up overpaying. There are a million little things that might go wrong in any project. But realistically, these home upgrades are solid, universally appreciated, and capable of granting you a significant ROI. In other words, they’re well worth considering.
