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14 Home Improvement Ideas to Increase the Value of Your Home.

14 Home Improvement Ideas to Increase the Value of Your Home.

February 28, 2022

You have decided that 2021 is the year that you brave the housing market and upgrade to a new home. What we are reading about real estate trends right now is a little scary. The housing market is looking like the Wild West. It is a sellers’ market… that’s good news. For the buyers …not so good. Houses with multiple offers are often selling above their original asking price.

If you do your research and become an informed seller, you will get top dollar for your home and feel confident going after your next new home. According to some of the country’s top real estate agents and the leading indicators for tracking remodeling projects across the country, more than 76% see that renovation projects have increased during the pandemic lockdown.

People either want more space and would rather stay in their homes than face the real estate market, or they want to take advantage of the extraordinary rise in real estate prices in their area.
If you are going to invest in a home renovation project, you want to spend your money wisely, whether you plan to sell now or in the future.

Here are the top home improvement ideas to increase the value of your Los Angeles home.

LET’S START WITH THE OUTSIDE PROJECTS. IMPROVE YOUR CURB APPEAL, AND YOU’VE GOT YOUR BUYER HOOKED!

1 . Buyers love new roofs. One new homeowner’s headache not hanging over their heads! A new roof will return 100% of your investment. In Los Angeles, it’s important to go for the most flame retardant materials available.

2.Steel Front Door – Replace the front door with a new steel model. Added safety features and energy-efficient. A new front door spruces up the entrance and keeps out the cold.

3. New Garage doors – Replace the garage doors and give your home a new upgraded look. You’ll definitely make your money back on this improvement.

4. Add an outside stone veneer for super curb appeal, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2020 Cost vs. Value Report. Replacing a 300-square-foot band of existing vinyl siding from the bottom third of the street-facing facade with adhered manufacture stone veneercosts an average of $9,600, but ROI is about 96%. Give your house that elegant, timeless look of stone.

5. Landscaping update – A well-kept-looking garden adds so much curb appeal. Ensure everything in your garden is weeded, mowed, pruned, and contributes to the curb appeal. Add some flowering annuals for some glamour and color. In Los Angeles, plants with low water needs are key.
For $2,000- $3,000, you can spruce up your garden. It will be worth every penny.

6. Outside Paint Job – Touch up your trim. If you need a new paint job or to fix your siding… Just do it! Nothing makes a house look more neglected than peeling paint. Potential buyers will treat your house like a fixer-upper, and their offer will reflect it. Your neighbors will thank you as well. Oh, and if you are the bright Pink or Purple house on the block, now is the time to go neutral… if you are serious about selling. Sorry, but someone has got to give you the news.

7. Decks and outdoor spaces – Since the Covid Pandemic, people spend so much more time at home and getting serious about their private outdoor spaces. Fabulous outdoor space with a great deck and entertaining area are in high demand. Fix up your deck, and it will pay off when you sell.

HOME IMPROVEMENT IDEAS TO INCREASE VALUE FOR THE INTERIOR OF YOUR HOME.

Now let’s move indoors to the interior projects that increase home value. There are major home renovation projects that you can take on that make a huge difference in how your house presents to a potential buyer.

Adding More Square footage – More space equals more dollars when you go to sell. Home buyers’ primary reason for purchasing a new home is that they are looking for more space. Of course, the exception is people downsizing for retirement. Even people planning to retire these days are looking for more space so the grandkids can visit or house multi-generations living together.

HOW TO ADD SQUARE FOOTAGE:

8. Attic additions – adding another bedroom with a bathroom in your attic space is tremendously appealing to homebuyers. It can be used as a guest room, home office, art or writing studio, crafting space, or a great place to house the kids that drift back home for a while. Who doesn’t need more flex space?

9. Basements? Most homes in Los Angeles do not have basements. It not illegal or more dangerous to have one. Basements are popular on the East Coast and the Mid-West because they protect the plumbing during the bitter cold months. We don’t have to worry about pipes freezing in the winter in Southern California. On a building site with limited space, a basement is a great way to add square footage. Of course, we are talking about new construction. It would be prohibitive to add a basement to a slab home. A finished basement can become an amazing family room, home theatre, granny flat, or the spot for your new pandemic home business. Remember, square footage adds tremendous value to your home.

10. Kitchen additions – Kitchens are tricky when it comes to renovations. You are not going to get full value for your renovation. Consider a mini-renovation. Resurface the cabinets and countertops. Refresh the finishings: new faucet, hardware, and neutral paint. Your potential buyer will walk in and think,” this is nice and fresh, and I could live with this.” You can accomplish this for about $20,000-$25,000, depending on the size of your kitchen. A full kitchen renovation will cost about $55,000-$65,000 for an average size kitchen, and you will recoup about 58% when you sell your home. Food for thought!

11. Bathroom remodels – Bathroom remodels are similar to kitchens. No one wants to walk into a house and think, “I can’t live here until I rip this bathroom out and replace it. Update enough so that people can say, “this is nice.” Maybe update to a walk-in shower instead of the old tub and shower. Add a low-flow toilet and new faucet and knobs. Don’t go overboard with all the bells and whistles. You won’t get your investment back for heated towel racks, smart technology sound, lighting systems, heated flooring, etc. Stick to standard prefab cabinets and tile flooring.

12. Open concept floor plan – Homebuyers are looking for that open space feeling. Taking down a wall or two to create an open floor plan is one of the best things you can do to take your home from dark and dated to light, airy, and open. Remember also to declutter and keep the furnishings sparse to highlight the open flow of your home. Homebuyers will give you an A+ for this project.

13. Hardwood floors are a home run when it comes to upgrading your house. Area realtors will tell you that new flooring is a big hit with homeowners and will return 100+% of your investment. Everyone is looking for hardwood floors these days. New floors will give your space a more open flow. Prospective homeowners can imagine their furnishing on these new floors. So, either refinish your current hardwood floors or install new flooring. You will be glad that you did.

14 Smaller sprucing up projects – Look around for those smaller upgrades that will make a big difference. A coat of neutral fresh paint will make everything shine. Check out the recommendations from Pottery Barn and Sherwin-Williams video on choosing pleasing neutral colors. Spruce up your laundry room with some creative storage. Add a smart thermostat. Make sure you have sufficient lighting to show off your rooms. Maybe a fresh duvet cover and pillows to update the master bedroom. Do not forget to declutter.

An analysis of your area can guide you to making good choices with the upgrades and home improvement ideas to increase home value. If you live in a retirement community, buyers will be focused on safety features as they age in place.

If you live in a community that draws millennials with hipster restaurants, coffee bars, and a high walkability rating, find out what is popular with their demographic. They are probably looking for more green and smart home technology. Do your research, and you can dramatically increase your house’s value and enjoy the benefits of living with the upgrades. Don’t get too comfortable. If you follow these guidelines, your house will probably sell quickly.

Structura, Los Angeles Top Home Remodel company, is ready to take on all your home remodeling projects. No job too big or too small. Experts in Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation, Home Additions, and Renovations. Interiors and Exteriors.

The Structura Design Team can also save you money by suggesting ways to achieve your design objectives while reducing costs. Since they have all the design and construction services under one roof, it reduces the overall cost of services. Structura’s clients rave about the quality of their artistry and the affordability of their Home Remodeling.
They are easy to work with. Everything is delivered on time and on budget.

Call Structura today for a free in-home design estimate or a virtual video design estimate.
Structura Remodeling and Design- tops in Los Angeles. No job too big or too small. Let us design and build the home improvement ideas you have chosen to increase your home value.

Call Structura Today 1800-922-4613 for a free in-home design estimate or a virtual video design estimate.
Structura Remodeling and Design- tops in Los Angeles. No job too big or too small. Let us design and build the home improvement ideas you have chosen to increase your home value.