While many people think that upgrading your home must be a grand, expensive endeavor, that’s false. Upgrade is a broad word, and can mean anything from adding a new room to wrapping your windows for better insulation.
Every time you plan a home improvement project, you’re investing money into your home, and thus earning money in the long run. Selling a home is easier when the home has some unique selling points or upgrades, especially on older homes.
Any real estate agent can tell you that by installing an in-ground pool, increases your home value if you ever put it up for sale. Replacing the windows saves you money in heating costs, and even switching to a new shower head can save you money in water bills.
Upgrading your home doesn’t have to happen all at once either. While it may seem overwhelming to have a to-do list of home improvement projects, taking the process one step at a time can keep the momentum going. Within five years you can be looking at a whole new house, and hundreds of dollars in savings. Many of the investments will even pay themselves off in a few months or years, and you can reap the benefits in the meantime … adding more to your home value.
In case you have no idea where to start, here are some innovative ideas to consider.
- Installing ceiling fans. It’s hard to know how important ceiling fans are until they’re gone. While they may just seem like decorative devices, they can contribute a lot to any home that experiences a hot summer. They’re cheap to run, and you can maximize their usefulness by turning them on after the air conditioner to keep the cool air moving. Using both the AC and ceiling fan in shifts, means you can avoid a gigantic electricity bill at the end of the month.
- Wrap your windows. While this is an obvious money-saver tip, it still holds up. A lot of money goes straight through the window during the wintertime, and when you wrap your windows, you can prevent a lot of heat from escaping. Whether you’re using DIY methods or a plastic window film kit, you’re saving yourself from a lot of extra heating fees. Likewise, in the summer months, if windows are tented you could find yourself saving hundreds in cooling costs.
- Replace your fridge. Like we said above, buying a new fridge is a big investment. While it may seem silly to buy a new icebox when your current one is working just fine, age plays a big role in how well our refrigerators work. The technology has gotten better, and there’s a lot more benefits in having a new fridge than an old one. While some of the options are a little pricey, it’s never a bad idea to get a sleek, new kitchen appliance.
With a few well-placed investments and some elbow grease, you can save money on your bills, improve your life, and even make your house more appealing to a potential home buyer. And remember, these are just a few of the things you can do to improve your home and also your home value!
