Time to Remodel? The Smartest Winter Home Improvement Projects

From Jennifer on December 29th, 2009 in Home Additions

With the economy as sluggish as it’s been, homeowners are finding it nearly impossible to sell their home. Many are even hesitant to remodel. There are several improvement projects, however, that can greatly boost your chances of finally selling that home. It may help you find a buyer more quickly, but then again, it may just make you fall in love with your home again and never want to leave it.

Energy Efficiency

One of the best investments you can make, whether for selling or for your own enjoyment, is making your house more energy efficient. Eco-trends aside, this will save you serious money in the long run, not to mention give your family extra comfort by reducing cold, drafty air leaks.

Window Replacement

Window replacement has topped the lists for the past several years and is still going strong. Quite possibly the smartest improvement you can make to your home, replacement of older windows with new, energy efficient ones saves you cash on energy bills, dramatically reduces heating and cooling loss, and gives you the added bonus of improving the appearance of your home’s exterior. Plus, President Obama has extended the homeowner tax credit incentive for window replacement projects. There’s never been a better time for an upgrade.

Finish the Unfinished First

While many recommend expanding your living space to increase the home’s value, I’ve come to realize that you can do yourself one better by improving the space you have. For example, finish your basement or attic space first. It costs far less money to finish unfinished spaces than it does to add on new rooms. Not only will these projects add to the value of your home, but they’ll also give you new areas to live in and enjoy.

There are endless possibilities for newly finished spaces: home office, additional bedroom or bathroom, home theater, craft room, play room or even a complete apartment. Check with your local zoning office and determine if your home is eligible for additional bedrooms. There is a maximum for the size of your home.

Biggest Bang for Your Buck

• Cheaper projects that can bring you the greatest return for your investment include:
• New light fixtures
• Replacing your laminate countertops with granite tile (much less expensive than granite slabs)
• New medicine cabinet and shower doors
• New flooring
• Replacing your cabinet doors and drawer fronts

The idea with all of these projects is to make the biggest difference in your home for the least amount of money. Get creative, and you can find numerous ways to freshen up the look of your home and improve its livability for a minimum of financial layout.

Photo Credits: Renovation Design Group & ReNew