Renovations that Do Add Value to Your Home

In our last blog entry, we talked about the misconception that almost any renovation will add to the sale price of your home. We pointed out that some renovations are more for you than a potential buyer, and that you have to think strategically when planning to sell. There are renovations, however, that are likely to boost your home’s price tag.

Appealing kitchen updates that add beauty and utility (without going overboard based on your neighborhood) are a very good bet. Traditional Home offers a list of kitchen updates, with photos, that can help attract buyers. The list includes:

• Adding a Kitchen Island – Kitchen islands offer a host of functional benefits, and can be found in a range of styles and price ranges to suit any home. Even an antique table can be used as an elegant island, if surrounded by the right design.
• Architectural Detailing – Crown molding is one example of an architectural detail that can transform the kitchen environment, upgrading it to make it more stylish.
• Seating – Adding seating to the kitchen area, or an adjacent space, increases dining options.
• Furniture-Style Cabinetry – In an open environment, consider blending the kitchen style with nearby living areas.
• A “Nook” – A kitchen corner can be transformed into an appealing space that will appear to add living area.
• Improved Countertops – Granite countertops continue to be an eye-catching, value-boosting kitchen addition, and natural marble, although it is prone to staining, is a “time-tested classic in traditional kitchens.” Atherton Appliance & Kitchens offers a wide variety of countertop options, ranging from granite to CaesarStone®, an engineered quartz-based surface and Zodiac, which is composed mostly of quartz.
• Storage – There are numerous ways to add elegant, furniture-style storage, such as this Hood Pillar with open spice shelves from DuraSupreme.

The kitchen is a no-brainer for sales-friendly renovations, but what about the rest of the house? TLC reminds readers that putting $20,000 into renovations doesn’t necessarily mean the same amount will be added to the home’s value. TLC’s tips for boosting value for a sale include:

• Adding Space and Light by knocking down unnecessary walls or combining kitchen and dining or living areas into one airy space. Vaulted ceilings are another space-adding feature. Adding master bedrooms and bathrooms is a good value-add for older homes with small bedrooms.
• Add a Home Office by turning a den or other unused room into a stylish office space, complete with a work desk and cabinets for storing supplies. Many people now work from home part-time or full-time, and a home office might be appealing to buyers.
• Make the Exterior Welcoming by painting the house, paving driveways that have fallen into disrepair, and improving the landscaping. As with every sales-oriented renovation, you don’t want to go overboard so that your home has to be priced above other similar homes in the neighborhood. But you do want your house to look appealing to potential buyers driving by, or pulling in for an open house.
• Updating or Adding Bathrooms is always a good idea. If the neighborhood is in the right price range, adding such amenities as heated floors and steam showers could be a good idea. But keep eco-friendly buyers in mind before adding water-guzzling options, and focus on the basics (traditional ceramic tiles are preferred over wood flooring or linoleum because they handle water better, for example).

Figuring out how much to spend on renovations isn’t easy. MarthaStewart.com notes, “Everything will cost 30 percent more and take 25 percent longer than you expected.” You want your renovations to improve the style, functionality, and salability of your home, without costing more than the value that will be added.

If you plan to renovate your kitchen as part of a home upgrade, visit the showrooms at Atherton Appliance & Kitchens and BSC Culinary for renovation and design advice. Our onsite experienced designers at Atherton Appliance & Kitchens will be happy to help you, and we can make recommendations regarding other companies that can address the different areas of your home.