5 Important Things to Look for When Upgrading Your House

Mustering the motivation and courage to undertake a large room update is no small feat, and then deciding which projects are the best use of your time and money adds another layer of complexity. In order to get you focused on the projects that will benefit you most, here are 5 things to look for when upgrading your house in Effingham County and Savannah.

Practical Usage

The first thing to consider is how a specific upgrade or room renovation will suit your needs as the current homeowner.

Maybe you have been wanting to switch out some kitchen appliances, update out-of-style cabinet hardware, or replace an aging ceiling fan. Focusing on the immediate utilitarian gain you would see from moving forward with a project is a spectacular way to take a long to-do list and distill it down to the most worthy options.

This works as a reality check to help you out more in the short term so that you can reach for those more lofty, aesthetics-focused projects later on.

Return on Investment

It’s easy to walk around your house and daydream about how you would like to change this or that, but it’s quite another to think critically about the possibility that each of these updates will end up as a money sink in the future.

If you believe there’s even a remote possibility you could be putting your home on the market in the next few years, training an eye on the potential returns from certain home renovation projects could do you a lot of good. When it comes to upgrading your house, most owners want to spring for a full kitchen remodel or a big landscaping overhaul that includes installing a new deck or patio.

It turns out that if you’re looking to recoup the costs of these projects, you’re best off keeping things small. For owners desperately wanting to push for a big change, you’d be amazed what a difference just repainting the interior can make.

Thinking Ahead

While we have covered how an update could impact your home’s value, you also want to think about each of these update options as if you were a potential homebuyer reading a listing.

For example, depending on the climate you live in, an interested buyer might be wowed by new granite countertops, but could simply write off your property that lacks central air.

Swapping out your renovation projects for ones that may help your home sell better in the future will pay off in the long run.

The Big Picture

Once you start visualizing the different updates, it’s easy for your mind to drift to grand bathroom remodels and updated closet spaces.

Instead, you may want to pay close attention to the condition of less exciting but incredibly important things like the roof, siding, and basement. Without proper protection from the elements, the overall condition of your home will quickly take a dive.

Adequate de-watering in the basement will prevent paying for mold remediation and drastically lower the potential for structural issues in the future. Your newly renovated kitchen won’t feel quite so special if ice dams lead to water damage that creates unsightly stains on the ceiling.

Maximize Appeal

A final piece of the renovation puzzle is to remember how the color and style choices of your renovation will impact resale potential over time.

Choosing to go with a more niche style or color choice will instantly limit your home’s appeal on the open market as potential buyers know they have to deal with doing their own updates eventually.

Understand that adding that personal touch is certainly a reasonable thing to do, but it can create bumps in the road once your property is up for sale.