Renovating your home can be complicated, expensive, and time-consuming, especially if you’re not prepared. Part of being a homeowner is investing in your property and making your house into the type of place you’ve always wanted to live. That includes making some upgrades, whether you want to add a pool in the backyard or turn the basement into a craft room. You can even consider an extension to your home if you don’t want to move but need more space. What you want to do is up to you, though it’s a good idea to talk to a professional to get an idea of the impact your improvements will have on the value of your home. If you’re considering any home improvement projects in the near future, read on to learn more about where to start when you want to renovate.
How should I prepare for a renovation?
Before you start to renovate, you should make sure your home is protected first. Home insurance is the best way to avoid finding yourself responsible for the full cost to repair your house when there is an emergency. There’s no way to predict something like water damage, a flood, or a fire, and it can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair the damage to your personal property and the home itself. If you have homeowners insurance, you can protect yourself within your coverage limits from an exorbitant bill after your home incurs sudden and unexpected property damage. Talking to everyone in your household about an insurance policy should be one of the first things on your list after a move.
It’s also a good idea to sit down with a professional contractor who can help guide you through the renovation process, especially if you’re a new or first-time homeowner. If you recently moved, your real estate agent may be able to suggest a contractor or home design professional.
What upgrades should you invest in?
If you’re looking to focus on renovations that will improve the value of your home for a future sale, then look into what changes and upgrades are likely to attract buyers. One new trend in home design that buyers are interested in is the use of environmentally friendly, smart technology. A smart thermostat doesn’t just help regulate the temperature in your home efficiently, it also helps you save money on your utility bills by allowing you to operate your heating and air conditioning remotely and avoid using more energy than you need. Landscaping is another improvement that is known to hold value well.
Kitchen and bathroom remodels are also popular, though you need to mind your budget. Kitchen renovations are especially notorious for becoming money pits quickly if you’re not smart about what changes you want to make. Stick to a small-scale renovation in the kitchen that improves on the basic fixtures that are most often used without tearing everything down. You’d be surprised how much some paint and new finish on your cabinets can change the way a room feels.
There are a lot of things to consider before renovating your home, which is why it’s almost always best to talk to a professional first, even if it’s just to get a sense of what you can expect to spend on your home improvement projects. While it can be expensive to make significant changes to your home, the investment can often pay off when it comes time to sell. Even if your goal isn’t to make a profit, there’s still a lot of value in improving the environment where you spend the most time. For homeowners who do want to focus on improving their home’s equity, smart technology and projects that prioritize curb appeal are a good place to start. For those looking for creative ways to make their new home more fun, start wherever you want. You can make your house into exactly the kind of home you want to live in.