Does your home rise to meet you at the end of a busy day? Is it time for a transformation?
Over the years, a once-new home can become tired and have a dated appearance. Why wait until you decide to sell to make the necessary changes to potentially increase your home’s value and bring your home up to date?
By now you have created a home with many so memories stored in the rooms of your living space that you may not wish to sell. So why not freshen up, instead? Spending the money now instead of for a future sale will allow you to enjoy the improvements. There's a sense of renewal as you add fresh coats from a new color palette, lighting and improvements that express your lifestyle today.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Make the smartest investment decisions
Take an honest look at your home. How does it compare to other homes in the neighborhood? These will be your future real estate comps. Begin by knowing your home’s value and how much you should reasonably spend in improvements and still get the best value at closing time. (See 10 Small Home Projects That Pay Off Big.)
Set a reasonable spending policy, and be cautious to keep emotions at bay. Consider the interior as well as the exterior for areas that you will get the best value for in resale. Keep in mind most buyers focus on kitchen and bathroom upgrades, as well as curb appeal when purchasing a home. With the correct spending policy and a plan on where to allocate your financial resources, you will enjoy the benefits and potentially improve the value of your home. Thus, making a sound investment decision.
To regain that sense of renewal, follow the guidelines below for updates that will bear the most fruit.
Interior improvements
Take a look around. What looks tired and dated? Declutter and lighten the energy. Remember, the goal is to have your home rise up to meet you at the end of the day. A place of peace and refuge. Be mindful if your flooring colors will not change as you choose your new color palette.
Change all flood or canned lighting to new LED daylight bulbs. The fluorescence of traditional lighting can be harsh on the paint and décor of a room. Make sure to match the color of the bulb throughout the home. Your home will have a clean look with the intended paint color shining through, unlike with warm bulbs that give off a yellow glow and can alter the appearance of your paint colors. Replace old kitchen lights with an inexpensive chandelier, which creates a perfect opportunity to add a dimmer switch. This is a great way to enhance the most utilized area in the kitchen, an elegant but casual feel when paired with a wood table.
Paint freshens up interior walls. Agreeable Gray by Sherwin-Williams is the new neutral. It beautifully accompanies dark woods and white cabinets. Interior designer Alexis Rodgers loves this shade, as it, “makes your space appear neater by giving it airy, seamless transitions from one room to the next.”
For your kitchen and bathrooms, consider hiring a cabinetmaker to paint over darker cherrywood cabinets to a white, fresh look. Add new hardware to update the appearance. This is a much less expensive update than replacing everything with all-new cabinets. A new backsplash, refinishing cabinets, lighting and possibly conversion of countertops to a new lighter quartzite, will go a long way in adding value to your investment. In addition, assuring you will get much enjoyment over the years to come.
Exterior improvements
Curb appeal matters!
Freshen up your home with new lighter contrasting colors by choosing three colors for an exterior. Use a darker trim while leaving the main body of the home a neutral, lighter color and adding a punch of color to garage doors to accent the home.
As for the front door, is it time for paint or a new front door altogether? Consider a new style to let the light in or a move to glass from wood. When the light is allowed to flow transparently, it can change the feel inside and outside the home. It's the first and last thing to be touched on a home visit, so it makes an impression.
New light fixtures make your exterior fresh and trendy, allowing you to add panache to your entrance. Add landscape lighting: Solar is an affordable, easy installation and saves money. Replace tired plants and add color and curb appeal near driveways and walkways. Sculpt and trim trees so that they don’t appear overgrown. Add a water feature, such as a stand-alone fountain, for calming energy flow.
Remodeling’s annual Cost vs. Value Report of different renovation types for 2019 suggests that “for all projects, the overall cost-to-value ratio stands at 66.1%, slightly ahead of last year.” Now is the time to make these changes. By considering these simple changes, you will create a fresh look and can enjoy the upgrades while potentially increasing the value of your home.
Your newly remodeled home now rises up to you!
-
The Rubber Duck Rule of Retirement Tax PlanningRetirement Taxes How can you identify gaps and hidden assumptions in your tax plan for retirement? The solution may be stranger than you think.
-
No Passport? No Problem. Seven US Getaways That Feel Like an International VacationFrom Puerto Rico’s Caribbean flair to Santa Fe’s old world charm, these American destinations deliver a global travel experience — without the hassle of customs or currency exchange.
-
Budget Hacks Won't Cut It: These Five Strategies From a Financial Planner Can Help Build Significant WealthCutting out your daily latte might make you feel virtuous, but tracking pennies won't pay off. Here are some strategies that can actually build wealth.
-
To Unwrap a Budget-Friendly Holiday, Consider These Smart Moves From a Financial ProfessionalYou can avoid a 'holiday hangover' of debt by setting a realistic budget, making a detailed list, considering alternative gifts, starting to save now and more.
-
Treat Home Equity Like Other Investments in Your Retirement Plan: Look at Its Track RecordHomeowners who are considering using home equity in their retirement plan can analyze it like they do their other investments. Here's how.
-
Why Does It Take Insurers So Darn Long to Pay Claims? An Insurance Expert ExplainsThe process of verification, investigation and cost assessment after a loss is complex and goes beyond simply cutting a check.
-
Two Reasons to Consider Deferred Compensation in the Wake of the OBBB, From a Financial PlannerDeferred compensation plans let you potentially lower your current taxes and help to keep you out of a higher tax bracket. It's important to consider the risks.
-
Financial Fact vs Fiction: The Truth About Social Security Entitlement (and Reverse Mortgages' Bad Rap)Despite the 'entitlement' moniker, Social Security and Medicare are both benefits that workers earn. And reverse mortgages can be a strategic tool for certain people. Plus, we're setting the record straight on three other myths.
-
The End of 2%? An Investment Adviser's Case for Why the Fed Should Raise Its Inflation TargetYes, inflation can be tough on those living on fixed incomes, but protecting us from it too strictly could do our overall economy more harm than good.
-
How the One Big Beautiful Bill Will Change Charitable GivingTaxpayers who don't itemize will be able to take a bigger deduction for donations, which could boost giving. However, high-income donors could see their tax benefits reduced.
