By Chanelle Rogers
Everyone loves a fancy outdoor living room but even the Property Brothers know that small investments in your home can pay off big in the long run.
Major projects like new windows, kitchen and bath remodels, master suite additions and basement renovations are costly but add good value. I’ve got some improvement ideas that won’t break the bank and will make you look like the smartest kid on the block!
According to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost v. Value report, there are some pretty inexpensive upgrades that can actually give more bang for your buck. The chart toppers include energy-saving improvements like new insulation, curb appeal pizzazz like new landscaping and an attractive garage door, and improved safety measures like steel security doors.
Another trending category for improvements is Universal Design — ways to accommodate the elderly and disabled, ensuring that existing or newly installed features can be used by them just as easily as anyone else. Think shower grip bars and lever-style door handles; these upgrades offer a 68.4% return.
You can expect a 64% average return on home improvement projects, but here are some minor improvements you can finish before the summer ends and see big returns down the road when you’re ready to sell your home.
Project: Attic Insulation
Cost: $1,410
Resale Value: $1,248
Return: 88.5%
Project: Steel Entry Door
Cost: $1,522
Resale Value: $1,589
Return: 101.4%
Project: New Garage Door
Cost: $2,094
Resale Value: $1,791
Return: 85.5%
Project: New Landscaping
Cost: $2,000
Resale: $2,100
Return: 105%
