​Top 5 Home Upgrades You’ll Love (That Boost Value Too)

Improving your home is a win-win situation. You get to enjoy your space more and may even help to boost home value, thus increasing your equity and letting you set a higher asking price when you decide to sell. Here are some upgrade ideas to get you thinking.

1. An updated kitchen

According to a Consumer Reports survey, a “modern or updated kitchen” is the most important consideration for more than a third of millennial homebuyers. You can do a lot or a little – a full kitchen remodel can increase the value of a mid-range home by more than $40,000, but it’ll cost you an average of $66,000 to do.

Don't want to spend that much? Just adding professional-grade appliances can get your home sold for about 32% more, a trendy steel oven can give you a 34% higher sales price, and even a simple pot-filler sink attachment can get you 28% more.

2. A main-floor laundry room

A centrally located and fully equipped laundry room is the top must-have feature for 2019, according to research from the National Association of Home Builders. Today’s homeowners want their washers and dryers on the main floor of the house, easy to access but able to be closed off for privacy's sake.

3. Energy-saving appliances and other “green” features

When you make your home more energy-efficient, no matter how you do it, you save money for yourself and help the environment at the same time. You also make your home more attractive to buyers.

A programmable thermostat, for example, will save you around 10% on your heating and cooling bills and like a modern laundry room, it’s in high demand among buyers. Replacing traditional windows with low-emissivity (low-E) options, which keep out the cold in winter and the heat in summer, will also generate savings for you and anyone who lives in your house in the future.

4. A sun deck or patio

A well-designed deck or patio makes any property more attractive, and it increases the usability factor of your square footage by part of your yard into functional and enticing living and dining space. Even if you don’t have a lot of space outside to spare, you can build a small patio with a few chairs or a modestly sized breakfast table.

5. Barn doors

Sliding barn doors add visual interest, style, and convenience to your home. A barn door works both inside and out, whether you're looking for an easy way of opening up and closing off your laundry room or create an entry for your new deck.

Because they slide, instead of opening out into the room, so they’re great in places where a traditional door would be obtrusive.

Perhaps the best thing about using barn doors in your home is that they work with almost any aesthetic. They come in many different designs, colors, and finishes, and we're always happy to help you pick one that works!