Tips to Raise the Value and Enjoyment of Your Home!
I’ve been speaking with a lot of people lately that have been curious about the upcoming spring real estate market in Montreal and the surrounding areas (Vaudreuil, Pincourt, L’ile Perrot, etc…). They’re not sure whether now is a good time to consider selling and buying their next home, or if they should wait. Unfortunately, with everything that’s happening in the world, with the economy and with inflation, it’s difficult to say for sure what this upcoming real estate market will have in store.
We’ll definitely tackle projections for the real estate market in future blogs. However, regardless of where the real estate market ends up in the months to come, one thing is for sure: It’s never a bad idea to make your home a more appealing space… Unless you make bad financial decisions during the process… so we’ll go over how to avoid doing that as well!
Whether it’s to raise the value of your home or to make living in your home more enjoyable, Here are 5 ideas that help accomplish both of these goals at the same time:
Paint: A coat of paint can go a long way in refreshing your home. Choosing a neutral colour will appeal to a wide range of buyers if you're planning to sell, while still allowing you to have fun with accent colours. Designers can help you choose the right colours for your space, ensuring your happy with the end result of your painting project.
Update your kitchen: This doesn’t necessarily mean to rip out the whole kitchen and start over. Sometimes adding a backsplash or refacing cabinets is all you need to make your kitchen shine. Changing lighting, faucets and cabinet handles are another cost effective way to revitalize your kitchen.
Update your bathroom: Just like with the kitchen, this doesn’t need to be an overly expensive endeavour. Changing the vanity, swapping out lighting, upgrading the shower head and painting can make all the difference, without breaking the bank. I once renovated a bathroom entirely in one day for less than $1,000 and some sweat equity.
Add storage: Extra storage is always a plus, especially in smaller homes. Consider adding shelves, storage compartments, built ins, or fun pinterest style nooks to help add and/or freshen up your homes storage options.
Re-imagine outdoor living space: This one will need to wait until spring, but I often like to plan these projects in advance. Adding a patio, a garden box or a deck is a great way to make the outdoor living areas around your home more appealing. Though a project like this can be a bit more price-y, it’s well worth the money if your outdoor living spaces are lacking.
That said, it’s incredibly important to understand that decisions you make to upgrade the aesthetics of your home, should make sense. If you’re not familiar with a project you plan on undertaking, speak with a few people who have completed similar types of projects to get a better idea of what to look out for. Also, be mindful of cost-return ratio when renovating. If you over spend in an area that yields a lower return than the expense, you should be aware of that prior to starting the project.
Sometimes we need to turn the page and start the next chapter of our lives in a new space. Other times, we simply need to invest in our current space to grow a new appreciation for it. Whichever situation is right for you, your real estate broker is always happy to chat about your real estate plans. Your realtor might even have references that could help you successfully complete your renovation projects.
Whether you're looking to raise the value of your home or simply want to make it a more comfortable and enjoyable place to live, hopefully these home improvement ideas can help you achieve your goals. There are plenty of ways to personalize your home while raising it’s value. So why wait? Start tackling those projects today and watch your home's value and enjoyment levels soar!
