The most valuable asset you own is probably your home since you spend a significant portion of your time there; therefore, you need it to be a comfortable and functional place. To achieve this, you may consider renovating or upgrading certain aspects of the house to improve its functionality.
Upgrading your home is a great investment since it allows you to customize your house’s specific parts or rooms while potentially increasing its marketability and future value. This article will look at nine areas to invest in to ensure your home retains much of its intrinsic worth.
1. Replace Your Septic Tank
If you reside in an area where homes frequently use septic tank systems, you know how important it can be to have a functional septic tank. Every system has a specified lifespan, which is usually 20 years. However, it may sustain early damage depending on the age of the tank and insufficient septic cleaning and pumping.
The need to seek a septic pumping business to pump the septic tank more frequently due to its decreased functionality indicates that the work is regressing, which means that waste is not decomposing as effectively as it should be. Upgrading your septic system will help you avoid such problems as they could be even more troublesome and expensive to deal with in the future.
Compared to the frequent maintenance expenditures and having the tank drained, replacing your septic tank with one that is bigger or better is a great investment. As long as you use the new septic tank properly and adhere to all the septic services and maintenance recommendations, it will be in perfect working condition for decades.
2. Replace Your Roof
Everyone agrees that the roof is a home’s most crucial feature by providing comfort and safety from a severe storm, torrential rain, snow and ice, intense sunlight, or strong winds. However, a roof wears out eventually, so you’ll need a replacement if your roof is old, leaky, or has significant storm damage.
Additionally, if you want to sell your home in the future, installing a brand-new roof is a great investment as it will enable you to raise your home’s value and appeal. Your property will have a new lease of life with a brand-new, well-maintained roof in vibrant color. It will also reflect your commitment to being a responsible homeowner who takes pride in their property, and you won’t have to worry about leaks, drafts, and dangerous mold.
Hiring a professional roofer to install your new roof also ensures durability as they provide a craftsmanship and manufacturer’s warranty. These warranties provide coverage for various repairs, roofing components, and even labor for a predetermined time to ensure less stress for the owner.
3. Landscape Your Yard
The goal of landscape design is to make your yard a lovely getaway while reducing the adverse effects that human activity has on the local plants and ecosystem. The genuine value of landscape design goes beyond visual improvements, even though adding a few potted plants can substantially enhance the appearance of your yard.
When it rains, your yard may become a mud puddle if you don’t have a good landscaping plan. Fortunately, a reputable lawn company will provide a design that redirects rainfall and runoff away from your plants and toward a designated drainage area to avoid flooding.
In addition to providing a healthy environment for nearby birds, planting native trees, flowers, and plants also contribute to the climate change mitigation effort. Hiring a professional tree company to grow the necessary vegetation or maintain the existing ones, such as pruning long branches, is an excellent way to start if you value environmental preservation.
Permanent hardscapes, such as stone patios, outdoor fireplaces, and outdoor kitchens, are examples of long-lasting beauty that can raise the value of your property. Low-maintenance landscaping is a great investment that is beneficial even for small backyards. You can be sure that your investment in your landscape design will pay off in the long run, whether you want to live in your house for many years or decide to sell it.
4. Upgrade Your HVAC
You can make your home more comfortable by updating your HVAC system. A high-quality AC is a great investment choice since it is easy to maintain, durable, and requires minimal air conditioning repairs. The air that flows through modern HVAC systems is purified more effectively to deliver cleaner and healthier air which will, in turn, lessen allergy or asthma symptoms and the need for frequent dusting.
Upgrading your HVAC system is also a vital action you may take to reduce the global carbon footprint. Older HVAC systems have an R-22 refrigerant, but due to its hazardous components, the EPA is working to phase out and outlaw the use of R-22 in the USA. Therefore, it is best to upgrade your HVAC system, if it uses this type of refrigerant, as soon as possible. Modern HVAC systems are much more effective in decreasing carbon emissions and lower electricity costs.
Modern systems have an automated thermostat which will alter your life if you don’t have it and prove to be a great investment. You will no longer face the issue of arriving home after a long day of work only to find that your house is either chilling or unbearably hot. While you presently have to regulate the temperature as you enter the house and wait for it to reach a comfortable degree, these days are soon going to be a thing of the past.
Thanks to technological advancement, programmable thermostats enable one to control them via WiFi remotely. With this easy modification, you may set the thermostat to stay in a setting that reduces energy use while you’re away. The thermostat will then adjust per your specified time once it is almost time for your return.
5. Invest in Pest Control
Pests that frequently infest homes and yards are rodents, spiders, mosquitoes, and wasps. They can cause damage to your possessions and property, costing you a lot of money to replace and repair the harm. For instance, pests like termites, commonly referred to as demolitionists, reside in wood-made objects like walls, floors, and other structures. They continue to work within the wood, eventually destroying it, and the harm worsens with time as they nest in the places.
Hiring an experienced local pest control contractor is a great investment since they are efficient and relatively inexpensive compared to the potential long-term costs associated with pest infestations. They also help homeowners avoid further pest infestations by identifying issues that could lead to further infestations and managing them before they spiral out of control. Therefore, eradicating the pests before all these problems arise will enable you to save a sizable sum of money.
6. Replace Your Windows
Window replacement may initially seem expensive and time-consuming to homeowners who do not see any problem with their current windows. Still, it is a great investment that will provide them with plenty of benefits in the long term. Newly fitted windows can survive at least 20 or 30 years, thanks to modern standards, unlike the older versions.
Older locks and window cracks pose a severe security threat. Therefore, hiring a professional window service technician skilled in installing modern locks and sturdy glass is essential since replacing those with newer models will automatically increase your security. However, ensure that the contractor inspects and tests your new windows for forced entry to guarantee that they will effectively protect your home.
Older and efficient windows may not appear to be the reason for your high energy costs, but they can significantly contribute to this issue. However, by replacing your windows with ones that contain vinyl as the frame material, you will lessen the amount of air that enters and leaves your house, and your energy bill will significantly drop.
Your property will also look much more appealing with new and modern windows, which will significantly increase your home’s curb appeal. If you’re hoping to sell your home or, at the very least, increase its long-term value if you someday choose to do so, such a replacement project is a great investment to consider.
7. Revamp Your Garage
The National Association of Realtors states that a brand-new, cutting-edge garage can increase the value of your house by returning 83% of your investment when you sell your home. The main reason is that potential buyers initially notice the exterior and garage doors before entering the property. Therefore, upgrading your garage, even if you are not considering selling your home, is a great investment that improves your property’s curb appeal.
You can also lower your homeowner’s insurance premiums by revamping your garage and installing a new steel residential garage door. Your insurance may go up if you have an old garage because they tend to break down more frequently, especially in poor weather. Fortunately, new garage doors can sustain pressure during extreme weather, reducing the likelihood of an insurance claim. Inform your insurance provider when you install a new garage door and inquire about potential savings.
Your garage floor faces frequent exposure to lubricants and heat, especially when your car is leaking. It is challenging to clean these compounds, which are also destructive to traditional flooring. Therefore, it is essential to have garage flooring that is not only strong and easy to maintain but also reasonably priced. Fortunately, epoxy floors are heat-resistant, simple to clean, and widely accessible at relatively low costs despite the rising demand, making them a great investment.
8. Repaint Your Home
Fresh paint on the walls, woodwork, doors, or even your staircase can significantly boost the value of your home if you’re searching for a straightforward approach to get a return on your investment. Applying a perfect paint color to your home’s interior will add ambiance and warmth.
For instance, light colors help to enlarge small spaces, rich neutrals bring warmth to bedrooms, and somber gray gives a dining room a magnificent feel. The options are practically unlimited, especially if you engage with a professional who can effectively guide you in selecting the perfect paint colors for your home.
Repainting the exterior of your property is a great investment since it’s the quickest way to increase your property’s curb appeal by giving it a brand-new look. Painting your home’s exterior wood protects against termite damage and other pests. However, it would be best to paint the entire exterior walls up to the level of the ground’s surface and use paint blended with primer for maximum protection against pests.
9. Upgrade Your Home’s Lighting
A beautifully designed house is worthless if the lighting can’t highlight the cozy, inviting atmosphere. Strategically placed lights may add personality to a space and affect how we feel. Many believe that the only way to brighten a room is with overhead white lights, but selecting the ideal lighting setup may completely alter the vibe of a space.
Consider using large pendants, sconces, ceiling lighting, or even combining popular home design elements like candles to draw attention to a room’s main point. Wall-mounted lighting fixtures like sconces can serve multiple purposes, such as task lighting in places like bathrooms. We frequently utilize recessed lighting, but adding a pair of sconces to a bathroom may elevate the design and create a calming atmosphere. These lighting fixtures are also excellent for emphasizing particular areas of a space, such as a bookshelf or displaying artwork.
CFL bulbs (Compact Fluorescent Lighting) are a fantastic option for saving energy. Although they may initially seem expensive, you’ll soon discover that they’re a great investment choice in the long run due to their low power consumption, significantly reducing your electricity bill. It is preferable to select a long-lasting lighting system, such as LED bulbs with a 12-year lifespan if you are going to replace your current one.
These nine home upgrades and modifications are a great investment as they have the potential to enhance your property’s value, increase its appeal, and even help you save money in the long run. You can try the ones that intrigue you the most to make your home more appealing and productive.