Home Improvement: Can I Afford It?
/From money spent to value added, plus improving your quality of life: there’s a lot to consider when thinking about the cost of home improvement.
Can you afford to improve your home?
We hear it a lot: “I’d love to update my home! But it seems so expensive, and we’re on a budget. Can we afford it?”
Home improvement is about much more than making it pretty. It’s about protecting your investment by maintaining and upgrading plumbing, electricity and more. It’s about improving the value of your home by keeping it up-to-date, and improving your everyday quality of life.
There are so many ways to give your home the boost it needs, from a new coat of paint, like our high quality Benjamin Moore paint, to updated kitchen and bathroom fixtures, to structural changes that go with a major renovation.
If you’re concerned about keeping costs low, there are lots of ways to stick to your budget:
Do your home improvement in stages. Only do what you can afford right now, and save up for the next step. Just make sure you’re being practical about planning; living with a huge hole in your bathroom wall will get old pretty quick!
Opt for less expensive materials. Just remember that going for the cheapest product available will give you less in durability and style. At Hardwood Specialties, we offer multiple, high-quality options in cabinets, fixtures and more at different price points. We care about meeting our customers’ needs, even when the budget is tight.
Get creative with funding. Your bank may have an excellent home improvement loan available, or you could ask family for money toward home improvement projects instead of the traditional Christmas sweater this year. Just remember: any money borrowed will have to be paid back. Sometimes that’s worth it, especially if you’re improving the value of your home for resale.
Don’t jump right in with no experience and no consultation. We’ve all seen the “fail” photos when DIYers bit off more than they could chew! We salute all DIYers, and would love to chat with you about your plans, even if you don’t hire us for design.
The value of curb appeal.
Updating your home’s interior and exterior is about more than just keeping things nice. It’s about maintaining the value of your home -- for yourself, and for the future, should you choose to sell your home. You’ve heard about curb appeal: keeping your home’s exterior, including the front door, house numbers and front yard, looking great.
But, in today’s web-connected culture, curb appeal goes even further than what potential buyers see from the street. This Zillow article explains that curb appeal extends to the beauty of your home’s photos in the online listing.
Better quality of life.
You’ve smashed your finger on that stubborn kitchen cabinet door AGAIN. You’re sick and tired of your outdated, barely functional bathroom fixtures. You know the flow of your house would be so much better if you could just move that wall, and put in a gorgeous picture window here.
We hear you! We welcome all kinds of home improvement clients, from those who know exactly what they want to those who just know they need some kind of change. Every design suggestion we make factors in both aesthetic and functional considerations, because we know that simply making something pretty isn’t enough: your home needs to fit your needs, too.
Improving the look and function of your home will absolutely bring calm, and a sense of well-being to your daily life. But, in case you need some added incentive to convince yourself (or your spouse!), keep in mind that improving your home brings a return in dollar signs, too!
Which home improvements bring the most value to your home?
Improving your home for better functionality and a style that really fits you is worth more than money! But, the experts over at HGTV.com have put together a handy list of the top 15 home improvements that bring higher dollar value to your home.
What’s number one? If you guessed giving the bathroom a facelift, you’re right!
Landscaping, kitchen remodel, exterior improvements (like an updated entry) and an attic bedroom conversion round out the top five most valuable home improvements.
Ready to start improving?
When you’re really ready is always the best time, but experts say that summer is a great time to start your renovations. Now that kids are back in school, come by Hardwood Specialties in Morristown and we’ll help you get going on creating your dream home.
Mention you read this blog and get 10% off all in-stock decorative lighting!