If you’re considering purchasing a new home, you should draw up a budget and then decide on where you want to live. Picking up and moving into a new home isn’t an easy process or a decision that should ever be taken lightly, especially when moving across the country. If you do decide to move to another state, you first need to find a reliable long-distance moving company such as Allied Movers. You should also decide if you want to purchase a fixer-upper or a brand new home, which can be significantly more expensive. There are many advantages to buying a used home, including a lower purchase price, which leaves room for renovations and increases the resale value. Most used homes will require some renovation which, in the process, will also save you money and increase your quality of living.
6 Great Home Improvement Ideas
The Less Maintenance the Better
If you’re a first-time homeowner, you want to find a house that requires the least amount of maintenance. You should consider updating the furnace, water heater, and roof. This may end up costing you thousands of dollars, but the result will be well worth it. A water-damaged roof is a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Installing a new asphalt shingle roof will reassure you and increase the value of your home. A correctly installed roof will save you a lot of maintenance costs, and therefore, you need the best roof experts to handle this task. Consider looking up quality roofing experts in your locality. For instance, if you live around Atlanta, look for a credible Atlanta roofing company that will install your roof perfectly, ensuring that you do not waste your resources on maintenance after this. Homes that are easier to clean are more desirable and fetch a higher resale price. This may require installing stone countertops and replacing carpeted areas with hardwood floors, which is more durable and tends to withstand wear-and-tear better.
Improve Energy-Efficiency
Nowadays, we live in a time where we must do our best to conserve our energy resources, which will significantly reduce the ecological impact on our planet. Energy conservation is extremely important, especially if you live in a place that experiences extreme heat or cold. By making your home more energy-efficient, it will allow you to save more money and will likely increase the value of your home. A majority of millennials want to purchase energy-efficient homes or a house equipped with double-paneled windows, LED lighting, and energy-efficient appliances. Making a home energy-efficient doesn’t necessarily have to cost you tens of thousands of dollars. There are plenty of inexpensive updates you can make, which include adding extra insulation, installing LED lighting, or installing a low-flow toilet.
Smart House
Installing smart home devices is another easy way to renovate your home, which is a lot less expensive than installing new countertops or hardwood floors. You may also want to consider utilizing smart-security devices such as smart locks, security lighting, or a video doorbell, which are equipped with motion sensors to notify you when someone is approaching your home. Another option is to install a smart thermostat. A smart thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature of your home and can be monitored or controlled from a phone or smart device.
Never Underestimate Curb Appeal
There isn’t one homeowner who wants to live in a house that lacks curb appeal. If a neighbor passes by your home, you want it to look its very best, which means you should keep the lawn and exterior well-maintained. You may also want to consider planting flowers or retouching the exterior paint. You should make a list of ways to enhance the exterior of your home, including trimming hedges, mowing the lawn, and performing some minor touch-ups, which will definitely boost curb appeal.
Bathroom Renovations
Renovating your bathroom is always a good idea, which doesn’t necessarily have to cost $20,000. There are plenty of ways to renovate on a budget, especially if you do the work yourself. By adding new bathroom fixtures or a coat of paint, you can increase your home’s value and make it look like a million bucks. Depending on your budget, you could also add tiling or install a larger shower. A bathroom can never have enough lighting which is why you should consider adding additional lighting such as wall sconces or installing recessed lighting. If you have a larger budget to work with, you could consider installing overhead lighting. This is a relatively quick and easy way to update your old bathroom.
Kitchen Renovations
Studies have shown that the vast majority of our time is spent in the kitchen. A kitchen is considered to be the heart of your home. There are many simple ways to renovate a kitchen such as adding a backsplash, upgrading kitchen sinks and faucets, or by painting outdated cabinets.
