As a homeowner, it’s only natural that you’ll want to make home improvements from time to time. Ideally, these improvements will increase your home’s value when it comes time to sell. But unless you plan on selling your house as is, the age of the house should be a factor when deciding which renovations will give you the most bang for your buck.
Here are the best home improvements for resale based on your home’s age.
Homes built before 1890
They don’t make homes like they used to in the 19th century… and that’s both good and bad. It’s good because there’s a level of craftsmanship that you don’t see today. The bad is that homes built during that time are likely to have structural issues like a cracked foundation, slanted floors, hidden water damage and so on.
If there aren’t any structural issues and you’d like to update the design, focus on functional improvements like new appliances, updated windows and doors, and restoring the historic elements that gives the home it’s charm.
Homes built between 1890 to 1940
Homes built during this time often need updated electrical work simply because they don’t meet today’s insulation standards and are a fire hazard. After addressing the electrical work, focus your attention on renovations that restore the home’s original features. This means repairing or polishing original light fixtures and door hardware. If your house doesn’t have original fixtures, you can find antique fixtures online.
Homes built in the 1950s
Homes built during this time are known for their clean lines, use of natural materials, and using the outdoors as an extension of the home’s living space. When working on homes from this era, you’ll want to improve the electrical work – namely replacing the old outlets with GFCI outlets.
In terms of design, if your home has different types of flooring, consider changing the flooring to a single type of flooring so that it’s uniform throughout.
Homes built in the 1960s and 1970s
Homes built during this time are known for bold colors… and the use of toxic materials. The most important renovation you can do is to check for asbestos and lead-based paint. You’ll want to hire a professional to handle your asbestos and lead-based paint problems because they can be toxic if handled improperly.
If you’re updating a home from the 70s, you’ll want to check to see if you have an electric panel made by Zinsco or Federal Pacific Electric, because they’ve been known to be a fire hazard. You’ll need to contact a licensed electrician to ensure the work is done up to code.
As for the design aesthetic, you’ll want to tackle loud patterns and colors that once were all the rage. Buyer’s today prefer neutral colors on the walls, stainless steel appliances, and natural wood flooring.
Homes built in the 1980s and 1990s
Builders who constructed homes during the 80s and early 90s often used polybutylene pipes for the plumbing, but these pipes had a habit of corroding quickly and rupturing if exposed to certain disinfectants. While you aren’t required to replace these pipes, they could scare off buyers and lower the overall value.
Also, you’ll want to improve the insulation throughout your house because the insulation used during this time wasn’t the most efficient. This could be an expensive renovation, but you could see a nice increase of value once all is said and done.
For the design, it’s time to ditch the brass or gold hardware and fixtures and opt for something more modern like stainless steel, matte black, or even matte brass. You’ll also want to replace the formica or tile countertops with either marble, granite or quartz (you could also choose neutral laminate if you’re on a budget).
Homes built in the 2000s
You might think that homes built during the 2000s may not need a lot of work, but that all depends on the builders. Sometimes builders would cut corners and do shoddy work in an effort to get houses built quickly to make the most of the housing boom from the early 2000s. Pay close attention to things like cracked flooring, water-logged insulation, drafty windows and doors.
Style-wise, these homes should be in good shape and won’t require a lot of renovation. However, since many folks are working from home, consider adding a home office to your list of renovations. This could mean staging a spare room as the office, finishing the basement to create office space, or doing a complete addition. It all depends on how much you’re looking to spend on the project.
Home renovations could equate to big bucks
We take a lot of pride in the work that we do to our homes. While we may love what we’ve done to the place, that doesn’t mean it’ll pay off when you sell. When you’re planning to renovate prior to selling, it’s always a good idea to take into consideration when the house was built. By doing this, you can address the common issues homes in that era tend to have, but you can update the home’s aesthetics to match current trends while keeping the features that buyers are looking for in a home from that period.
