How much does home improvement cost ?

The American housing market is slowly getting back on its feet after suffering one of the worst stagnant periods for a long time. There is still a lot of caution though at the moment as economically things are far from certain for the future. Some people are opting to look at home improvement costs as an alternative to moving or as a way to add value to their home for when they eventually do sell at some point in the future.

Which Home Improvements are Good Value ?

There are certain home improvement costs that are still considered a good investment and the benefits can also be enjoyed while living in the home before selling. So which home improvement costs are worth taking on at the moment?

Functionality.

Home improvement costs can vary from simple DIY jobs to those involving structural work and hiring a contractor. Among the home improvement projects popular today are recharging and work stations for computers and other electronic equipment being incorporated in the main living areas of a home.

Practicality.

There is a definite trend to combining living space and kitchen space more and more, as this is where most families spend the majority of their time together and these areas are very social. Home improvement costs for kitchen remodeling or opening up space can pay off immediately in terms of functionality and also when you eventually come to sell.

Green Home Improvements.

More people are giving thought to recycling and including special areas where they can locate the bins necessary to do this. It also appears that extended pantries are becoming popular as well.

In recent years green home improvement has also gained ground with many people considering the materials used for their home improvement projects. Sustainability is key for the environment and using renewable materials can help keep home improvement costs down as well as protect the environment at the same time.

Flooring and kitchen counters are items that have seen an increase in the use of renewable construction material.

Best Home Improvement Projects.

Sometimes the most obvious things get overlooked, but if you’re keen to keep home improvement costs down but get the best return then here are some ideas based on a survey of various real estate brokers across the US.

• Simply landscaping the front and back yard can dramatically increase ‘curb appeal’ and add value to your home. Landscaping can cost as little as $450-$600 but add $2,200-$3,000 to the asking price in the future. It’s one of the home improvement costs with the highest return on investment at over 400%.
• Making sure that the plumbing system in your home is in good condition, that all drains are clean and without blockages or obstructions, no leaky taps or noisy pipes, can be done by a contractor in one day normally but can add up to $2,200 on the asking price of a home.
• Carpet cleaning should be without doubt a priority. Again, it’s something that a contractor can do in a day and carpet cleaning costs usually run around $600-$750 for a typical home and will make your home appear fresher and smell better.
• Kitchen remodeling costs as little as $1,500-$2,200 but could add as much as $3,000-$4,500 to the value of your home which represents a return of over 200%.
• Bathroom are very similar to kitchens in that some simple remodeling work can produce a much more attractive impression for homebuyers, and even bathroom remodeling costs for as little as $1,000-$1,500 can make a difference to your home.

Water filtration systems for drinking water, kitchen cabinets made from natural wood, stone countertops and top end kitchen appliances ware all popular with home buyers, but the home improvement costs don’t pay off as quickly for the homeowner.

Smart Home Improvements.

Be smart and choose your home improvement projects carefully. Enjoy the benefits yourself while living in your home and you can be sure that when the time to sell arrives, even in a non-buoyant housing market, you’ll have added value to your home and without home improvement costs getting you into debt to achieve them.

Get in touch with local contractors in your area and find out just how little some home improvement costs can be, while adding thousands to the value of your home.

To get a better idea of costs, here are some home improvement estimates from professionals. 

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