As summer begins to end and autumn approaches, it can be the perfect time to consider undertaking some meaningful home renovations or upgrades.
When smart improvements take place in and around the home, they can add significant value to the property, along with making the home environment more modern and comfortable. It can sometimes be a challenge to decide on which spaces need to be renovated and what type of improvements would be most beneficial to a house.
If you are looking to upgrade some of your key rooms, then this article will be of great benefit. Five distinct upgrades are considered. Each of them offers tangible aesthetic benefits and should add value to your property.
1. Home Office
In 2024, millions of people are undertaking remote working or hybrid models of work. This shift in working patterns was in part because of the Covid-19 pandemic that required a large proportion of the world’s population to work remotely to control the spread of the virus.
Today, research suggests that remote working in some form is here to stay, even after the pandemic becomes a distant memory. 63% of employees feel they are more productive working from home, as noted here, and most workers want to work remotely for some part of the working week.
This makes the addition of a dedicated home office an extremely sought-after feature of any modern home and can add value to a property that is placed on the market. A home office should ideally be clutter-free with neutral colour schemes and minimalist décor that promotes focus and effective working.
In terms of home office hardware, a high-quality laptop, as can be found in the Lenovo range, makes an ideal choice for efficient multitasking. Add in a compact home office printer, a high-quality office chair, and a desk, and the room should be complete.
2. Consider Curb Appeal
When a home is put up for sale on the housing market, one of the first features prospective buyers notice is the property’s “curb appeal.” This phrase describes the external features of a property, including the garden areas, and forms a key first impression on the overall desirability of any home in the buyer’s mind.
Conversely, having a well-maintained exterior and pleasant outdoor areas will give a positive first impression of the home. There are numerous ways to improve the curb appeal of any property.
Firstly, ensure that all exterior paintwork is in good condition and free of blemishes. Ensure that any garden areas are well maintained, and lawns are free of moss or patches. There is a range of lawn treatment products that can add vibrancy and improve the condition of lawns, whilst also serving to get rid of weeds.
As a final point for the exterior of your home, it is worth upgrading any broken or old fencing and gates that lead up to the property, as this can dramatically improve the appearance of the outdoor spaces.
3. Make Your Home Energy Efficient
Today’s buyers in the housing market want a property that is highly energy efficient. It is a fact that home energy costs are increasing dramatically in many countries around the world as a result of the war in Ukraine and the rising costs of fuel.
As a result, having an energy-efficient home is an extremely attractive proposition for prospective buyers as well as keeping the energy costs low for the current homeowners. There is a range of ways in which a home can be made more energy efficient.
Firstly, it is important to have a modern boiler that has a high energy efficiency rating. Modern boilers can be up to 94% energy efficient (meaning that only 6% of the energy produced is lost), whilst much older models can be as little as 60% efficient. Modern boilers have the potential to significantly reduce annual heating costs.
Consider also installing double-glazed windows in the home if they are not already present and switch to LED bulbs instead of old-fashioned filament lights. Finally, it is important to ensure that the property is suitably insulated with modern cavity walls and loft insulation as this can dramatically reduce the heat lost from a house.
4. Upgraded Kitchen
The kitchen tends to be one of the most used spaces in any home and, as a result, can quickly become tired looking if not regularly maintained. It is recognized that a new kitchen can add between 5% and 15% to the overall value of a home, depending on the renovations and the quality of the work undertaken.
A well-designed kitchen can become the focal point of any home and is a feature that many potential buyers will pay great attention to. If the kitchen is in good condition but simply looking a little dated in terms of color schemes, it can be transformed dramatically with a simple repaint in a modern style.
For larger scale improvements, consider the addition of a multi-purpose kitchen island, or replacing key appliances with upgraded versions that are more functional and stylish.
5. Regular Maintenance
As a final key point, it is imperative for any homeowner who is looking to sell their property to ensure that the house is regularly maintained. Leaky pipes, cracked paintwork, and broken fixtures and fittings will put off any potential buyers quickly.
If a buyer can see visible signs of disrepair in a home, they will wonder what they cannot see. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to thoroughly inspect the home from a critical buyer’s perspective before putting it on the market to ensure that it looks its absolute best.
A few hours spent undertaking comprehensive maintenance of a property and fixing any little imperfections or problems can make an immense difference to the overall appeal of a home.
To Sum Up
When looking to add value to a home, either for resale or simply for the owner’s enjoyment of the property, some key spaces need to be considered. Add some natural decor like plants, or fresh flowers to make the space look more lively. You can get the freshest flower bouquets if you buy flowers online.
A home office adds functionality to a house and makes a property far more desirable in the modern age of working practice. The curb appeal and overall energy efficiency of a property can add significant appeal and value to any home and a modern kitchen can be a focal point.
Routine maintenance of a home ensures that potential problems are resolved before they become more serious and give an overall well-maintained look to the property.
