5 Home Improvement Projects that Pay Off

Posted on February 22, 2023

For many of us, the potential for home improvement is endless—a beautiful lawn, a modern kitchen, a spa-quality bathroom. If you’re wondering what to do first (or what to use your limited budget on), prioritize these projects for a better chance they’ll pay for themselves and attract future buyers.

1.Enhance Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is the first impression your home makes as someone walks or drives up to it. Common curb appeal boosts are:

Power washing
Painting the exterior
Landscaping and flower planting
Building paths and walkways
Installing outdoor lighting
Fencing
Upgrading windows
Replacing old garage doors
Updating door and window hardware
Adding shutters and accent trim
Modernizing the mailbox

2.Kick-start Your Kitchen

Kitchen renovations can be expensive, but many consider the space the heart of the home. That’s why it’s usually worth any upgrades you can manage, even if you can’t re-do the whole thing. Consider:

Painting the walls
Upgrading appliances
Installing modern countertops
Re-facing outdated cabinet styles with new paint or stain
Updating cabinet hardware

3.Expand Your Footprint

Add another “room” with an outdoor deck. Materials and structure can be as simple or as extravagant as your budget allows, and you can add features over time. For example, you may start with a simple deck, then add a roof, then screen it in.

4.Re-do the Loo

Like kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations can be expensive. New everything—flooring, tub, shower, tile, sink, vanity, storage—can cost tens of thousands of dollars. If a total do-over is out of your price range, new paint and hardware can refresh your space without overwhelming your budget.

5.Upgrade Home Tech

Not so long ago, the idea of a “connected home” would make no sense to most of us. Today, many homebuyers, especially millennials, are looking for homes with smart systems connected to the internet. The advantage of smart systems is that you can monitor them from your smartphone when you’re not at home (no dashing home from vacation for a nuisance alarm.)

Smart home upgrades are relatively inexpensive and include changes you can make one at a time:

Thermostat
Smoke and carbon monoxide detector
Security systems, including doorbell cams and electronic locks

Wherever you land, United home equity experts are here to help you understand your financing options, including:

To connect with a mortgage loan originator, call 1-800-914-8224 or fill out our contact form.