Add Value to Your Home
Whether you’re considering listing your property or want to boost your properties value for the future, it’s important to give thought to which improvements and home additions can help you achieve this. There are endless lists of changes and updates that can be made to add value to the property. To keep it simple, we’ve created a list of 10 major and minor home renovations that add the most value.
Upgrade the Kichen
The kitchen is the gathering place of a home and it’s where we spend the most time. In the kitchen we cook, bake, gather at the end of a long day and it’s where guests at all parties end up. An open floor plan, an island with plug ins and built-in storage plus enough counter space to easily prep meals are the most basic and impactful changes you can make.
Keep the décor basic, with neutral tiling for backsplashes and a choose a beautiful, high quality countertop in neutral tones. This way, when the house has new owners, they can still inject their own personalities. (Lomond Kitchen, before and after)
Create an Open Floor Plan
Open floor plans add brightness and warmth to a home and make the rooms feel larger than they really are. Boxy floor plans can feel claustrophobic and unwelcoming, so it’s a good idea to consider turning a space like a separate dining area and kitchen into one room that flows easily.
Depending on your home’s layout there are many creative solutions that will make your house feel more modern and suited to today’s market.
Clever Storage Spaces
Empty nesters an young families alike all need storage and areas like mudrooms are always in high demand. Even just a nook to provide storage for coats, shoes, backpacks and mail will be very appreciated. The key is to create an organized home with less clutter.
Walk in closets are forever popular since they offer so much room and so many options for shelving and other add-ons. Built-in cabinets and bookcases are ways to keep it looking and feeling neat and tidy as well, without sacrificing valuable floor area. This is wear an interior designer comes in handy, at Hasler Homes, we have a few to recommend so never hesitate to ask.
Finish the Basement
The unfinished basement holds so much potential. It could be a media suite, a playroom for the kids, a family room with a built in bar, a suite to generate additional income.
You could build out a home office, a craft room, and even add a washroom. Especially these days when we are spending more time at home, everyone in the family is looking for the extra space to hang out in.
Just remember, keep the basement design basic so the new owners can design this zone to match their own tastes.
Redo the Roof
A worn-out roof is a big deterrent for buyers who might take one look at it and worry about having to tackle that project. The roof is one of the most visible parts of your home and has a huge impact on curb appeal.
If it’s time to upgrade entirely, you may want to consider a metal roof. Metal roofs are designed to last anywhere from 40-80 years with delightfully little maintenance while providing energy savings and better protection from our West Coast weather. This a rendering of a home we are currently building, where you can see the metal roof looks great. (Picture of 4078 Sunnycrest)
Update Your Garage
Don’t over look the garage.
Usually the garage is a lot of square feet that can do more than just house a car.
Think about clever storage spaces, making a separate space to support a hobby. It’s a great space to use hooks and shelving to hold household items or sports equipment. You can keep it clean for a potential buyer or be bold and make it your own like our clients did at our Grouse Woods project.
Create Energy Efficiency
Many home buyers these days are asking how their household can play a positive role in reducing energy usage. While you may not want to go overboard with solar panels everywhere, there are many other ways to add energy efficiency.
Buyers want to see energy efficient appliances, long-lasting LED lighting, redoing the envelope depending on the extent of your renovation, and even HVACs, high-efficiency heat pumps designed to save on utility costs. A few simple upgrades can make all the difference here.
Move the Laundry Room to the Main Level
This is a big renovation due to plumbing, but well worth it considering if your laundry room is currently hidden in the basement or located down a flight of stairs. Some people do their laundry every single day and they don’t want to haul full baskets up and down stairs. If your layout allows, you can make your life so much easier by relocating your laundry to the main level of your home. When you do that, also consider a multi-functioning space and add in a dog wash or mud room of the space allows it.
Build a Covered Outdoor Living Space
In B.C., outdoor living spaces are used often. That said, it’s not enough to add on a deck and call it a day. Part of the outdoor area should ideally be covered, since wet coastal weather patterns and the hot sun can leave any deck or patio abandoned for much of the year. With a covered outdoor living room, you can leave the BBQ, furniture, cushions and candles out all year round for easy entertaining.
Every home has a unique situation, and that’s why the right team of experts is always the best first step when considering a home renovation or addition. Contact Hasler Homes Ltd for a free consultation. You can see some of our home renovations here www.haslerhomes.ca/portfolio.
