Home with Renovation Peoria IL

Your home is your private sanctuary. It's where you are free to be yourself and share time with family and close friends. Your home is a reflection of your lifestyle and values; this is why more and more people are adding features and renovating their homes to better fit their unique lives.

When thinking about making improvements to your home, consider which changes will add to your home’s market value. Ideally, you can perform upgrades that improve your quality of life at home while also increasing the value of your home.

Upgrades With the Best Return on Investment

Home experts say that kitchen and bathroom upgrades give you the best return on your time and money. Smaller, cosmetic renovations that brighten a room or make it look new tend to offer a good return for your money if your budget is tight.

Remodeling magazine recently ranked a minor kitchen facelift as the best return on investment at 81%. Bathroom remodels are also ranked high, expecting to return approximately 71%. Adding a family room also returns approximately 71%, but room additions are more costly than many other home improvements.

Of course, marble countertops and hand-tiled hallways also add value, but the cost of the improvement often exceeds the increase in value. Unless your life won’t be complete until you have a hand-painted, floor-to-ceiling mural, go with a less expensive project to improve the look and value of your home.  

While your investment return should be a consideration, your primary concern should be the changes that make you feel the best about your home. Often, just a change in color or slight upgrade to a room can improve your attitude and brighten your living space.

Color Me!

The easiest way to improve the ambiance of a room is to add color or refresh drab walls. You don’t have to repaint an entire room; an accent wall adds interest, or you can repaint baseboards and window accents to add contrast and dress up a room.

If you expect to sell your home in the next few years, it’s a good idea to choose a color that’s neutral. For 200 years, white has been the top color choice of home interiors. Other colors that help add value to your home are off-whites, earth-tone browns and beiges. Darker browns and beiges are popular trim colors. However, if adding bold color to a room or wall is important to you, do it. You can always repaint when it's time to sell. 

Replace Countertops

Replace drab, marked countertops with new ones to make your kitchen sparkle. There are so many new options to choose from, you’ll be able to find a countertop that fits your taste and budget. These popular options can increase your home's value and make for a quicker sale:

• Laminate is the least expensive and most common counter surface in American homes. Approximate cost of the counter top and installation is $15-$25 per square foot.
• Earthstone®, Corian® and other solid surfaces are easy to maintain, come in fashionable patterns and colors, and are sturdy, ranging in price from $40-$75 installed.
• Granite is still considered top of the line in quality, but recent innovations in fabrication have made it more affordable. It’s resistant to heat and scratches, and is now available at approximately $50-$175 installed.
• Engineered stone is a blend of 93% quartz and 7% resin. It boasts the strength and look of natural stone, but it’s less likely than granite to crack or stain. Prices range from $60-$200 installed.  

Upgrade Cabinets

The cabinet doors in your kitchen and bathrooms take a beating every day. Making your cabinets look new will improve your home's value. Either replace or refinish older cabinet doors. If you believe they’re past redemption (lots of nicks, deep gashes, or warped doors), replace them. Refinish them if they just need to be restained or repainted.

Don’t take on this project yourself unless you know what you’re doing and have plenty of time. It’s much better to pay a professional the first time than to have the job redone, or to have to live with amateur results.

Replace Sink Faucets

There are so many style innovations to sink faucets. This upgrade can be a fun improvement to plan and an easy one to implement.

New faucets vary in price depending on material and style. An updated yet simple look is a good bet for adding a finishing touch to your kitchen or bath while increasing your home's value.

As always, do your homework. Either visit stores or research your options on the Internet. Faucets come in a wide range of styles and prices. Ask your home improvement professional whether a particular model fits your sink, or check with the manufacturer before purchasing.           

Feel Good About Your Upgrades

These are just a few ideas on how to individualize and brighten your home while improving its value.

While it's a good idea to choose neutral colors and simple styles to avoid alienating buyers with different taste than yours, it's just as important to reflect your own style. The biggest payoff to most renovations or decorating projects is in the increased pleasure you enjoy at home.

Happy renovating!

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