What projects make sense to do during a down market? What will make your house easier to live in now and sell later? Take a look at these 9 projects that will be your best bet.
1. Siding and Window Replacement: According to Remodeling magazine, these are the two projects that you will see your costs recouped the most. These projects may cost you from $10,000-$20,000 but they add so much to your curb appeal, increase energy efficiency, and minimize maintenance issues.
2. Turning Your Home Green: Anything "green" will help sell your home in the future while helping your energy costs in the meantime. This includes: reinsulating, caulking, new windows and doors, more energy efficient sky-lights, low-flow faucets and hot water heaters, and new energy efficient appliances.
3. Deck Addition: If you are the only house in the neighborhood without one, go ahead and build it. It will help with resale, especially with buyers desiring outdoor space.
4. Cosmetics: Some things could be as simple as painting, replacing carpet, switching to hardwoods, or updating tile.
5. Stand Out: Add features such as crown molding or faux painting to make future buyers go "wow!"
6. Kitchen Remodeling: Kitchens and bathrooms are always important in a home as thats generally what sells the house. Don't go crazy, but keep your budget in the $5,000-$20,000 range to replace countertops, add new appliances, resurface good cabinets, or add new hardware.
7. Bathroom Remodel: Skip the giant tub, get a smaller soaking tub, and go for a great body spray shower with mosaics or stone tilework.
8. Reinvent Your Space: Home additions are out for now, so take a clustered room and reinvent it. Turn your mud room into an efficient storage area or turn that underused dining room into a study or in-law area.
9. Electric Radiant Heat: Costing around $8-$15 per square foot, adding radiant heating to a room that you're already replacing the floor in is a good idea. This requires little space between tiles or flooring and runs on its own thermostat.
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