20 Ways To Add Value To Your Home

HGTV ran a special presentation last night revealing the Top 20 Ways To Add Value To A Home.  The show featured many experts (builders, designers, appraisers, realtors) offering their opinions on which home improvement projects will reap the biggest rewards. 

Here is their top 20 countdown: What do you think?

#20: Update the Home Office- "as more people are working out of their homes, a home office isn't just a luxury, but it has become a necessity"

#19: Spring for a Sunroom- "anytime you add square footage & living space to your house, it's a winner"

#18: Create or Renovate a Master Suite-"33% of house shoppers are more than likely to buy a home that has been recently renovated; Master Suites are an expected feature"

#17: Add On a Family Room-"people want open floor plans"

#16: Get a New Roof- "a shabby roof leaves a first impression that the current homeowners do not take good care of their place"

#15: Liven Up the Landscape-"Turn your desert landscape into a destination hot spot with plenty of seating, elegant water features and lush plants"

#14: Invest in a Major Kitchen Remodel- "size matters when it comes to kitchens. Update with recessed lighting and lots of cherry cabinets"

#13: Bring in a New Bath-"if your home has fewer faucets than beds, you might want to consider adding a bathroom"

#12: Be Sure an Addition Blends-"Combining design elements of the original house and the addition can pull together to create a flawless makeover"

#11: Install New Windows-"new windows are important in terms of energy issues, but they are also a signal to a future buyer that the current homeowners have really taken good care of the house"

#10: Refurbish the Basement-"maximize unused space; create an entertainment area that will wow people"

#9: Put in a Deck-"On average, when a homeowner adds a deck to their home, they are likely to recoup approximately 76 percent return on their investment"

#8: Do a Major Bath Remodel-"Stealing space can be a better solution if you can find the extra square footage"

#7: Paint, Paint, Paint-"think classic & neutral"

#6: Add On to the Attic-"The space above a garage is often small, dusty and cramped space and sometimes rarely even used for storage. Why not turn it into a bedroom suite?"

#5: Build a Second Floor-"Adding a second story can do more than just create square footage. It can bring balance to an uneven house"

#4: Keep Rooms Flexible-"too much customization can be a problem when selling"

#3: Revive the Kitchen-"kitchens sell houses, so investing in an improvement in this room is the way to go"

#2: Make Minor Bathroom Changes- "Minor changes can be advantageous because they cost less and often net a greater return than the investment"

#1: Spruce Up the Siding- "bad siding is going to earn you the title of a fixer-upper"

Also highlighted in the show were the Top 4 Home Improvement Myths.

Myth #1-Any Remodel Is a Good One-featured a musician who put in a 2^nd story concert hall balcony so guests could watch him perform.

Myth #2-I Can Do It Myself-featured a "wanna be handyman" who wanted to save money by doing it himself.  He ended up hiring a contractor to complete the project. 

Myth #3-Pools Add Value-discussed issues relating to liability and maintenance.

Myth #4- Follow the Latest Design Trends-featured peach textured wallpaper in a bathroom (yuck). "Features like this must go before the house is on the market"  "Neutral colors or palettes have more of a timeless feel and will appeal to far more people".

The show will air again on May 13^{th @} 5:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Also, look for Designed To Sell's Top 35 Selling Secrets to air on May 20^{th @} 9:00 pm ET/PT