Planning on Selling Your Home? Focus Your Design on ROI

Redesigning and remodeling your home offers a lot of value, not just for your own enjoyment but for the future. If you’re planning to sell your home – now or in the future – investing in quality upgrades can pay off in higher resale value.

However, not all design choices pay off in the long run. It’s important to be strategic with your home renovations and choose the best return on investment (ROI) designs. Look at which design choices pay off – and which could leave you in the hole.

Focus on the Kitchen

Kitchens are a focal point of the home, from family time to entertaining. For home buyers, kitchens are one of the most important features they look for, especially when it comes to recent upgrades, functional features, and an attractive look.

Completely redoing your kitchen can be a pricey option, but you can focus on some strategic upgrades that offer excellent ROI without a massive budget. For example, refacing your existing kitchen cabinets to refresh your look is cheaper than a cabinet replacement, but it makes a world of difference in the final look. Similarly, you can replace outdated countertops with durable materials like granite or quartz.

Refresh the Bathroom

Bathroom renovations are a popular upgrade that can pay off in higher home value. Like the kitchen, you don’t have to overhaul your whole bathroom to get ROI. Simple upgrades like modern fixtures can make a big difference.

Upgrading faucets and showerheads makes a noticeable difference in your bathroom’s look, supports a greener lifestyle, and appeals to home buyers. You should also replace any worn tile, which is the first feature to show age and wear and prevent water damage. Another option is to add picture windows or skylights in bathrooms that offer some natural privacy, creating a spa-like appeal.

Make a Great First Impression

Curb appeal is often underestimated, but it’s what attracts prospective buyers and creates a first impression that can make or break the sale. Your home’s exterior is the first thing buyers see when they look at your property, so you should invest some of your budget into improving the outside of your home.

Landscaping makes a huge difference. Make sure your lawn is well maintained and add some attractive trees and bushes or flowering plants to make the space look cared for. Small touches, like flower pots lining a walkway, can pay off.

You should also upgrade any aspects of your exterior that are showing wear, such as aging fences, worn siding, or rusted porch railings. Consider adding façade lighting to highlight your home’s architectural features and add some security to your entryway.

Consider Open Concept

Open floor plans can be controversial, but more and more young home buyers are seeking out open-concept homes for their spacious and connected feel. Turning your home into an open concept is a matter of knocking down walls that aren’t load-bearing, and turning your common living areas into one warm, inviting space.

Open concept also appeals to homeowners who entertain. This often includes a combined kitchen, dining, and living room for a central gathering space where everyone can talk without walls separating guests from each other.

Enhance Natural Light

Natural light can dramatically improve wellbeing, especially for people who work from home, and helps turn it into an inviting, tranquil space. If you have small windows, a simple upgrade to larger windows can add a lot of natural light for a relatively small investment.

Depending on your budget, adding some skylights can bring in a lot of light without limiting your wall space. Add in some accent lighting like profile lighting with soft, diffused light can supplement at night, keeping your home bright against the dark sky.

Improve Flooring

Your home’s floors impact its functionality and aesthetic. Durable, modern flooring can affect its value as well. Hardwood floors are preferred for most homes because they’re attractive and easy to care for, but you can upgrade with high-quality laminate that creates the warmth of wood without the expense.

For kitchen and bathroom remodels high-quality tile is an important upgrade that ensures you don’t have water damage. If your tile is looking a little dingy and worn, it’s best to invest in the upgrade to refresh the space.

Choose Neutral Palettes

Though bold colors are becoming popular, neutral colors are a safe choice for future home buyers. Earth tones like beige or gray are more versatile and sophisticated, allowing prospective buyers to envision the space with their own aesthetic.

Focus neutral colors on permanent features, such as wall paint, tile, countertops, and backsplashes. You can always add pops of color throughout to reflect your own taste and add some character to your spaces.

Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Features

Sustainability is a growing trend for prospective homebuyers. Upgrading your appliances and features to energy-efficient options benefits the environment while reducing your utility costs – and it adds value to your home.

Energy Star-rated appliances are always a good choice for your kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. You could also replace your older windows with energy-efficient options to further reduce heating and cooling costs.

Finally, if your insulation is old and worn, consider replacing it in your attic and walls to reduce drafts and leaks that drive up energy bills. This is a relatively inexpensive upgrade that pays off in long-term savings.

Add Storage Solutions

One thing all homebuyers agree on is the need for storage space. From functional kitchen storage to stylish display storage for books and décor, virtually all buyers are paying attention to a home’s storage solutions.

If you have the space, consider adding a walk-in closet with versatile options for clothing storage and accessories. Kitchens and bathrooms can be outfitted with space-saving features that maximize storage, such as drawer dividers, under-sink storage, and pullout storage. To make the space more functional and inviting, consider adding accent lighting like neon flex lighting to illuminate dark storage spaces.

Maximize Your Home Renovation ROI

Design upgrades and remodels can help your home’s resale value, but you have to make strategic choices to get the most out of your investment. Apply these strategic design choices to make your home more attractive, functional, and inviting while maximizing its value. 

Author Information

Author Name: Rebecca Denis

Author Bio:

Rebecca Denis, Head of Design at Revive Real Estate, is an accomplished and highly creative interior designer with over ten years of experience in the industry. With a passion for transforming spaces and a keen eye for detail, she has successfully completed numerous projects ranging from commercial spaces to custom show homes.

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