Are you trying to sell your home? You’re probably going to lose money.
That is if you don’t do some renovations or at least clean things up around your home. Smart homeowners look into the best home improvements with the highest ROI as soon as they know they’re moving.
Don’t you want to be one of those people? Get more money for your home by spending a little bit more at first. We’ve got your ROI guide here.
Replace the Garage Door
Depending on how your home is oriented, this may or not be a “backyard” project. But it does have a high ROI, so we included it on this list.
And a high ROI at that. When you’re shopping for garage door replacements, look for ones made of eco-friendly materials. There are such things as recycled garage doors, which can do a better job of insulating your garage, and therefore your home.
You probably don’t think about it, but your garage lets in a lot of cold (or hot) air through your walls. When you have an insulated or higher-quality garage door, you’ll save on energy and be more efficient for the earth.
Along with shopping for a door with recycled materials, make sure the new garage door is automated, and not just with one of those old-school push remotes.
It should at the very least be app-controlled and if it comes with its own surveillance system, that’s even better. Some automated garage doors can be set up to send you notifications when they open. So, if you’re on vacation and someone’s trying to sneak a joyride, you’ll know immediately.
When it comes to the aesthetic appeal of your garage, go for earth tones. You can match it to the accent colors of your exterior if you’re looking for a bold look. Otherwise, keep it natural and add a few eye-catching details if you want to spruce it up.
Build an Outdoor Deck
If you’ve ever seen HGTV you know that a backyard isn’t simply a backyard – it’s an “outdoor living space.” There’s always that one couple that comes and sees your home, looking to see if it’s a good space to entertain or throw parties.
You know what is great for entertaining? A custom built deck! They extend the square footage of the home and allow people to store things like grills and firepits.
Having a professional build you a custom desk is expensive, yes, but you’re looking at a good ROI. And while you’re still living there, you can store your grill up away from the elements as well.
Some people are even building a natural gas port up onto their deck to make grilling easier. This is another small, but useful selling point for your home.
The updated features and attention to detail will make that ROI even higher than without.
Create a Fire Pit: Built-In or Removable
Another thing homebuyers are loving right now? A fire pit area where they can snuggle up on chilly nights. Or, where they can roast marshmallows with their kids.
Either way, building one in your yard has a high ROI. And it’s a good way to cover up any spots in your backyard that don’t grow well.
You’ll need to put gravel around the circumference of the circle, as a fire deterrent. This will disguise any bad grass patches and discourage weeds.
If you’re going to build a fire pit into the ground, make sure you make the walls of it high enough. The walls should be at least two feet above the ground to keep children and animals away.
Plus, the higher the walls of the fire pit are, the lower the chance of the flames escaping. Even though most fire pits are safe and nothing ever happens, please respect any fire bans or drought notices in effect.
Add Lighting and Security
When you add exterior lights to your home, did you know that it not only looks nice, but it deters intruders? A burglar is less likely to try to sneak in or pick your lock when your neighbors can see his movements from down the block.
You should have some sort of light source by any entrances: front door, back door, and all others. Large windows and the back of the house should have a light, too.
If you don’t want the light disturbing anyone’s sleep, you can find outdoor lighting options that have motion sensors. But don’t get scared every time one turns on.
It could be the neighborhood cat or a racoon coming to visit. But at least you’ll be able to see if you get up and look!
It’s also getting more common to have security cameras on and in your home. The technology is much more affordable now and you don’t have to contract services out. You can install a camera and be the only one that has access to it – from your phone.
The brand NEST is a big one in home security and they offer plans that host your video footage online. You have to pay for this extra service, but if you ever need the video in the future, it’ll be right where you can find it.
Build a Small Shed or Storage Building
Finally, people love storage and that love doesn’t stop outside the home. If you build metal shop buildings, then people can store things that take up room in the garage, like their lawn mowers.
The Best Home Improvements
When it comes to ROI, you need to think about projects that will enhance buyers quality of life. They can always get something painted or re-design the landscaping.
But the best home improvements make their lives easier and makes it so they can better imagine themselves in that home.
Want to learn about the benefits of building a garden in your yard? Click here.
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