Summer is the perfect time to refresh the look of your home with strategic upgrades that improve your family’s daily living experience and offer the best return on investment if you eventually decide to sell.
Make sure to focus your efforts beyond cosmetic upgrades to truly increase the value of your home and maximize its potential. After a renovation, your home should be more comfortable, create a healthier indoor environment, and provide you with energy-savings and lower utility bills. Aim for achieving spaces that are designed for you now and in the future.
Here are some projects that designers and realtors agree give you the best bang for your buck:
Room-brightening skylights. We spend 90 per cent of our time indoors, where the air quality is about five to 10 times worse than outside. Lack of daylight may cause sleep disturbances, stress, fatigue and depression, while a lack of fresh air hampers learning and work capabilities and causes allergies. You can open up your home and fill it with picturesque views, more daylight and fresh air with a Velux programmable skylight that works to create a healthier living environment for your family. Skylights also deliver two times the amount of daylight as vertical windows, greatly reducing the need for artificial light and lowering electricity costs.
Fabulous kitchens. Your kitchen is the heart of your home and one of the most high-traffic and popular areas. Make sure the space works for you with high-performance finishes that stand up to messes and require little maintenance. When it comes to appliances, energy-efficient ones are often more attractive, reduce your hydro bills, and are better for the environment. You can even DIY cabinetry improvements with a fresh coat of paint and updated hardware fixtures.
Entryway enhancements. A great first impression is priceless, and your home’s exterior is even more important in the summer months. Create a home that’s welcomes both you and guests right from the curb with a new front door or garage door, which both do wonders for resale value. Steel is the easiest to maintain, and is often considered a safer option to protect against fire and break-ins. Add some landscaping and greenery for the perfect finishing touches.
Space-increasing attic and loft conversions. Bump up the square footage in your home with a bedroom, playroom or office addition in this previously unused space. Just remember that costs can add up quickly, so be careful to plan and budget ahead of time for floor strengthening, stair access, and adding a window or skylight instead of a dormer. When decorating, opt for creative solutions that make the most of small spaces, like built-ins and Scandinavian-inspired low furniture.
More renovation inspiration is available at velux.ca.
