10 Home Improvement Tips to Increase Your Home’s Value

Your home is easily the biggest investment you’ll make in your life. Although you may not be thinking of selling it now, you may want to later. Home improvements often add value to your home, but it’s important to know the kinds of improvements that can yield a greater return on your investment. Here are 10 home improvement tips from Dominion Energy Credit Union to help increase the value of your Virginia home. 

How to Increase Home Value:

1. Hire a Home Inspector: What you don’t know can hurt your home’s value. That’s why it’s wise to hire an inspector to determine what needs repair. An inspector can catch a small problem before it turns into a big expense. On average, the cost of a home inspection in Virginia ranges between $325 to $400, so don’t overlook the importance of this modest investment.

2. Add Insulation: It’s not one of the more glamorous updates, but according to HomeWorks Energy adding insulation to your home can yield a 2 to 6% return on your overall property value. Insulation can also increase your energy efficiency by keeping the heat and air conditioning inside where they belong.

3. Replace Your Garage Door: Replacing your garage door will also yield a high return on your home’s investment. In 2023, homeowners saw an average ROI of 102.7%, according to Remodeling Magazine. Garage doors are more intricate than they used to be, so you might be pleasantly surprised by the choices of materials, colors and decorative hardware.

4. Replace Your Front Door: Your front door is largely responsible for visitors’ first impression of your home. Having a door made of steel can be a significant benefit, in more ways than one. Replacing an existing entry door with a steel version can recover 65 to 91% of resale value. Buyers are known to value their energy efficiency, easy maintenance, and effectiveness at blocking the cold.

5. Give Your Kitchen Cabinets a Facelift: There are several things you can do to improve the look of your cabinets, from buying new handles to painting and refinishing. If you can afford it, consider replacing your cabinets. According to Realtor Magazine, the design of a kitchen could make or break a home sale, so it’s important that yours makes a good impression.

6. Update Your Bathroom: Like your kitchen, the visual appeal of your bathrooms is key. It can be tricky to decide what exactly you want to upgrade here, as the ROI will depend on the updates made, the location of the home, and local market conditions. Based on the type of remodel, these are the potential returns you can expect according to Remodeling Magazine:

• Midrange bathroom remodel — A 67% return on average cost of more than $24,000.
• Upscale bathroom remodel — A 37% return on average when spending about $77,000.
• Universal design bathroom — This type of bathroom considers universal design principles that make the room accessible to those with disabilities. An average cost of nearly $40,000 typically has a return of about 46%.
• Bathroom addition (midrange) — A 30% return on an average amount spent of nearly $57,000.
• Bathroom addition (upscale) — A 27% return on an average cost of about $105,000.

7. Freshen Up Your Paint: Fresh paint in modern colors can add a nice touch to your home without breaking the bank. Remember to keep colors as neutral as possible to appeal to all prospective homebuyers.

8. Go Green: Update your lightbulbs, appliances and windows to more energy-efficient models to save yourself some electricity costs while minimizing your carbon footprint. Check Energy Star’s rebate finder for product rebates and special offers. Buy appliances toward the end of the month or during a holiday sale to save even more.

9. Update or Add a Deck or Patio: If you have an older deck, consider updating it with restoration paint to fill in cracks and give it a nice finish. If you don’t have a patio or deck already, consider adding one to increase your home’s value. Today’s homebuyers appreciate outdoor living space just as much as indoor space.

10. Add Curb Appeal: Realtors tend to agree that upgrading the look of your front yard can help increase your pool of prospective buyers. Be careful not to spend too much money on landscaping, as you may not recoup it. You should also consider replacing your siding if it’s seen better days. 

When planning your home improvement projects, consider the long-term value each might deliver, as well as the neighborhood where you live. Avoid upgrading so much that your house becomes unaffordable for your location. There are many factors to consider for the upgrades you decide on, but when factoring these carefully, the reward will be worth it.

Ready to get started? See how a Home Equity Loan from Dominion Energy Credit Union can help you tackle your Virginia home improvement projects at an affordable rate.