As a homeowner, you want your home to be both comfortable and safe. Ideally, any upgrades made should augment your lifestyle and home’s value. Not all remodels, additions, or embellishments are cost-effective or will bring a good return on investment (ROI). Planning your upgrades strategically ensures value is added in a cost-effective way.
Related: Earth-Friendly Home Remodel Projects
Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are probably one of the top investments you can make. A survey conducted by the National Wood Flooring Association found 99% of real estate agents recommend that their clients refinish their existing wood floors or install new hardwood before listing their homes. Furthermore, you’ll find buyers are willing to pay more for homes that highlight hardwood flooring.
Impact-Resistant and Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors
Featuring our WinGuard® Vinyl Sliding Glass Door SGD5570
Drafty old windows and doors essentially throw your hard-earned money out the window. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests drafts let out up to 30% of a home’s heating and cooling. If you want to increase cost-effectiveness and upgrade your home’s appearance, new windows and doors easily fit the bill. Replacing windows and doors with airtight vinyl or aluminum adds a beautiful look to your home while giving you substantial energy savings. They also provide great durability and are low maintenance.
Installing quality impact windows and doors adds a significant safety factor to your home. If you live in a storm-prone area, with impact windows, rest assured your family will be kept safe from harm. French doors or sliding glass doors add a touch of elegance while serving a practical purpose. You can enjoy better airflow, bringing in more natural light and adding a beautiful aesthetic.
Fresh Paint
Over time, all walls show signs of wear and tear. Cover up those scuffs with a fresh coat of paint. New paint is one of those home upgrades that doesn’t require you to make a huge investment. Yet, it can easily and immediately transform the look of your home. Even if you don’t want to make a bold change, repainting with a neutral color just makes your rooms look fresher. If you go the DIY route, all it costs you is a few cans of paint and some materials. The result is enjoying beautiful new rooms.
Kitchen Upgrades
Featuring our EnergyVue® Vinyl French Door FD5455 and Single Hung Window SH5400
Don’t you just love an amazing kitchen? A sparkling new kitchen is something almost every homeowner wants, but can’t afford tens of thousands of dollars. The good news is you can accomplish the same feeling with minor kitchen upgrades. Good upgrades to add to your kitchen include a new sink, modern faucet, LED light fixtures, new floor, upgraded counter surface, and resurfaced cabinets. Major kitchen remodels are costly and may not yield the ROI you’d hoped. However, minor kitchen upgrades can give you more than an 80% return. So, save yourself money and selectively choose what to upgrade.
Bathroom Remodels
Featuring our WinGuard® Aluminum Preferred French Door FD750 and Picture Window PW7720A
Outdated bathrooms can drag down the aesthetic of a home, but gutting and remodeling a bathroom is very costly. The good news is minor bathroom remodels are much less expensive and can give the room a completely new look. Easy upgrades include toilets, sinks, and faucets, which can reduce water waste. Other additions you could consider are a new vanity, lighting, towel racks, toilet tissue holder, or a new floor. Instead of paying upwards of $15,000 for a remodel, it’ll cost between $300 and $2,000.
Related: Upgrade Your Style with All-Black Frames
ENERGY STAR Rated Appliances
Traditional appliances were designed for convenience, not energy efficiency, but today that’s all changed. ENERGY STAR products save money on electricity and contribute to a greener lifestyle. You’ll quickly discover appliances, such as washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and standalone freezers that save on electricity. Most are also designed to use less water. Even some doors and windows can be certified as ENERGY STAR. Buy ENERGY STAR smart appliances for even more control over electric and water usage.
Related: Why Your Next Home Improvement Project Could Bring Tax Advantages
Programmable and Smart Thermostats
This is an easy one. Conventional thermostats offer little control over your heating and cooling. However, programmable or smart thermostats are a game-changer. With programmable thermostats, you can approve your settings with a set and forget it approach. You can essentially choose times that fit your schedule so the heat or cooling isn’t running while you’re not at home. Smart thermostats take this concept to the next level. You can program it or control your HVAC system from your phone. The prices for these devices have significantly come down, which means a quick ROI since it easily shaves $50 (8%) off your heating and cooling bill every year.
Selectively choosing your upgrades adds value to your home, while boosting the enjoyment and convenience factors. You can’t go wrong with energy efficiency or greener options. You’ll get a great return on your investment every time.
