Small Home Improvements - Spend a Little, Make a Big Difference

Home improvements can be a way to both increasecost.
the value of your home and to simply make living thereFollowing the steel door as the top small home
more comfortable and enjoyable. But do you have toimprovement projects were adding an attic bedroom,
do a major remodeling job to accomplish that? Welladding a deck, minor kitchen projects like new
the answer is no.counters or new flooring, and replacing siding. With the
In fact if you're considering a major improvement like aexception of the siding and the electrical and plumbing
room addition or a complete remodel of a kitchen orparts of the attic bedroom, these projects are pretty
bathroom, you may want to stop a moment and figuremuch do it yourself capable.
out how that's going to impact on the value of yourHere's a couple of more ideas that can change the
home. If you're planning on staying in the house then itlook and feel of the house without costing a fortune.
really doesn't matter but if you plan on moving atLighting can make all the difference in a room. If you
some point, then you don't want to overbuild. If youhave standard overhead fixtures, consider swapping
addition makes your home the most expensive on theout for track lighting. You'd be surprised the difference
block, you'll have a more difficult time selling it than ifit can make in a kitchen. Also splurge on high end
you had made smaller changes.fixtures. Get really nice towel hangers for the
An example of a small change that also has a greatbathroom and update the faucets.
return on the investment is a steel entry door. If youIf you're planning on selling right away, invest in some
haven't looked at these recently you're going to belandscaping. Curb appeal sets the tone for the whole
surprised because they don't look anything like steel.sales experience. Nicely trimmed shrubs and a well
They come in a variety of attractive styles and mostlycared for lawn goes a long way in setting a favorable
resemble rich hardwoods.first impression. Make sure the front yard and porch
Thanks to the steel door's appearance, security, andare clear of litter and anything that can detract from
durability it has a return on investment of nearly 130%the house.
according to Remodeling Magazine. That's prettySo think small home improvements for both adding
amazing when you consider that most homevalue and making your home a more enjoyable place
improvement projects will only return 8% of the originalto live.