Home Improvements You’ll Never Regret Making
Design professionals and property owners can feel remorseful when making home improvements. Forgetting to incorporate particular details into the plan, choosing the wrong area to prioritize, and spending time, money, and energy on less impactful changes are the usual lapses even architects rue when planning remodels.
Some projects are only suitable for certain properties at specific times. However, these seven home improvements are always worth the investment.
Photo by Greyson Joralemon
1. Painting
Exterior and interior paint jobs can give a property a total makeover at a fraction of the cost of big-ticket projects. It’s an opportunity to replace uninspired wallpaper with striking textured or accent walls. Extra tasks — like refreshing trim and removing a popcorn ceiling — can drive up the final bill, but it will remain within three to four figures per room.
These improvements are forgiving, too. Painting contractors can test different products with home designers and homeowners to determine the best color palettes and finishes without disrupting the house and making irreversible changes.
2. Granite Kitchen Countertops
Giving dated countertops a facelift with granite is a safe approach to kitchen renovation. This natural stone is heavy and durable and lends unmistakable charm to the space because each solid slab is aesthetically unique. Granite peculiarities make them sought-after in the property market, magnetizing buyers who want distinctive kitchen fixtures.
Granite is top shelf, commanding a higher price than other countertop materials. Still, it’s a minor expense compared to a complete kitchen revamp. The installation has few moving parts, so it’s easy to plan to perfection and manage from start to finish.
3. Threshold-Less Showers
Eliminating the threshold from showers offers many advantages. It visually expands the floor, making claustrophobic bathrooms seem more expansive. No threshold means one less tripping hazard to worry about. Having edgeless showers and handheld showerheads makes the house more accessible.
Homeowners can benefit from curbless showers whether or not selling the house is in the cards. Empty nesters who want to stay put can use them to future-proof their residence. Those expanding into multigenerational households can use barrier-free showers to prep the property for family members with mobility issues. Mortgagees who want to move and sell later can make their homes more appealing to practical buyers.
4. Demand Water Heaters
Going tankless is a space-saving and energy-consumption-reducing decision to supply hot water to the house. It makes financial sense for families who need 41 to 86 gallons of hot water daily.
Tankless water heaters do cost more initially, but they pay for themselves. They can be 8%-34% more energy-efficient than their conventional storage water counterparts, translating to lower operating costs. Demand-type products can remain functional for over 20 years and outlast storage water heaters by five to 10 years.
5. Energy-Efficient Windows
Replacing single-pane windows with insulated ones offers various benefits. It yields an average yearly savings of $583 and slows the discoloration of home valuables due to sunlight exposure by up to 75%.
To distinguish low-performance from genuine energy-efficient windows on the market, look for these features:
Durable frames with insulating properties that can reduce heat transfer
At least two panes whose gap contains krypton, argon or a different nontoxic, colorless, odorless gas that insulates better than regular air
A spacer that keeps glass sheets at the optimal distance for maximum energy efficiency and can insulate the unit’s edges
A low-emissivity glass coating that blocks the sun’s infrared rays, traps heat indoors and filters out ultraviolet light
In addition to insulating rooms, these fenestration products can eliminate drafts, increase security, abate outdoor noise, and revitalize home design.
Adopting high-performance windows is the first step toward creating a complete thermal enclosure system. Pairing them with advanced products optimized for sealing air gaps and insulating property features to minimize heat flow — especially through thermal bridges — is the key to achieving optimal energy efficiency in homes.
6. Hardwood Flooring
Tackling a hardwood floor installation project can be a significant expense, but it’s worth splurging on. Wood floors — a staple of midcentury modern homes — are desirable because they’re warm, elegant, durable, versatile and hygienic. With proper maintenance, they can last for centuries. They’re environmentally friendly since they come from renewable sources, can be refurbished and are recyclable.
Hardwood flooring makes an excellent bargaining chip when selling properties, too. It can compel buyers to pay $2,000 more, translating to a 10% higher selling price.
7. Cool Roofing
A roofing system with remarkable reflective qualities is a welcome addition to any house. Gone are the days when metal was the only cool roof in town. Even asphalt shingles have the cooling capability to reflect a meaningful amount of sunlight to make the air conditioning system’s job easier.
The beauty of cool roofing projects is that different levels of government incentivize them. Cities like Los Angeles, Riverside, California, Louisville, Kentucky, San Antonio and Austin, Texas offer rebates to help offset the installation cost. The Internal Revenue Service also provides nonbusiness energy property tax credits.
Improve Homes Without Regrets
Home projects that offer a healthy mix of practicality, beauty, energy efficiency and affordability are regrettable only when pursued too late. Prioritize these projects to boost property value, comfort, safety, functionality, and allure.
Author Bio: Evelyn Long is a writer and editor-in-chief for Renovated, a web magazine for the home industry. Her work focuses on design and construction tactics for industry professionals.