4 Home Upgrades To Invest in Now

Table of Contents

1. Upgrade Your Furnace
2. Install Energy-Efficient Windows
3. Build a Wooden Deck
4. Remodel Your Basement
5. Upgrade Your Home

As a homeowner, you probably look for ways to enhance your living space, making it more comfortable, efficient, and valuable. Perhaps you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint. Or maybe you want to save money on utility bills. It may even be that you simply want to elevate the functionality of your home upgrades.

Regardless of the reasoning, there are numerous upgrades worth considering right now. Each improvement not only enhances your immediate living experience but also adds long-term value to your property. With the home upgrades listed below, you’ll have a smarter, more sustainable, and ultimately more rewarding home.

1. Upgrade Your Furnace

If your home is an older one, chances are that it still relies on its original furnace. You may think that because it’s still working, it shouldn’t be updated with a new, modern one. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Right? However, you may be missing out on a better heating experience and lower energy costs by keeping that old furnace.

Have you noticed that while the main floor remains toasty warm, the upstairs rooms are chilly? It’s as if the heat isn’t even reaching some rooms. This may be caused by restricted airflow, leaky ductwork, or the wrong-size heating system. But modern furnaces are made to heat the whole house evenly, even the upstairs rooms.

The main benefit of installing a new furnace in your home is the improved energy efficiency. Newer furnace models can greatly reduce your overall heat consumption, lowering your bill and saving you money. This decreased energy usage is good for the environment as well. New HVAC systems usually come with a smart thermostat that is easily programmable. It can adjust the temperature based on a variety of factors, even if you aren’t at home.

2. Install Energy-Efficient Windows

Older windows allow the heat or cold from outside to enter your home, making your HVAC system work harder. Installing energy-efficient windows can help stop heat loss in the winter and block the sun’s heat in the summer months.

Along with blocking external temperatures, new windows can greatly reduce ambient noises from outside. Just as these two-pane or three-pane windows keep out extreme temperatures, their design enables them to help soundproof your home. Noises such as emergency sirens, car horns, or your neighbour’s barking dog should no longer interrupt your day.

Sunlight entering your home through your windows can cause fading to your belongings. Wood flooring, curtains, photographs, and upholstery can all discolour and fade over time from the sun’s harmful UV rays. However, you can protect your possessions with Energy Star windows. The coating on these window panes acts like a barrier against the sun, decreasing fading by 75%. It does not affect the natural light that enters your home, either, so the upgrade seems like a no-brainer.

3. Build a Wooden Deck

If your home doesn’t have an outdoor gathering place, you might want to build a wooden deck in your backyard. Patios and decks add functional space to your yard so you can entertain friends and relax with your family. They allow you to do things outdoors that you normally may not have room to do at all. You can build a covered or screened-in deck if you want to enjoy the space during inclement weather.

Decks allow you access to vitamin D from sunlight while you work or play. Vitamin D regulates calcium and phosphorus absorption in the bones, preventing fractures and breakage. It’s important for the development of teeth. Plus, it can decrease the chance of contracting certain diseases, such as heart disease and multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D also improves your mood, acting like a natural antidepressant.

Decks make your yard look more attractive too. You can improve the look of your home with flowers, fences, patio furniture, and decorations. Those types of changes can seem small, but they add up to big improvements. Building a deck is just another way to enhance the overall beauty of your backyard. Your new deck can significantly increase your property’s value, making it a lucrative investment for homeowners.

4. Remodel Your Basement

Whether it’s waterproofing a damp basement or a complete overhaul for more living space, remodelling your basement is a wise investment that may take time to make. If your basement leaks when it rains, it becomes a useless space in your home. You can’t even store boxes of holiday decorations and out-of-season clothing because the boxes will get wet. The threat of dangerous mould growth is reason enough to waterproof your basement.

Going one step beyond waterproofing to finish your basement has many benefits. You can create a home office, game room, space for hobbies, bar, or gym. Adding a bathroom and creating an extra bedroom can be beneficial when you have guests over. You can even build a kitchenette and rent out the space to tenants for extra income.

A finished basement adds value to your home, which is especially important if you plan on selling in the future. You’ll have a higher number of interested buyers than if your basement is unfinished. With its insulation and drywall, a finished basement is more energy efficient. Unfinished basements don’t have insulation, so air escapes, making your HVAC unit run longer and work harder to regulate indoor temperatures. Lower energy bills and a decreased carbon footprint are other factors that make a remodel worth it.

Upgrade Your Home

Investing in home upgrades is a strategic decision that offers both immediate benefits and long-term returns. Home improvements enhance your comfort, save you money on energy bills, and boost your property’s value.

And at the end of the day, spending money on the place you spend the most time is investing in your entire well-being. By prioritizing these upgrades, you’re not just investing in your home. You’re establishing a sound future. Start upgrading and enjoy the many benefits that come with a smarter, more efficient home that will be worth it for years to come.

Thank you for reading!