One of the best moves you can make for your home is to add value through home improvement projects. A remodel or renovation has benefits now and into the future.

You can enjoy the fruits of your labor now and sell your house for more than you bought it. But to get the most value out of your home improvement project, you have to choose the best ones. Because the truth is, not ever reno will add value.

As a homeowner, you want to create the best home possible. You should know the areas of your home to upgrade, which spaces to spend the most time and money on, and what spots are better left alone.

Here are 7 home improvement projects that will add the most value.

1. Kitchen Remodel

One of the first places homeowners think to add value in the kitchen. A kitchen remodels will almost always add value because homebuyers and homeowners alike are always looking for an upgraded kitchen.

But you also have to be careful in the kitchen because a remodel can quickly get so out of hand you won’t recoup any of the money. Keep your home in mind before adding all the bells and whistles and be smart about the upgrades you choose.

You don’t always have to rip out the kitchen and put in a brand new one to add value. Sometimes you can paint and replace the cabinet doors and add new hardware. New fixtures like a sink faucet or lighting can go a long way in kitchen design.

2. Bathroom Upgrade

If the kitchen is the first place homeowners think to add value, the bathrooms are second. Just like the kitchen, homeowners are looking for updated and well-designed bathrooms. But also like the kitchen, a bathroom renovation can go overboard.

A bathroom home improvement project doesn’t have to have the fanciest fixtures and most recent gadgets to add a lot of value. Refreshing the room with new paint or tiles, and updating the features can transform the space.

If you have space and money, you can also add a bathroom to your home. Whether it’s a half bath or an en suite, homeowners will also love what a new bathroom will bring to the table.

3. Improve Energy Efficiency

As people become more environmentally conscious, they want their homes to reflect this. Not only does saving energy benefit the environment, but it can also save a homeowner a ton of money. So this is a must-do home project.

Seal up cracks around your house that might leak air. Check around doors and windows, around electrical sockets, light switches, and recessed lighting. The attic, basement, and anywhere ducts or wires lead outside can be sneaky places for leaks.

You can also add energy efficiency with CFL lightbulbs, which can save you in cooling costs as well as in energy usage. A programmable thermostat and a high-efficiency water heater are also great ways to improve the way your home uses energy.

4. Invest in Outdoor Living

As more homeowners look for space to entertain, an outdoor area has risen to the top of the list. Creating an indoor-outdoor living space in your home will go a long way in adding value.

Create this outdoor living space by adding a deck to the back of your home. Wood decks have a better return on investment than any other material. For your deck, consider spaces for both eating and lounging for the most use of the outdoors.

The best decks have unique features like built-in seating or a fire pit. These great ideas can help you transform your deck into the ultimate outdoor living area.

5. Add Accessibility Features

These are features you may have never thought about, but they can add so much value to your home. Accessibility keeps in mind people of all ages, sizes, and physical abilities when designing the space.

Universal design principles help create a space that anyone can access. This means that if you choose to sell your house, a buyer won’t have to modify the design to fit them.

Having accessibility in your home also means not having to modify for yourself should anyone who lives in the home have a change of mobility. This may seem like a huge extra step, but with a little creativity, it can be easily accomplished.

6. Bonus Spaces

Investing time and money in a space that’s a little unexpected can have big rewards. Remodel the attic or basement and instantly add usable square footage to your home. This is a great alternative to expensive additions.

Attics and basements are great bonus spaces for the home. Attics are great for guest rooms, home offices, and children’s playrooms. Basements make wonderful family rooms, entertainment areas, and workout spaces.

The more versatile space is, the more value-added. While you’re living in the space, you’ll benefit from being able to spread out; homebuyers will love to imagine personalizing the space. So it’s really a win-win.

7. Basic Maintenance

You’ll be surprised how far basic maintenance can go in adding value to your home. Think of these home improvement projects as anything going on behind the scenes that keep your home running smoothly.

Get rid of mold, fix leaks in the roof and pipes, keep the exterior paint fresh. These are the projects that make a home look well kept, creating a safe and durable home that all homeowners want.

Keeping up with these projects will make your home healthier to live in. And when the time comes to sell, these finished projects can tip a buyer’s scales in your favor. A home that’s well-cared-for is at the top of all homeowners’ and homebuyers’ lists.

Added Value With Home Improvement

These home improvement projects can not only transform your home but add value to it. But you should also enjoy living in the home with all the upgrades if you don’t plan to sell right after renovating.

It’s important to remember that not every project will add value. You should aim to strike a balance between value and personal taste. Not every house needs all of these upgrades, so choose the right one for your home.

Whether you plan to sell or live in your home a few more years, these upgrades are great ways to add value to your home.

Are you tired of coming home to the same old house with issues and creaks and unattractive curb appeal? Do you wish that you could give your property a new lease on life without entirely breaking the bank?

If so, then you’re in the right place! In this article, we’re going to be talking through everything you need to know about remodeling a house.

Not only will we cover the answer to the question of how much does it cost to remodel a house, but we’ll also go over a few of the most common projects that are included in a full house renovation.

Read on.

So, How Much Does It Cost to Remodel a House?

First, it is very important to note that there is no set average renovation cost for a home. At the end of the day, the extent of the project is what determines the cost of the house remodels. The more complicated the project and the larger your house, the more you can expect to pay.

However, if you expect to do a fairly average remodel that’s in line with most home improvement projects, then the average home remodels cost across America can shed some light. That number is right in the neighborhood of $13,5000.

Now that you have a baseline understanding of how much does it cost to renovate a house, let’s dig deeper into the various elements of a home remodel.

Elements of Remodeling a House

The first element of your standard home remodel is foundation repair. At the end of the day, the foundation is what connects your home to the ground, and setting it up correctly is absolutely crucial to the long-term structural integrity of your home.

A poorly built foundation can manifest itself with a sagging or creaky floor. If left unchecked, then these issues could also cause things like cracks in your walls as well as holes in the floor that rodents will exploit.

Another important element in many homes remodels is the renovation of the home’s exterior. Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint, new siding, or redoing your lawn, changing up the home’s exterior can add tons of curb appeal and just make your home a much more attractive place to live.

Finally, you can also renovate individual rooms. Kitchens and bathrooms are often the first places to get remodeled, as these spaces can get out of date very quickly. If you’re going to be doing much with the plumbing and/or electrical system, expect costs for home remodeling contractors to increase significantly.

Should You Remodel Your House?

There you have it. Now that you have the answer to the question of how much does it cost to remodel a house, it’s time for you to decide whether the cost is worth it. Should you remodel your house? Let us know in the comment section!

For more home improvement advice, be sure to check out the rest of the articles on the website for more info before you leave!

Are you thinking of adding a fresh coat of paint to your home’s interior or exterior? It’s a great idea because updating your home offers many benefits. A refreshed home is healthier, lasts longer, and can even boost your property value.

A freshly painted home offers all of those benefits and more.

While you can DIY the process, you’ll likely have a better result by hiring professional painters. When you leave the painting to the experts, you will experience an easy, professional experience and a finish that will leave your home looking as good as new.

If you are considering your options for painting your home, here are several reasons why you should hire a professional.

1. Professional Process

When you hire a quality team, such as Portland Painters, you benefit from a professional process. Generally, this process is one that has been honed over time to deliver the best results as efficiently as possible. From your first point of contact to the end result, you can ensure you are being treated as a valued customer.

2. Prep Work

As every exterior or interior painter will tell you, prepping for the painting job is half of the work. You can have the best painting techniques but they will mean nothing if the surface isn’t properly prepared. By hiring painters, you can rest assured your surfaces are carefully prepped for a long-lasting finish.

3. Professional Equipment

Part of the professional painter’s cost is for the equipment they use to paint your home. Using professional equipment is important because it can determine the end result and how long the process takes. The painting company you hire will likely use the most up-to-date equipment to paint your home. 

4. Quality Finish

Perhaps one of the best reasons to hire painters is for the quality finish. The painting process, equipment, and techniques all lead to a quality finish without any splotches, cracking, or peeling. As a bonus, a quality finish contributes to a long-lasting paint job.

5. Convenience

If you have ever tried to DIY painting your home, you know it can be very time-consuming. While it’s possible to do it on your own, you will likely take much more time than a professional painter. For this reason, it’s best to hire someone so you can spend your time on other important projects.

6. Insurance and Guarantee

A major benefit of hiring a painting company is their insurance and guarantee. Simply by hiring a quality painter, you know you will be made whole for any losses you experience during the process, and you have a guarantee on the quality. This is essential for your peace of mind and the maintenance of your home. 

These Are the Reasons You Should Hire Professional Painters for Your Home

These are the benefits you can expect to experience when you hire professional painters.

You will experience a smooth and easy process with prep work, professional equipment, and a quality finish. You will save time and money on the entire process, including the clean-up. Most of all, hiring professionals ensures you will benefit from their insurance and guarantee.

Hiring professional painters for your home is a win-win for everyone involved.

Don’t forget to browse our site for all of your home improvement needs.

Building a home from the ground up can be incredibly rewarding, especially if you’ve designed the home yourself. If you choose to design a home, you can customize every square foot of it to fit your family’s needs and lifestyle.

There’s a lot of planning that goes into designing and building custom homes. However, if you’re up for the challenge, the end result could be a dream that exceeds your expectations. But where do you start?

Don’t worry, we are here to help. Keep reading for a quick step-by-step checklist on how to design a home.

Determine Your Budget

First, you need to know how much money you’re working with. We recommend getting pre-approved for the home construction before talking with any contractors or home builders.

You don’t want to work with a company designing a home you can’t afford. Once you know your budget, you can start the planning process.

Stay Organized

Next, learning how to become a home designer means learning how to stay organized. There are a lot of details that can slip through the cracks. We recommend downloading online checklist templates to help you out.

During the designing and building process, expect for things to come up and throw you off course. Staying organized will help you handle big and small issues as they arise.

Find the Right Property

The property you choose for your future home can have a huge impact on the design of the house. For example, if you have a landscape with natural hills, you may want to incorporate a multi-level home. You could build a new home with one exterior door on the lower level and one on a higher level.

Additionally, you wouldn’t want to design a giant home on a tiny property. You’ll want to maintain a certain structure-to-land ratio.

Figure Out the Logistics

Learning how to design a home is easier once you figure out the basics. For example, start by determining how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want. Then, think about common areas like living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, etc.

Figure out how big you want these rooms and how you want them laid out. The layout of your home should maximize flow and function. However, don’t limit your thinking to just your family, think about how your home will function with guests and dinner parties as well.

Identify Your Design Theme

Finally, you should start thinking about how to design a home in regard to theme and decor. What is the overall feel you’re going for? Do you want a modern look or something more vintage?

You can always change things like paint, wallpaper, and other decor elements. However, the architecture and layout are relatively permanent.

Do You Want to Design a Home?

Are you planning on building a custom home soon? If so, we can help. Our online design platform can get you started.

You can build your layout, choose real-life furniture, and more. We will help you design a home that’s perfect for your family. And if you need more tips, be sure to check out some of our other articles before you go.

Homeowners spent an average of $60,400 on home renovations in the year 2016. Buying a home is a huge financial undertaking that requires careful consideration of the annual cost of remodeling and improvements. The floor is among the first sections of the house that homeowners invest in when undertaking renovations.

Flooring not only enhances your home’s curb appeal but also embodies style and class. Whether you’re building your home from scratch or undertaking urgent renovations, the hardwood floor is currently the most popular flooring option in the market.

Hardwood flooring cost varies depending on specific factors, such as the size of your house. Have you been wondering what flooring options you can consider for your home? This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of the average cost of installed hardwood floors.

Read on for a comprehensive breakdown of the hardwood flooring prices.

What Are Hardwood Floors?

Hardwood floors represent the gold standard in flooring. Of all the flooring options you might have in the market, this alternative is the most popular today. This kind of wood adds instant character to the home when installed.

Hardwood floors are a wood covering material with an inherent aspect of versatility of function and design. Compared to other types of wood, hardwood provides an intrinsic element of charm, which is unmatched. Hardwood is harvested from trees that grow slower but are also more dense and durable.

Hardwood costs are higher, considering that these types of woods embody uniqueness and sophistication. Have you been wondering how much are hardwood floors? Let’s walk you through the costs of this gem in the flooring industry.

Hardwood Flooring Cost

The average cost of installing 200 Sq.ft. of hardwood is around $3,930 in the United States today. However, this cost depends on other underlying factors, such as the type of hardwood and the floor’s size. When buying hardwood floors, you’ll likely spend $14-$32 per square foot for hardwood.

The average range of installing hardwood floors in your home is $2,800 to $6,400. However, the maximum cost of flooring is around $8,357 when installing your hardwood floor. As noted, this cost is subjective and depends on other factors, such as the type of roofing.

If you’re trying to calculate hardwood flooring costs, it will help consider each type of hardwood and the underlying cost variance. Here’re the most common types.

Red Oak

Red oak has a Janka hardness rating of 1290. This Janka scale measure assesses the quality of wood, depending on the ability to withstand dents and damages. The red oak is often the standard measure used to compare all the other types of woods. 

The average cost of Red Oak is around $3-$7/Sq.ft. The red oak has a variant of colors and shades, which you can consider. Regardless of the size of your floor, you’ll still get a perfect balance between surface durability and style with the red oak.

White Oak 

The white oak is the best option when dealing with distressed wood floors. The floor combines a richness of both grain and light tones. The national average for white oak is $4-$7 per square foot. Such a foundation has a broad range of cool-toned floors, which have more variations than maple.

With a Janka hardness rating of 1360, this has to be among the best flooring options in the market today. It will cost you around $9.60 per square foot of quarter sawn white oak. The cost may go up to approximately $11 per square foot, depending on the grade flooring you settle for, for your house.

At Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods, they tailor hardwood flooring cost to ensure value for your money. It would help to consider other labor costs when determining the budget.

Pine

Pine is the other common species when considering hardwood flooring options. Pine has a Janka scale of 380-420, which is lower than the average. When considering pine flooring, you will part with around $2-$4 of pine flooring per square foot.

The total cost depends on other factors such as the size of the planks you intend to use. Compared to other flooring options, pine is much cheaper. You have the opportunity to consider southern yellow, heart pine, or engineered pine when you go for this option.

The maximum cost of pine hardwood is $5 per square foot. The installation costs $1-$3 dollars, depending on the plank length. It would help to consider the size of your house when calculating the total budget for the floor.

Maple Hardwood Flooring

Maple wood is the most durable hardwood option in the market today. The alternative has a Janka hardness rating of 1450, which is higher than the red oak. The hardwood is perfect with modern home décor. You might need to part with an initial cost of $390 when installing maple flooring.

The installation cost of maple flooring is around $125, which may vary depending on the floor’s size. The average price of maple flooring is about $5.63 per Sq.ft. However, these costs may vary depending on your region.

Bamboo 

The other common alternative when choosing hardwood flooring is the bamboo floor. With a Janka hardwood rating of 1380, bamboo is among the most reliable options when it comes to flooring. However, bamboo only provides a veneer surface as opposed to solid wood. 

The average cost of bamboo is around $2-$4/Sq.ft. The average expense of replacing the plywood planks in a standard sized living room is about $180 per square foot. However, these costs can vary depending on how much the average labor cost is in the respective location.

It’s Time to Install Hardwood Flooring in Your House 

Hardwood floors are a gem in the flooring industry. Apart from being durable, these floors also add class and style to your home. However, most people don’t understand the cost implications when choosing hardwood floors.

The hardwood flooring cost varies depending on various factors, such as the type of hardwood, size of the floor, and the labor costs associated with installing the hardwood floor. If you intend to install a hardwood floor, it will help consider these specific factors when budgeting for the purchase and installation of hardwood.

There’s much more to learn about home improvement, renovation, and décor. So, make sure to check out the rest of our site today!