Making upgrades to your home can be a great way to increase its value. But, not all upgrades are created equal. Some upgrades will offer a better return on investment than others. If you’re looking to increase the value of your home, here are some of the best upgrades for home value to tackle yourself.
Add a Fence to Your Property
If you’re looking for ways to make your home more appealing, adding a fence can be one of the best upgrades for home value to consider. A fence will not only make your property look more attractive and give it an added sense of privacy, but also add value to your home.
Tips for Building Your Own Fence
The first thing you need to decide before fence installation is what type of material you want to use. Many different types of fencing materials are available on the market today, including wood, metal, vinyl, stone, and concrete. Each of these materials has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, wooden fences tend to last longer than other materials, while metal fences are easy to maintain and repair. Concrete fences, on the other hand, are very durable and can withstand extreme weather conditions, but they are expensive to build and require special tools.
Consider the Weather
If you live in a region with heavy rain, you might want to avoid putting up a fence made of wood. It’ll warp easily and become damaged. In addition, you should take care of your fence during rainy seasons since water can damage it.
Make Sure the Posts Are Deep Enough
The depth of your postholes depends on how high you want your fence to be. The deeper the hole, the stronger the post will be. But remember that if you dig too deeply, you may hit groundwater pipes. So check out whether there are pipes in the area before digging.
Repair Leaky Toilets
If you have a leaky toilet, it can be frustrating to see water dripping down the wall or floor. It’s not just annoying; it could also cause damage to your home and belongings. If you don’t want to spend money on a new one, you may consider trying DIY repairs as one of the best upgrades for home value. Here are some DIY tips for fixing a leaking toilet before hiring plumbing services.
Check the Drain Pipe
The first thing you should do is check the drain pipe. You need to make sure that there isn’t any blockage in the pipe.
Fix the Flapper Valve
The flapper valve is located at the bottom of the tank. When the water level gets low, this valve opens so that more water flows into the tank. Once the water level reaches the top of the tank, the valve closes again. If you notice that the valve doesn’t close properly, try adjusting it.
Replace the Washer
A washer is an important part of a toilet. Without it, the tank won’t hold enough pressure to flush the toilet. If the washer has broken off, you can replace it. Just remove the old one and put the new one back in place.
Clean the Tank
Toilet tanks get dirty over time. They collect hair, soap scum, and other debris. If you want to clean the tank, pour warm water inside. Let it sit for about 30 minutes before rinsing it out.
Replace Missing Shingles
The shingles on your roof are the most visible part of your house and are also one of the most important. They protect you from the elements, keep out rainwater, and help insulate your home. But if a storm knocks them off or a tree falls on your roof, it can be difficult to know whether your shingles need replacing. If you don’t have an experienced contractor on hand, there are some DIY ways to check for missing shingles and replace them as part of the best upgrades for home value.
Look at the Edges of Your Roof
The edges of your roof should be smooth and straight. If you see any cracks or gaps, this could mean that your shingles are coming loose. You might even find pieces of shingle material lying around your yard. This is a sign that you need roofing repairs soon.
Look at the Underside of Your Roof
If you look closely, you should see the nails holding your shingles together. If you see any gaps between the nails, this could mean that the shingles are coming apart. It’s best to leave this job to a pro, but if you want to try fixing it yourself, you can use a hammer and nail set to tighten the nails.
Give a Room a Fresh Coat of Paint
Among the best upgrades for home value is to repaint your home. This is one way to spruce up your home without spending too much money. It can be as simple as painting a wall or two and adding some new accessories to make it feel like a whole new space. Here are five ways to give a room a fresh coat of paint before hiring an interior painter.
Choose Your Colors Carefully
If you’re going to do any major home improvement project, this should be at the top of your list. You need to make sure that you choose colors carefully before beginning the project. If you don’t, then you could end up with an ugly mess instead of a beautiful new space.
Start Small
You may not realize it, but there are many different ways to start painting. Some people like to use spray paint, while others prefer rollers. Either way, you’ll want to start with a small area to get a good idea of how much work will be involved in the entire process.
Use a Primer
Once you’ve chosen your color scheme, you’ll need to apply primer first. This thin layer of paint helps prevent the walls from absorbing too much moisture. After application, wait 24 hours before starting the actual painting process.
Redesign Your Out-of-Date Living Room
The living room is the heart of your home. It’s where you spend most of your time, and it’s also a place to relax after a long day at work or school. But if you don’t love how your living room looks right now, simple home improvement tips can play the trick. Here are some of the best upgrades for home value that will give your living room an update without breaking the bank.
Add Storage Space
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they redecorate their living rooms is not adding enough storage space. If you want to add more storage to your living room, consider options such as a built-in bookcase, an open shelving unit, or built-in cabinets.
Update Your Furniture
If you haven’t updated your furniture in years, it might be time to do so. You could choose from various styles, including modern, traditional, transitional, and even rustic. The key is finding pieces that fit with your current decor. For example, if you like midcentury modern design, you may want to look into a coffee table made out of wood. Or maybe you prefer a classic style sofa and armchair set. Whatever you decide on, remember to keep things simple by sticking to one color scheme throughout the room.
Replace Old Lighting Fixtures
When was the last time you replaced all the lighting fixtures in your living room? If you’ve been using the same old light bulbs for years, it’s probably time to replace them. There are many different types of lights available today, including pendant lamps, recessed lights, track lighting, and sconces. Choose something that fits well with your existing decor.
Tune up Your HVAC
The best way to repair the HVAC is by having a professional tune it. But if you don’t have the money for that or are just too busy to schedule an appointment, there are some air conditioner repair tips you can do to make sure everything runs smoothly when you need it most.
Check the Thermostat
If you haven’t changed your thermostat in years, chances are it’s not working correctly. You should be able to set the temperature at any point between 68°F and 78°F (20°C and 25°C). If you can only adjust it within a range of 10°F (5°C), then you may want to consider replacing it with one that has more precise control over the temperature.
Clean out the Vents
Vent cleaning will help prevent dust from getting into the air ducts and causing problems down the road. It also helps keep the unit running efficiently. You also need to clean the filters since dirty filters can cause poor airflow and eventually lead to higher energy bills.
Fill Any Driveway Cracks
If you’ve ever had a crack in your driveway, then you know how annoying it can be. It’s not just that the cracks are ugly and unsightly, but they also pose a safety hazard for your family. If you have children or pets, you don’t want them to fall into those cracks. Fortunately, there is a simple but best upgrades for home value that can help fix any cracks in asphalt driveways without having to call a contractor.
How to Repair a Crack in Your Driveway
The first thing you will need to do is gather all the materials you will need to mix the concrete. This includes gravel, sand, concrete mixture, and water. Once you have finished mixing the concrete, you will now need to pour it into the crack. Make sure you use a trowel to spread out the concrete evenly across the entire crack.
Don’t worry too much about getting the sides smooth. Just make sure that the top surface of the concrete is flat. After pouring the concrete, wait at least 24 hours before walking on it. This gives the concrete time to set properly.
Give Your Hot Water Tank a Checkup
Another option to consider when it comes to the best upgrades for home value is to check whether your water tank is functioning as it should be. If you’re like most homeowners, your hot water tank is probably one of the least-used appliances in your house. But it can be an expensive and potentially dangerous appliance if not properly maintained. So what hot water tank repairs can you do to keep your tank running smoothly? Here are some DIY tips for checking up on your hot water tank.
Turn off the Power Supply to the Tank
If you have a gas or electric water heater, turn off the main switch that controls the flow of electricity to the unit. Then check the thermostat to make sure it’s set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit (or whatever temperature you want). Look inside the tank to see whether there’s any sediment buildup. If so, use a soft brush to clean out the bottom of the tank. Also, look for leaks around the tank.
Drain the tank completely
Remove all the water by opening the drain valve and letting the water run into a bucket. You may need to remove the cover plate first. After that use a sponge or rag dipped in warm water to wipe down the interior walls of the tank. The filter needs to be replaced every year. It also helps to change the filter when you add new water to the tank.
Refresh Your Kitchen Cabinets
When it comes to the best upgrades for home value, kitchen cabinets are something you should never ignore. The first thing you should do is remove all of the existing cabinet hardware from your kitchen. It may seem like a hassle at first, but once you get into it, you will find that removing the old hardware is actually pretty quick and painless.
Once you have removed the old hardware, you can begin installing the new kitchen cabinets. If you don’t already own any new hardware, then you can buy them online. There are many different options available, so make sure that you shop around before making your final purchase. When shopping for new hardware, you can choose between traditional styles such as knobs and pulls, modern styles such as pull-out drawers, and even more unique designs.
Bonus Tip: Fill Any Windshield Cracks
This may not be among the best upgrades for home value, but it is also something that you should be able to do on your own. The windscreen of your car is the first thing you see when you look at it. It’s also one of the most vulnerable parts of your vehicle, and if the auto glass gets damaged or cracked, it can be a real pain to fix. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to DIY windshield repairs that don’t involve replacing the entire glass panel.
Spray-on windshield repair kits are available from auto supply stores for less than $10. They come with everything you need to fill in small cracks and scratches. The only downside is that they tend to leave a white residue behind, so you might want to clean them off after applying them.
There are many things you can do to upgrade your home and increase its value. Some of the best upgrades include installing new windows, updating the kitchen, and adding a bathroom. These upgrades will not only make your home more valuable but also more comfortable and enjoyable to live in.
