A Designer's Guide: Increasing Home Value

Maria Bandstra
Apr 26, 2019
3 min read

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styling, and sourcing tips from the designers at Leiht Design.

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We love making homes beautiful. The great thing about investing in improving your home is that you will see that investment return, either by adding value to your home or more immediately if you are planning on selling. Owning a home is a wise investment, and making thoughtful choices to improve the value of your home is a great way to maximize that investment! Home renovation and beautification is our expertise here at Leiht Design, so we've compiled a list of the most effective ways to increase the value of your home. Enjoy!

First Things First

Don't put lipstick on a pig. If your home has significant problems such as a leaky roof, mold, or structural issues, it will be a safety hazard and decrease your home's value. Over time these issues only worsen; the best time to take care of them is now! Hire a home inspector to tell you the details on your home before a potential buyer does the same. The safety of your home is arguably the most important feature of it, so invest well!

Curb appeal

The exterior of your home is the first impression of your home. No matter the luxury of a home's interior, the exterior is the first page of the story. Additionally, improvements on the curb appeal of your home have the greatest return on your investment.

Improvement Ideas:

-Add light landscaping

-Update windows

-Replace/paint siding

-Invest in an attractive front door and garage door

Photo: Farmhouse on Boone

Interior Updates

An updated interior is the key to a home's value. If you're looking to invest in renovation, consider prioritizing the kitchen and the bathroom. Updating your kitchen and bathroom is one of the best ways to increase value! The great thing about renovating these areas of your home is the significant return on investment (ROI) that you can expect. A kitchen remodel will see a 53-81% return and a bathroom between 56-70%. What a deal! This is crucial, especially if you are considering selling your home.

Improvement Ideas:

-Update light fixtures

-Replace old appliances with a newer, energy-saving model

-Install new countertops

-Refinish or paint cabinetry

-Update hardware

-Hire a designer for a more comprehensive renovation

Photo: Home Center Realty

Increase Square Footage

Adding a bedroom, bathroom, or bonus area adds tens of thousands of instant value to your home. Sometimes, this extra square footage lies right under your nose...in the basement you haven't touched in years. Even if you don't have a basement, a home addition is more attainable than you might believe! All it takes is an expert (like Leiht Design) and an idea.

Ways to add square footage:

-Home addition

-Mother-in-law suite above garage

-Guest/pool house

-Master suite

-Den/living room

-Finish basement

Photo: Brewster Thornton Group Architects Paint it, paint it all

As far as decoration goes, painting is the most cost-effective and dramatic method of changing the look and style of your home. Be gone, red walls! Be gone, outdated wallpaper! A warm gray or white is very marketable and can visually increase the size of a room. Stick with a timeless neutral paint and opt to decorate with color and texture if desired and avoid the opposite (colorful walls and simple furniture), especially if you're trying to sell your home. This ensures any potential buyer can picture their own style and furniture in the space.

Photo: Home Bunch

Extra, Extra!