Are you looking to upgrade your home? Are you weighing out the pros and cons of improvements with the value for a future buyer?
Many homeowners struggle with difficult decisions about home improvements. It’s always a juggling act between cost and reward.
If you’re considering ways to upgrade the look and appeal of your home, keep an eye on the big picture. Here are 3 tips to keep in mind.
Keep The Big Picture In Mind
Many homeowners want to have a more appealing front yard and entryway. It’s not really because of resale value. Yet, the idea of creating better curb appeal always leads one to consider the tastes of a future potential buyer.
If you are weighing out alternatives, keep some of the biggest issues in mind.
First, consider your mortgage. Do you have the best loan or are there more attractivemortgage loans available? If you investigate, you may find that your overall costs can be substantially reduced. This can easily influence your decision to buy or stay.
Second, consider your personal plans and preferences. If you are planning to stay in your home for the next five years, what is important to you?
Do you have young children? You may want to have a swing set, a hammock, and a safe place for your children to play.
Do you need to work from home? You will want to have an uncluttered home office to work from. With the current trends towards remote and hybrid work, you’ll want to organize your home for maximum productivity.
Think first about the needs of yourself and your family. The potential buyer is not here yet.
Third, consider ongoing maintenance costs. There’s always an initial cost for a home improvement. The ongoing maintenance can creep up on you and really add up if you’re not prepared.
Transform Your Yard
There’s no question that the climate is in flux. In recent years, more homeowners are looking at ways to cut water consumption. This naturally has created an interest inxeriscape yards.
Fortunately, xeriscape does not have to be just a pile of gravel. There are many options for landscaping with Mediterranean plants to create a verdant garden.
If you’re an avid gardener, look around your neighborhood. Talk to your friends and neighbors who have drought resistant landscaping. You’ll find that with personal interviews, you can quickly come up with a list of plants that are ideally suited to your area. To take this further, contact your local nursery and draw up a map for your yard.
For some homeowners, transforming a front or back yard is an ideal DIY project.
However, for other homeowners, serious yard transformation is best left to professionals. If this sounds like you, it’s wise to not get involved in a DIY project. Instead, talk with an expert landscaper.
A professional will be able to advise you about the ideal plants for your property. A professional can help you select plants for specific issues in your yard – such as hills or slopes.
In addition, he or she can assist with setting up low-flow irrigation, plant selection, and ongoing maintenance. It is entirely possible to have a beautiful garden – with a much lower water bill.
Invest For The Future
As you make investments, balance your desires with those of a future buyer. Look for decisions that will appeal to a potential buyer of your home. This may include a drought-tolerant yard, a repaved driveway, or a freshly painted front door.
Many realtors are happy to share what buyers value in terms of home improvements. They are keen to talk with homeowners, even if you are not ready to sell your property.
Talking with a realtor can be an enlightening experience. You’ll find out what buyers value – and it can inform your decisions about home improvements.
For example, in many markets, buyers are looking at the very first thing they see. This is often the front door. Painting a front door can improve how quickly a home sells. Fortunately, this is quick and affordable.
If you are curious about the improvements that buyers value most, talk with a local realtor. You may find that some improvements will have more long-term value than others.
Sum Up
Your home is a place to enjoy to the fullest – now and in the future. With this plan, you can invest wisely with the best mortgage, create a beautiful drought-tolerant yard, and invest for the future.
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