by Jennifer Riley Simone, guest blogger
Busy buyers are looking for move-in ready homes with a universally-accepted design that is easily adaptable. Making your home appeal to a wide range of potential homeowners will help it sell. Kitchen and bathroom upgrades have always been the most Important features to buyers, but there are some additional spaces to consider remodeling or improving when you are listing your home, and some of them have a considerable ROI (return-on-investment) when the home sells.
Basement remodeling: If your home has a basement, turn it into useful space potential buyers will appreciate. Create a family room, rec room, or entertainment room on a budget by purchasing used furniture and appliances from Craigslist and making a few décor additions. If you can make the investment, consider using a basement contractor to professionally remodel the space. Basement remodels had an average ROI of 70% in 2012—one of the highest returns of all remodeling projects.
Attic conversions: Like basements, attics that can be transformed into a space that is useful to the homeowner are attractive to buyers. A bedroom, office space, yoga studio, or crafting room looks more organized and functional than open storage. Attic bedrooms create extra rooms within a home’s existing footprint and are particularly appealing to growing families. This type of remodel also had a high ROI in 2012, averaging over 72%.
An attic conversion can be useful, attractive, and cost-effective.
Master bedroom addition: A home without a master bedroom can be a turnoff to buyers. The good news is you can create one through a fairly affordable remodeling project. Combining an adjacent bedroom and bath by removing or rearranging a few walls is a cost-effective way to add a master bedroom suite to a home. The project can be an opportunity for a bathroom upgrade as well. You can also create an attic or basement master, or convert a garage into bedroom space. Another project with a good ROI is building a master bedroom addition.
Minor kitchen remodel: A minor kitchen remodel had an average ROI of nearly 73% in 2012 and can really do wonders to help sell a home. A “minor” kitchen remodel should address the two or three most pressing issues in the kitchen, usually appliance upgrades and other issues related to workspace and storage. A kitchen island addition is an affordable upgrade that solves multiple design dilemmas in the kitchen, including countertop space, storage, seating, and an improved kitchen work triangle.
About the Author: Jennifer Riley Simone works for Case Design/Remodeling Indy, located in Carmel. Case prides itself on its design-build process, working with homeowners throughout the remodeling process. Their designers will even go shopping with you to select items for your home remodeling project.