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3 Home Improvement Ideas Not Worth the Cost (and 3 That Are!)

June 13, 2022
 By Erin H.

Anyone with experience in the home improvement sector can tell you that not all home improvement projects are created equal. This is an important fact to take note of if you want to get the best results out of your money and effort. Bearing this in mind, read on to see three home improvement ideas that aren’t worth what they cost and three that actually are.

First off, the three home improvement projects you may be better off skipping:

1. Bold Paint and Tiles

While bold paint on your walls may give your house an edge in your eyes, this may not be true for everyone. Many people on the market for a new home prefer calm, neutral colors on the walls. With this practically plain palette, they can add their own personality in ways that they prefer. If you’re going to think about selling your home at some point soon, it’s a good idea to steer clear of bold paint and loud tiles around your home.

2. Carpet Flooring

You may feel that carpeting will help keep your house warmer if your house is in an area with a cold climate, but this isn’t the flooring option that most home buyers are attracted to. Given that you will spend your hard-earned money on installing a carpet, you may be disappointed when people looking for a home prefer an option like wood. This is because carpets can be a potential hotbed for allergens, something most buyers will want to avoid.

3. Hot Tubs and Swimming Pools

Before you start excavation on your back yard, which is defined as including any shaft, well, trench, tunnel, earthwork, or underground work in readiness for a swimming pool, reconsider. Adding a pool or hot tub to your home may feel luxurious, but home buyers on a budget may view these as potential expenses waiting to ravage their finances.

Now, for the three projects that will actually be worth your money:

1. The Driveway

The driveway is your home’s main area of curb appeal, so it goes without saying that if you improve it, you will get great returns. This is solidified by the fact that most studies show that a new driveway can add as much as 10% to your home’s value. It’s not an expensive project to take on, either, so you can enjoy the returns for minimal expenditure.

2. The Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen is a popular space for many people, so it goes without saying that if you make it more functional, it will serve you better and increase your home’s appeal at the same time. One of the things you could improve is the storage by either adding more cabinets or giving the existing ones a facelift. This doesn’t have to be expensive either, you could simply change the handles to brand new ones and you will enjoy a subtle yet impactful effect.

3. Upgraded Appliances

The third home improvement project you should think about is upgrading your home’s appliances. Something like the air conditioner, of which 84% of all homes in America have one form or another, can go a long way in boosting your home’s value. The United States uses more air conditioning than all other nations in the world combined, so you can see why it would be a big deal to have an updated one in your home. Even if you don’t change it completely, you could service it and get it running optimally with new filters and replace any parts that need replacing.

If you’re going to spend money on a home improvement, make sure that it’s a project that gives you worthwhile returns. Avoid the first three projects, especially if you’re mainly doing them in a bid to increase your home’s resale value, and consider the last three instead.

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