Out with the old and in with the new! Or at least some new fixes for parts of your home. The New Year is a great time to begin thinking about home improvement projects. Regardless if you are staying put or wanting to move, we’ve got some ideas to improve the look of your home. Here are a few ideas to kickstart 2017.
Replace Your Garage Door
If you are lucky enough to have a garage in Nevada County, now is the time to make the exterior look better. Your garage door is one of the first things visitors and potential buyers will notice about your home. That’s why it’s important to ensure that yours is in great shape. Consider installing a new garage door if yours is damaged or showing its age. Insulated garage doors will boost the energy savings of your home. Your garage is an open pocket of air attached to your home. As it gets colder outside, an uninsulated garage will trap cold air against your home, forcing you to spend more on energy bills. Insulated models will keep cold air out and help you eliminate extra spending on utilities. If your garage door is still pretty new but looks a little rough around the edges, consider repainting it. We’ve got some tips to reduce the cost of painting your garage door.
While you are in your garage, you can always do basic things like regularly sweeping it out and dusting the built-ins. You’d be surprised at how much better a swept garage floor looks. Got extra stuff hanging around? Organize it! If you have the room, add some built-ins to help get some materials off the floor and onto the shelves. You can always see about doing an add-on to your garage if you think that you need more space
Install Smart Locks
Smart locks allow you to control and monitor the security of your home through your smart phone. The price of smart locks will vary depending on the features. Most models come with Bluetooth connectivity and remote access. Keep in mind that for the Nevada County market, this isn’t a necessity. However, it does make you feel more secure. You can check on the status of your locks at any time, all from the convenience of your smart phone. You can also add on home security cameras as well. It all depends on what you want and can afford.
Get a Smart Thermostat
Again, although not necessary, having a smart thermostat in Nevada County will appeal to the more technologically advanced buyers. Learning thermostats will improve the environment in your home and save you money. Smart thermostats learn your heating and cooling habits and automatically adjust your HVAC to meet your needs. You can install a smart thermostat yourself or with the help of a pro. Like a smart lock, your thermostat can be controlled from your phone. You can always ask your local hardware store what their thoughts are on particular home thermostats.
Complete a Minor Kitchen Remodel
The kitchen is the heart of the home, especially in Nevada County. Your kitchen is a busy place. Everyone loves to gather around food and enjoy good conversation while keeping the host or hostess company. If you’re dealing with a cramped kitchen, consider a minor kitchen remodel to help open up your space. Worried about the cost of a remodel? A kitchen remodel will return 83 percent of its cost at the time of resale, making it one of the better ways to spend your money in 2017. You can do simple things like change out the cabinet hardware, replace clunky old appliances, or add a fresh coat of paint to the space. Be sure that any remodels you get still match the flow of the house. You don’t necessarily want to have an ultra sleek kitchen if the rest of your house is country chic.
Update Your Bathroom
Your bathrooms are another great location for home improvements. You don’t have to overhaul the entire room to recoup the cost of your upgrades. Head to your local home improvement store and pick up any of the following items to boost the appearance of your bathrooms:
● New faucet and handles
● Modern mirrors
● New towel racks
● Floating shelves
Like the kitchen, you can always do little things like switching out towels, repainting the space, or switching out the shower curtain. You don’t always have to spend the most money on your right in the beginning. Doing a few things can help make the space look better.
Channel Your Inner Handyman
You can also tackle some home improvements yourself. It’s as simple as focusing on what’s already in your home rather than what it lacks. Go through your home and check for the following:
● Leaks in the shower
● Leaks in the sink
● Knicks in the drywall
Anytime you see something that needs to be fixed, take note. If they are things that you can easily fix, go ahead and fix them. However, if you notice big things that need to be done, contact a local contractor to get an estimate.
Even if you only end up doing one minor fix on this list, we guarantee that it will make that space look better. Your goal for 2017 should be to make your home better than it was before. Want to sell your home this year? Give us a call!
