Many people have all kinds of plans to improve their home, but most everybody is on quite the limited budget. So, how do you decide which improvements to make and which can wait? It’s always a good idea to get the most bang for your buck, so it would be wise to make the improvements that can give you a good return on your investment.
Check out these smart and budget friendly improvements for your Las Cruces home.
Add Molding for that Perfect Finishing Touch
Upgraded molding is one of the best ways to dress up a room but often gets overlooked when home improvements are discussed. This easy improvement can give a room a finished and prestigious look.
Molding comes in hundreds of different options and styles. Whether you want a simple look or a very ornate look, there is a style for you. Variety is abundant in the colors and materials you can get your molding in as well. You can also get specialized features like built-in lighting!
The cost is reasonable whether you do it yourself or hire out the job!
Put in Nice Ceiling Fans
Homeowners used to hate ceiling fans. They were wobbly and unattractive. That’s no longer the case! They’re now seen as a high quality, smart investment!
Today, ceiling fan design has caught up with the times and come in an extremely wide variety of styles, colors, and price points. You’d be surprised just how refreshing it is to replace your old, noisy ceiling fan.
Basically, the size of the fan blade matters more than the number of fan blades. Keep this in mind and go for the largest Energy Star rated ceiling fan you can fit in your particular space.
Plant Trees
Trees rarely cross the mind of individuals considering home improvement options, but they should!
How can trees improve your home? Well if you plant them on the side of your home that receives the most sun, the south side, you can save up to $300 annually on your cooling costs. The tree will also help protect your home from wind and the roots of the trees prevent erosion from downpours. Those sound like pretty good improvements!
Down the road, according to the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers (CTLA), a mature tree could be worth up to $10,000 especially in urban areas. Also, a recent study of home sales suggests that homes with trees growing in front or near a house boosted its sale price by an almost $10,000 and shaved a full two days off of its time on the market. WOW!
Get a Patio
Patios almost always come to an individual’s mind when discussing home improvement and rightly so. The only thing to say here is, keep it simple. You don’t have to go overboard. Simple and functional is beautiful and will give you up to 60% back on your investment when you go to sell. When you start putting in giant pizza ovens and what have you, you could actually lose money.
Light the Night
Outdoor lighting is just about as important as indoor lighting. Use lighting to accentuate the positives of your landscape and exterior of your home creating night time curb appeal. Lighting also deters burglars. Motion detection lights have been known to lower some premiums of homeowner’s insurance.