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Set the budget for what adds the most value<\/h2>\n
Before you begin choosing, set a budget, along with a list of priorities if your budget doesn\u2019t permit your entire upgrade wish list. Look at your upgrades in the framework of return on\u00a0investment and explore ways to keep your costs down- like taking advantage of builder incentives to reduce your spend.<\/p>\n
Home improvements that add function<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s one thing for an upgrade to have visual impact or offer a touch of luxury, but the most profitable fundamentally and absolutely have a pragmatic base. They have to make a space more useable or more comfortable; it is a bonus if they add to the aesthetic.<\/p>\n
Getting the best ROI begins with proper planning through the lens of usability. Thinking through in detail about how you will live and what purpose each space serves, \u201cin and of itself adds value to the home,\u201d says Susan Hill, principal and owner of Susan Hill Interior Design.<\/p>\n
Once you have visualized life at home, assign design elements and items to create the best user experience.<\/p>\n
For example, in order to facilitate entertaining in the kitchen, is there any opportunity in the floorplan to create a nook to house a dry bar with a bar fridge and icemaker, by bumping out slightly into adjacent spaces? This design supports flow for entertaining, as people can use the secondary and primary spaces concurrently, making your home unique and more desirable to future buyers.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook to supplement space around your primary spaces. Identifying functional spaces in a plan will add value,\u201d says Hill.<\/p>\n
Adding more space is welcome too, whether it is digging a deeper basement so you could create a luxe lower level, or adding rooms with flex appeal, for a future bedroom or home office down the road.<\/p>\n
Which should you do at the construction phase?<\/h3>\n
As a rule of thumb, work that will be messy, disruptive and costly down the road is generally better done during the construction phase.<\/p>\n
Diane Morrison, chief sales and marketing officer, Mattamy Homes U.S. says, \u201cGenerally speaking, structural options are recommended to make the home work for the customer so they do not have to remodel the spaces after they move in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not only will you avoid the inconvenience of living through renovations, if the budget permits, it makes more sense to absorb the cost at the outset from a planning perspective, especially for cost-heavy projects, like a bath or addition.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also advisable to pay particular attention to electrical and rough-ins for changes that you\u2019d like now \u2013 or would like the option to have down the road.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you think you may want to add pendants over an island or a ceiling fan to a bedroom, then be sure to add wiring where you may want it. It will be much more complicated and expensive to add electrical once the home is built,\u201d says Lee Crowder, national director of design & model experience with Taylor Morrison.<\/p>\n
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Kitchens are a big draw for buyers<\/h2>\n
It’s is the heart of the home, and is something that future buyers will be drawn to \u2013 and will use as a metric by which to judge the rest of your home, so this should be your first focus. It\u2019s also one area in which buyers will pay for premium options. Today\u2019s buyers are happy to scale back in other rooms if it means they can have a show-stopping kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cBuyers are focusing more on the kitchen and upgrades for features such as cabinets and countertops,\u201d says Crowder.<\/p>\n
The 2022 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends\u00a0Study\u00a0shows that homeowners are most willing to splurge on countertops, so it makes sense to prioritize this finish.<\/p>\n
Of all the rooms in a home, making cost-conscious choices in this key room is paramount, as costs can add up quickly, but there are lots of options available in a wide range of price points that are worth considering when considering this home renovation before the home is even built.<\/p>\n
Materials matter, and you don\u2019t necessarily need to abandon your desired aesthetic to be budget friendly. It\u2019s about keeping an open mind to alternatives that could be more profitable for you down the road.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s say you saw dreamy quartzite countertops in a magazine. Quartzite has a luxe patina and is stunning, but it is very expensive \u2013 so it is worth thinking about how else you can achieve the same look.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are less expensive options. There are beautiful products now that will mimic what quartzite or marble looks like,\u201d says Hill. For example, quartz looks a lot like quartzite, but quartz is man-made, while quartzite is natural stone- and considerably more expensive.<\/p>\n
Quartz is the counter of choice right now says Crowder. \u201cQuartz is very trendy with buyers and they seek options with beautiful veining.”<\/p>\n
Morrison echoes this sentiment, \u201cHomes are being finished with pre-selected popular upgrades that buyers are desiring today, such as warm cabinets and quartz counters.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth investing in kitchen cabinetry<\/h3>\n
Another smart update is the cabinetry. That is in part because cabinetry occupies a lot of visual space. If it is sub-par, it can work against the perception of value.<\/p>\n
There is also a pragmatic angle here, as cabinetry is expensive and difficult to change out down the road, and getting it right the first time will contribute positively to your bottom line and your d\u00e9cor.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven on a production home, cabinetry makes a huge impact and it is something that you cannot easily change as far as investment goes. So, if you’re going to spend money on something that is going to add value, then that’s one of the first places you should look,\u201d says Hill.<\/p>\n
Consider extending your cabinetry to ceiling height (most builder-grade cabinets are well short of ceiling height). Not only does this provide more storage, extended cabinetry provides a more cohesive look. Under-cabinet lighting is useful, as are drawers and accessories like roll-out shelves, plate holders and spice shelves.<\/p>\n
Appliances are a must have<\/h3>\n
Also super-hot with buyers right now?<\/p>\n
Appliances.<\/p>\n
And it\u2019s not just that higher-end ones look sleek in a kitchen, it is that they are the ultimate support to functionality, aside from physical design.<\/p>\n
Like cabinetry, this is an improvement that is wise to do in the construction phase, as placement will affect cabinetry design and rough-ins for plumbing and electrical.<\/p>\n
\u201cCustomers want to make sure they have the right tools from the start\u2026 such as being able to control their appliances from their phone while away or having an oven with convection or air fryer capabilities,\u201d says Crowder.<\/p>\n
In addition to big-ticket appliances, buyers are seeking small appliances that make life easier such as \u201clittle wine fridges, ice makers and refrigerator drawers,\u201d says Hill.<\/p>\n