It’s not difficult to see why Houston is America’s fourth-most populous city. A booming oil industry, strong job market, fantastic amenities, low cost of living, ethnically diverse population, and year-round sunshine make it a perfect place to build a life and raise a family.
Reports are that the “H-Town” is poised to see significant economic growth in 2023, which means more job opportunities with fat paychecks. It also implies a rise in property values. As per the price trends recorded by the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), the average price of single-family homes in the Houston metropolitan area exceeded $400,000 in November 2022.
Maybe your new job requires you to move to a new neighborhood. Or perhaps, you’ve outgrown your home. Either way, it’s time to move. If your house is old, though, you must consider renovating it to increase its resale value. But before we get to the renovation ideas, let’s discuss how you would handle the renovations.
First, prepare your home for the renovations
Whether you’re just doing a few minor repairs or a complete remodel, a home renovation project can cause quite a bit of clutter and mess. Therefore, decluttering the renovation area is a necessary first step before you start the project. Discard, sell, or donate everything you don’t need or use rarely. Pack all frequently used items in carton boxes and put them in a separate room. Rent a few Houston storage units and keep all your furniture and other bulky household items there. This will ensure that you and your contractors have access to all areas unobstructed.
Now, you’ll be better able to envision how you want to renovate your space to improve its aesthetic appeal for a better home valuation. So, let’s discuss some home renovation ideas.
Upgrade your kitchen
Your kitchen is perhaps the busiest room in the house. When designed well, a kitchen renovation can yield one of the highest returns on investment, especially if you plan on selling your home. However, a kitchen remodel doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some ways you can update your kitchen space without spending a fortune:
- Repaint your cabinets: Instead of replacing them, paint or refinish them for a fresh look. If you feel the cabinet doors and drawer fronts have gone out of style, consider giving them a new face. Refacing costs more than painting but is still less expensive than replacing entire cabinet boxes. You might also want to switch to modern knobs and handles to make your cabinetry look new.
- Change your countertops: The countertops in your kitchen show the age of your home more than any other kitchen furniture. Installing gorgeous granite or quartz countertops will create a perceived sense of added value in your kitchen space, whether your goal is to turn a profit or sell quickly. They can be expensive, but they’re still less costly than a full kitchen remodel.
- Add an island: Adding a freestanding island with a fold-out table to your kitchen doesn’t cost much. While a custom-built kitchen island runs $3000 or more, it’s well worth it if you expect to stay in your house for a while, as it adds functionality to your kitchen space.
- Update your appliances: Investing in new appliances for your kitchen, like a refrigerator, range, or double oven, will be one of the quickest ways to improve the space’s practicality and aesthetics. And if you buy appliances when they’re on sale, you’ll likely receive a good discount.
Remodel your bathrooms
Renovating your bathroom can increase your property’s value, make it up to date stylistically, and make it more suited to your needs. Here are a few key improvements you can consider when upgrading your bathroom.
- Choose a toilet with a hidden tank or low flush: There are a few advantages to using a hidden-tank toilet — in which the water storage container is installed within the wall. Firstly, their space-saving design makes them ideal for compact bathrooms. Secondly, thanks to their minimalistic style, they are a perfect fit for ultra-contemporary bathrooms.
- Install a shower floor made of small, textured tiles: For shower flooring, select a shower tile with a small size and a rough surface. If you spill soapy water on the floor, the texture and additional grouting will prevent you from falling.
- Put in new lighting fixtures: You should consider updating or installing new lighting in the bathroom as you plan your redesign. Leisurely baths aren’t so relaxing in full artificial light. Set the mood with a dimmer. Switch to LED lamps for a pleasant radiance. Add full-spectrum, anti-glare light fixtures which provide a brighter, whiter light— perfect for activities like hair styling, applying makeup, and shaving that requires bright light.
Upgrade your flooring.
Carpets are more vulnerable to damage and will become visibly worn after being subjected to heavy foot traffic for an extended period. Also, a home with worn carpet or flooring can look antiquated. Although new, high-quality laminates can look great when put in proper places in the house, linoleum is so retro that it might stand out for all wrong reasons. It is best to replace low-quality carpet, laminate, or outdated linoleum with tile or wood in high-traffic areas if you want the most bang for your buck.
A traditional style may be appropriate for a few bedrooms or a game room. Still, today’s homebuyers are looking for a more contemporary, ultra-modern vibe in the kitchen, baths, and living areas. A new carpet and refinished flooring can quickly and affordably bring a home up to a buyer’s standards.
Final Word
If you’re considering selling your home, you must have evaluated its worth and how the market will respond to your asking price. That’s something your realtor can help you with, and in the meantime, you can opt to make some improvements that could increase your home’s value after the sale is finalized. It would help if you prioritized the abovementioned upgrades to maximize your home’s resale value. No one can deny that homebuyers in Houston, Texas, are drawn to recently renovated houses.
