Raise Your Property Value with These 4 Upgrades Home Improvement by Anica Oaks - January 5, 2015 Raise Your Property Value With the Following… Your home’s value is the single most important reason behind owning a home rather than renting one. Ideally, every homeowner should know the importance of understanding how to enhance the value of their home. Even though making certain home improvements isn’t a guarantee that it will boost the equity, at the very least it will keep you competitive against other rivals in your neighborhood. Consider the following four relatively simple upgrades to significantly raise your property value so you can reap the benefits if you ever decide to sell in the future. Image courtesy of Winnond / FreeDigitalPhotos.net 1. Upgrade the Kitchen and Bathroom Plumbing Fixtures Are your plumbing fixtures more than 10–15 years old? If so, they likely need upgrading. If your kitchen and bathroom fixtures are standard grade, choose higher-end materials and finishes. Brass, antique copper, and brushed nickel are fairly inexpensive to replace with. Preferably, your kitchen sink should have a matching faucet, sink sprayer, and controls from the same collection. Incorporate a similar scheme in the bathroom by choosing sink, shower, and bathtub fixtures that beautifully coordinate together in order to create a unified look in your home. 2. Increase Value by Upgrading the Countertops Laminate countertops are generally considered ‘builder grade’ or low end, while granite, concrete, and solid-surface countertops are considered high-end products that greatly boost your home’s overall value. Therefore, anywhere you have countertops including the kitchen, bathroom, utility rooms, or bars and can spend the money, consider investing in better countertops. 3. Install Home Automation and Security One of the hottest selling points concerning today’s real estate market and overall home value is innovative technology and home security installation. How much home automation you actually have installed could greatly impact your home’s resale value. A key selling aspect also involves the level of home security you have installed. Several families will literally do whatever it takes to ensure that both their family and home remains secure as possible. Integrating a quality home security system from companies like Arpel Security Servicesis a key way to make this happen while simultaneously increasing the value of your home. 4. Eco-friendly Homes Have More Value In today’s eco-friendly-conscious world, ‘green’ upgrades bring top dollar in terms of ROI (return on investment). Everything from tankless water heaters to water-conserving plumbing fixtures is a literal investment in the earth and will substantially boost the value of your home. Select fast renewable sources for finishes such as bamboo flooring and other systems that conserve energy as well. Incorporating green upgrades are worth the investment no matter which method you choose. Any one of these suggested upgrades will create value and increase over time. Even if you don’t want to sell your home anytime soon, making these upgrades will add a great deal of value to both your home and general lifestyle.