The home improvement revolution is here, and so it the desire to do things yourself, flip houses, and more. Entire television networks are dedicated to home improvement and beautification, and we watch religiously both to share in the success of others and to get ideas of our own.
To gather those ideas, here are seven of the most common remodels you see on HGTV and why.
Minor Bathroom Remodel
One of the primary reasons you often see a bathroom remodel on HGTV is the return you see on your investment. On average you recoup 103% of the cost of a bathroom remodel at the time of sale, and even if you are not selling, you see an great increase in livability.
How do you get even more return on your investment? Do the work yourself, reglaze or refinish your old tub, and use spray on texture to cover old wall damage before you paint.
A minor bathroom remodel is quite common and can quite simply transform your home.
Landscaping
Curb appeal is everything when it comes to selling your home, and even just making it look great from the outside. At the time of sale, most owners recoup 100% or more of their investment in landscaping, and are more likely to get full-price offers and sell quickly if they have great landscaping.
This can be as simple as hiring a lawn service and adding flowers, plants, and a few trees or trimming the bushes and trees you have now, weeding the flower beds and putting down fresh mulch, and fertilizing and aerating your lawn. Either way, landscaping is a common remodel that truly pays off.
Minor Kitchen Remodel
Fairly often, the only thing your kitchen really needs is a simple cosmetic refresh, not a drastic change to the floor plan. This type of remodel makes it easy to recoup the cost. What is involved in this type of remodel?
- Counter Tops: Old counters can easily be replaced with more modern ones that are also more sanitary and better for your health.
- Door and drawer fronts: These are also easily replaced, and refreshing the knobs and hardware often changes the look of your kitchen entirely.
- Appliances and fixtures: replace that fridge from 1995, or that range with a much better gas one, and you will easily recoup the cost if you are selling, and have a much more comfortable home if you are staying.
This type of remodel can be done at a fairly low cost, and will totally change the way you look at your cooking space.
Exterior Improvements
There are a ton of improvements you can do to the exterior of your home to update the look. On many home improvement shows, they kick in the old door, and take it out. A new door is the first step to a more inviting entry. The second is to dress up the porch with plants or add a pergola.
Painting, new siding, and new shutters and trim also add a value you can easily get back out of the home if you sell it. Removing old awnings and other outdated items works well also. The more you upgrade siding or paint, the more likely you will get the best return for the home improvements you make.
Deck, Patio, or Porch Additions
If your back yard is not an appealing space, you may have more trouble selling your home, and it may just be a less comfortable place to live. Adding on a porch, deck or patio can transform that space from a useless one to a place you can use all the time.
This may mean adding a grill, a bar, and exploring creative seating options. This is one of the most common remodels you see on HGTV.
Replacement Windows
While there might be some debate about how much energy replacement windows will really save you, there is no doubt they add value to your home. The average homeowner gets all of the money they invested in the windows back at sale.
This project can be as simple as replacing the old windows with new ones of the same style or replacing a small window and wall with a patio sliding door or even a bay window. This is also a common remodel project on HGTV because it pays off and it is one of the easiest ways to transform your home with natural light.
Living Room Décor Updates
While it is easy to say you should not live in the past, there is a certain nostalgia associated with certain furniture, rugs, or décor.
Almost every time you see a show on HGTV, they work on changing the décor of the home. It is most often outdated or does not fit with the new look the homeowner is going for. This not only pays off when you are selling your home (a part of staging) but it can make your home feel fresh and new.
You see a ton of different remodels on HGTV, but these are seven of the most common, simply because they pay off and are affordable compared to major home restructures.