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Home Remodelling Ideas that Will Pay Off in 2019

January 29, 2019

The year 2019 is perfect for renovations that will boost the aesthetic appeal of your home or rental property. You can incorporate the latest design trends and thus effectively raise the value of your property as well. In order to help you achieve this in no time, we have singled out our top tips and tricks for getting the best resale value out of your remodelling project.

Invest in a new exterior

First things first, rejuvenating your exterior is one of the best ways to instantly beautify your home at a great resale price. Begin by enhancing the facade with tough composite decking which is available in a variety of different styles and finishes allowing you to produce a creative look. Don’t forget, you should also construct a spacious porch which you can decorate with greenery and illuminate with smart ambient lighting. This will provide you with a valuable home expansion and a relaxed outdoor seating area. Keep in mind, homeowners who build luxurious exteriors will be able to create an amazing resale value out of this investment and attract potential buyers more easily.

A refurbished kitchen with a personality

A small to mid-range kitchen remodel is a sure-fire way of raising your return on investment rates. However, buying brand new cabinets and countertops can set you back a lot. Instead, feel free to refurbish your entire kitchen with simple DIY tricks that will add more personality to it. Start by sanding down your cupboards and getting rid of chipped paint and broken handles. Afterwards, you can apply a base layer of linseed oil to preserve the natural glow of the wood and then build in robust aluminium knobs. When it comes to choosing a perfect colour scheme, be sure to try out a mixture of mint green for the wood and brass or bronze for the handles in order to establish a timeless look. Finally, make sure to go for light marble countertops to finish the combination off with an elegant feature.

Replace your windows

Another important step of your 2019 remodelling project would be to replace your regular windows with energy-efficient ones that can provide you with a return on investment factor of up to 78%. The most popular ones on the market today are made from durable PVC with built-in characteristics such as low-E glass and argon gas. These are responsible for reflecting the harmful UV rays and insulating the house. What’s even better, such great insulation offers you the possibility to be less dependent on conventional heating systems and your monthly energy bills will be lower. If you like the idea, be sure to complement the look with high-end plantation shutters which can be custom-made to fit any type of window design and enhance the quality of your home’s indoor and outdoor decor.

Manufactured stone veneer additions

Manufactured stone veneer has an estimated ROI factor of an astonishing 97% which makes it the most lucrative renovation idea yet. The reason for this is that this material is highly durable, adds instant curb appeal and represents an exceptional cost-effective alternative to natural stone. Apart from being used for the facade, it also displays considerable versatility indoors and works well for designing stylish statement walls, archways, fire pits or even stairwells. Lastly, aside from being aesthetically pleasing, masonry veneer can fortify the exterior retaining barriers by strengthening them against erosion.

Front door replacement

Last but not least, a great and affordable way to improve the security in your home and watch it gain more value is to switch out your current front door with a steel one. This metal is highly resistant against warping, bending or cracking due to moisture or excessive heat. Such doors do not only provide homeowners with extended safety, but are great for the environment as well since steel is one of the most recycled metals on the planet. You can also design it to fit your preferences with custom features such as paint, stained glass and textured-patterns.

As you can see, enhancing the value of your home by utilizing up-to-date design trends with high ROI rates can be a real walk in the park. Simply make sure to explore all your options and remember to always go for creative decor choices. Good luck on your remodelling project!

Remodelling a House for Rental

March 23, 2018

Mike Johnston

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The proportion of individuals and families renting properties instead of buying them is on the rise across the globe. This is good news for landlords who are planning on listing their homes for renting. However, just as modern home buyers, today’s renters are very demanding when it comes to property’s functionality and décor. So, if you are planning to rent your house, you should consider remodelling it to suits your future tenants’ needs and so you can ask for a higher rent, which is, in the long term, a very good investment. In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know about remodelling your rental property.

First, check for issues

Regardless whether your house is five or twenty years old, you should still do a thorough examination of the house’s current condition. The first things to check are the ones that can backfire the most. Those are the foundation, electrical wiring and outlets, plumbing and water valves. Do this while the property is still empty, and if there is any need for repairs and replacements, do it before the other works start.

Establish a likely rent, and see where to make improvements

Avoid overspending. Not everything needs to be remodelled or upgraded. Try to establish the best assets of your property and how would you use them to get a good price, and see where you need to improve it to get an even better price. The usual selling-points are the kitchen and the bathroom, and these two already make substantial investments.

Kitchen makeover

Remodelling the kitchen can bring you the most thumbs up from potential renters, and it can be decisive when it comes to the height of the rent. While you should definitely install new kitchen elements if the old ones are dated, you should stick to a simple design and colour palette that can appeal to the average tenant. Since the most frequent renters are millennials which are demanding on trendiness, you should get informed about most popular appliances, and stick to energy-saving units.

Spruce up the bathroom

The bathroom is another room that can make or break the renting agreement. It is also a very expensive investment, but if your plumbing is in good shape, this will be much easier and more affordable. As with the kitchen, you should go with a neutral colour palette and a clean style. There are some ways to save on the bathroom renovation, such as getting lightly used or recycled fixtures, installing a sun tube instead of a window, using subway tile (much more affordable, and with the right décor, very chic), and limiting the tile to “water-sprinkling” areas, while painting the others with moisture-resistant paint.

Invest in floors and paint

If the house isn’t lived in for some time, it is highly likely that the floors and the walls aren’t looking very well. This is something that catches the eye of the potential tenants really fast, so it is a good place to invest.

Some affordable and durable options for flooring are wood laminate, bamboo and vinyl.
Paint should be bright and neutral so that the future tenants could decorate it according to their taste.

Subtle, but livable décor

Your tenants may decide to bring their own furniture and accessories, but it’s up to you to present them space as welcoming, and an empty house says everything but that. This includes some basic furniture, such as the living room sofa and coffee table, and details that will make the house inviting, such as greenery and fresh flowers.

Put the house on the market

Now that everything is done, it is time to get informed about the local tax laws and property rules. If everything is by the book, move on to setting a competitive price by comparing with the other rentals in the neighbourhood. Be realistic, don’t set the price too high. Expect that the tenants will be scouting around for better deals. Remember that being a landlord is a huge responsibility, so you have to screen tenants carefully because you need to be sure that they will treat your property responsibly and pay the rent on time. Once you find the tenant that you like, ask for a security deposit.

While it does bring a secure monthly income, being a landlord also brings many obligations, including adapting your home to the needs and desires of the people who are going to live there. Hopefully, these tips will help both you and the tenants have a mutually beneficial relationship.

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