Moderate Home Improvements That Make a Difference
Like every relationship, there’s no such thing as a perfect house. Unless you have an unlimited budget, you’ll have to make sacrifices and concessions when purchasing a home. Luckily, there are several instances or DIY home projects where instead of ruling out your otherwise dream home, you can make the improvements — without breaking the bank or the clock.
If there’s no A/C…
Don’t let it hold you back! Forced air is the most common form of home heating, and if your house has this, you’re in luck. You can add A/C with relative ease if there are ducts, and usually for no more than $4,000. In 2-3 days, you can have lasting air conditioning to keep your home nice and cool.
If there’s a detached garage…
Some people love the idea of a detached garage and its potential for a workshop, or even a rentable unit. If you’d rather not walk through ice and snow to get to your home, fear not! You can add on a breezeway to connect the garage and house. An enclosed breezeway costs much more than an open one, but when snowstorms, hailstorms, and everything-in-between-storms hit, it’ll be worth every penny.
If there’s carpet everywhere…
Installing laminate flooring is a durable and reasonably affordable solution — and it’s one you can DIY to save even more dough. There are countless types of laminate, but to redo the flooring in a typical 200 sq. foot kitchen, it will cost anywhere between $1,500 and $5,000. Not only will you love your home’s new flooring, but it will also add value if/when you want to sell.
If the yard is drab and dry…
Yard renovations are some of the easiest renovations around. Laying sod on your own typically costs between $.28 to $.45 per square foot. Getting rocks placed for an interest area (firepit, anyone?) will likely cost no more than a few hundred bucks. Hiring an arborist or landscape company to plant trees will take a few hours, and also cost just a few hundred bucks. For less than $2,000 your yard can go from drab to fab!
If the basement is dark and dingy…
You can potentially add egress (full-sized) windows. Extra natural light takes a basement from creepy to comfy, and typically for no more than $4,000. This is a great first step in finishing the basement and adding another room to your home.
As we mentioned, it’s very rare to find a perfect house that’s within your budget. With these moderate improvements, you won’t have to rule out a property that you otherwise love. Search through RealtyHive to find your dream home (or sell your existing one) today!
