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11/30/2016 Budget Home Improvement Ideas | Home Remodeling Costs | HouseLogic
https://www.houselogic.com/remodel/windowsdoorsandfloors/budgethomeimprovementideas/ 1/16
The 8 Most Financially Savvy HomeImprovements
SPOTLIGHT
Your New Home: 53 Tips to Save a BundleSEE THE FULL SPOTLIGHT
Enjoy your home moretoday — and sell it for thebest price tomorrow.
Image: Dream Book Design
TOPICImprove, Remodel, Windows, Doors, and Floors
When it comes to home improvement, some dollars stretch more than others.
And if you’re on a limited budget, it becomes even more important to spend
those dollars wisely.
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1. Add the Finishing Touch of Molding
Here are eight affordable (under $5,000) home improvement projects that’ll
help you enjoy your home more today and provide excellent financial return in
the future.
Image: Crazy Wonderful
Decorative molding is a classic touch that’s been around since the ancient
Greeks and Romans first installed it to add grandeur to their buildings.
Centuries later, molding is still one of the most dramatic ways to dress up a
room. It’s a budget‑friendly improvement that trims a room for a finished and
expensive look.
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Today’s wood moldings come in hundreds of options — from simple to ornate
— that you can stain, paint, or leave natural. You can also find moldings in
flexible materials, such as foam, that make installation a whole lot easier. Some
moldings even include lighting that casts a soft, ambient glow.
Buyers consistently rank both crown molding and chair railing in their list of
most desirable decorative features they seek in a home (#3 and #7
respectively), according to the annual National Association of Home Builders
(NAHB) survey, “What Home Buyers Really Want.”
And at $1.50 per foot if you DIY it, or $8 per foot if you hire, it’s a no‑brainer in
terms of personalizing your home while adding value. (Although we don’t
recommend DIY unless you’ve got above‑par mitering skills.)
A few tips about molding:
Use crown molding to make a room seem bigger and taller. But be careful
about proportions. If your ceiling height is 9 feet or less, go with simpler styles
to avoid overwhelming the room.
Place a chair railing at one‑third the distance of the ceiling height. Chair
railing placed incorrectly can make a room seem out of proportion.
Don’t forget entryways, doors, and windows: Bump up the trim around these
areas to give rooms a completed and expensive feel.
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Spend Oh‑So‑Wisely on a Kitchen Remodel
Add a pop of color for bright curb appeal and ROI. More like this.
1. 6 Materials to Never Use in Your Kitchen
2. How to Shop for a Retro Kitchen — and Not Get
Stuck with Junk
3. Refacing Your Kitchen Cabinets: The Options and
Costs
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2. Install Quality Ceiling FansIf crown molding and chair railing were #3 and #7 on buyers’ decorative wish
lists, what was #1?
Ceiling fans.
Over the years, ceiling fans have become quite the crowd pleaser. Once they
were just a cheap solution to rising energy costs — ugly, wobbly, noisy eyesores
endured because they were cheaper than air conditioning.
Today, ceiling fans have evolved into an essential component of American
homes as energy prices continue to rise. And since designs have caught up with
the times, they come in a variety of styles and colors to complement any room.
If your ceiling fans are old and outdated, new ones (coupled with a fresh paint
job and crown molding) could give your rooms a refreshing update while saving
money.
Some tips about ceiling fans:
Ceiling fans should hang 7 to 8 feet above the floor. If you’ve got a low ceiling, buy a
hugger ceiling fan that’s flush‑mounted.
Size matters more than the number of fan blades. Go for the biggest Energy Star‑
rated fan that will fit the space.
Choose quality. You’ll get better cooling results, less noise, and good looks at a
digestible price point of $200 to $600.
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3. Plant Some Trees
Image: M. Williams
Say what? Adding trees doesn’t instantly pop into your head when you think of
adding value to your home. But trees are moneymakers that get better with
age.
A mature tree could be worth between $1,000 to $10,000, says the Council of
Tree and Landscape Appraisers. A 16‑inch silver maple could be worth $2,562,
according to a formula worked out by the Purdue University Cooperative
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Extension Service.
In urban areas, money really does grow on trees. A recent study of home sales
by the Pacific Northwest Research Station of Portland showed that street trees
growing in front of or near a house boosted its sale price by an average of
$8,870 and shaved two days off its time on the market.
There’s more. Trees also:
Save $100 to $250 annually in energy costs
Lower stress
Prevent erosion from downpours and roof runoff
Protect your home from wind, rain, and sun
But don’t just run out and plant trees willy‑nilly. Here are some tips:
Follow the sun. Plant shade trees on the south side of the house where the sun
beats strongest and longest.
Follow the wind. Plant windbreak trees, which can lower winter energy costs by
30%, on the north and northwest sides of your property.
Don’t plant too close. If you do, branches can scrape roofs and siding, causing
expensive damage.
Rule of thumb: Don’t plant trees any closer than the tree’s mature height plus
one‑fourth of that height. So, for example, if a tree reaches 40 feet, it should be
planted at least 50 feet from any other trees.
Related: Good Landscaping Adds HOW MUCH Value to My Home?
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4. Install a Patio
Image: Suzanne Davis at bebehblog
Patios are a great cost‑effective way to increase your home’s living space
without actually adding on. Plus you’ll recover 30% to 60% of your investment.
A $2,000 patio would return around $900 at resale.
But don’t go crazy and trick out your patio with high‑end amenities, like an
outdoor kitchen — especially if you’d be the only one on the block with one.
When it’s time to sell, you won’t get back much — if any — of your
investment on kitchens and other high‑end amenities. Instead, keep it simple
and functional. (And, really, how often would you use an outdoor kitchen?)
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5. Pump Up Your Home Security
Some wise advice when planning a patio:
Check property for slope, sun, and shade patterns.
Remember ‘dig alerts’ that utilities provide free of charge.
Don’t skimp on patio lighting. It can make all the difference in functionality and
beautification.
Related: How to Make Your Hobbit‑Sized Patio Feel Like Versailles
The peace of mind that comes with installing a home security system is
priceless.
In reality, price varies. You can buy and install it yourself for $50 to $300, or a
security company can sell and install a system from $0 to $1,500. The “zero” is
the hook companies use to lure you into signing a multi‑year monitoring
contract that ranges from $95 to $480 per year.
If a monitored system suits your needs, you’ll also get a break on your home
insurance. Most companies will discount your annual rate 15% to 20% if you
have a security service.
Home security systems also make your home more marketable: 50% of
homebuyers (in the NAHB survey) say a home security system — particularly
security cameras — tops their list of most‑wanted technology features.
You can go over the top and install high‑tech security gadgets, like smartphone‑
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6. Do Almost Any Energy‑Efficient Upgrade
operated locks and a laser trip wire. Or you can keep it simple with a keypad
that communicates with sensors and motion detectors throughout your house.
Tips:
If you do decide to go with a monitoring system, choose a company with a 10‑year
track record to ensure reliability.
Don’t rely on any system as your sole means of security. Locking doors and
windows is still your best first‑line of defense.
The value of energy‑efficient houses just keeps going up and up. A UCLA study
examined the sales prices of 1.6 million California homes from 2007 to 2012
and found that homes with Energy Star, LEED, or GreenPoint certification had,
on average, a 9% higher price.
That finding is echoed in NAHB’s report that surveyed homebuyers across the
nation: Nine out of 10 potential buyers would select an efficient home with lower
utility bills over a less efficient home priced 2% to 3% less.
One energy‑saving home improvement project that not only saves energy but
gives you tons of enjoyment, too, is converting a wood‑burning fireplace into a
gas one. If you like to crunch energy numbers, gas fireplaces have energy‑
efficient ratings as high as 77%, compared with wood‑burning fireplaces that
convert only 15% of wood’s energy into useful heat.
In fact, 39% of homebuyers say a gas fireplace is an essential or desirable
feature of the next home they purchase. So when it comes time to sell your
home, more than one‑third of potential buyers will be looking for a gas fireplace.
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7. Add Some Creative Storage
In the meantime, it’ll be paying for itself in reduced heating costs.
Some tips for converting to gas:
A direct‑vent gas insert most closely replicates the wood‑burning experience at a
cost of about $3,000 to $4,000, installed.
If you don’t have an existing fireplace, you can install a direct‑vent (vents directly
outside so you don’t need a chimney) gas fireplace for about $5,000 (installed and
finished).
Related: 5 Quick Energy Fixes to Save Up to $660 a Year
We don’t have to sell you on the value of storage and built‑in organization. Since
when have you heard someone complain about too much storage? Never, we
bet.
Adding storage is a no‑brainer, but it does take a little brainpower to find your
home’s hidden storage.
Here are a few ways to think outside of the toy box:
Open drywall to create storage cubbies between your wall’s studs.
Install platform storage that hangs from your garage ceiling.
Even stairs can give you more storage. One clever mom repurposed an old chest of
drawers and created storage within a basement staircase.
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8. Light Up the Outdoors
Related: Storage Hacks from Space‑Challenged New Yorkers
Exterior lighting makes your home shine in the evening, accents features you
like most about your house, and helps keep burglars away. A hard‑wired lighting
fixture can cost $150 to $250 to install. On the plus side, you could get a 50%
return on your investment, says Judith Patriski, a Cleveland appraiser and
REALTOR®. Installing motion‑detecting lights can even lower some
homeowners’ insurance premiums. (Check with your agent.)
And with technological advances in solar lighting, it’s easier and more cost‑
effective than ever to boost your home’s nighttime curb appeal.
Plus, 90% of buyers say outdoor lighting is on their list of desired home
features.
Tips:
Place accent lights under your favorite trees to show off your landscaping’s top
earners.
If your lights are hard‑wired, put them on a timer so you don’t waste energy running
them during the day.
Choose a warm white light. It’ll make your home look and feel welcoming.
Related: Design the Most Valuable Kitchen — And One You’ll Love Forever
TOPIC Improve, Remodel, Windows, Doors, and Floors
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