Home Improvements Add Value to Your Home

According to the National Association of Home Builders, Americans are expected to spend a record $150 billion in home improvements, maintenance, and repairs in 2005. If that is the case, what can you do to ensure that a home improvement adds value to your home? The average homeowner can expect to recoup approximately 80 cents on the dollar for most home improvement projects. Some home improvements add a great value to your home, while others aren't even worth the cost of the project itself. For instance, remodeling areas of your home and landscape that help to bring your home up to the average for your neighborhood usually bring a high payback. While homes that are worth 120% or more of the neighborhood average typically don't benefit much from remodeling projects.

Your best home improvement projects, which will most likely provide the best value to your home are as follows:

• Lighten and Brighten - New lights and a fresh coat of paint make instant, dramatic changes.



• Clean and Declutter - Just reducing clutter in and around your house can make a bold statement.



• Plumbing and Electrical - Increase your home's efficiency with new appliances, updated plumbing and energy saving electrical changes.



• Landscape and Trim - Dressing up the front and back yard of your home can give it the instant face-lift you desire.



• Kitchen and Bath - Of all the in-home improvements, updating the kitchen and bath fixtures, layout, and style can offer significant returns.

So go ahead and choose your next home improvement project. A smart remodel is like a great vacation. It can have all kinds of payoffs, including a higher quality of life.

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