#remodel – Artisan Sotheby's International Realty

Home Improvement Projects to Increase Resale Value

Are you considering selling your home and looking to maximise its resale value? Home improvements can be a powerful tool for increasing the appeal and marketability of your property.

Whether you’re preparing to sell soon or want to enhance your home’s value with a return on investment (ROI) in mind, this is a smart financial move.

Home Improvements with the Best ROI

1. HVAC Conversion (Electrification)

According to the 2023 Cost vs. Value Report by Remodelling by JLC for the Pacific Region, converting a fossil-fuel-burning furnace to an electric heat pump and installing new lines and wall units has the highest ROI.

The conversion project is costly, but the ROI is outstanding at over 100%.

Average cost: $18,873
Average resale value: $19,770
Cost recouped: 104.8%

2. Focus on Curb Appeal

Make a positive first impression when selling your house. Since the exterior is what potential buyers see first, update the exterior of your home with landscaping, a fresh coat of paint, or spruce up your entryway.

As per the report, these curb appeal enhancers have the highest returns:

- Garage Door Replacement

Average cost: $4,756
Average resale value: $4,604
Cost recouped: 96.8%
- Entry Door Replacement (Steel)

Average cost: $3,839
Average resale value: $3,406
Cost recouped: 88.7%
- Manufactured Stone Veneer

Average cost: $11,785
Average resale value: $9,973
Cost recouped: 84.6%

3. Siding Replacement

The siding of a house is one of the most prominent features of its exterior. If it appears worn out or shabby, it can ruin the overall appearance of the whole property. It might be worth contemplating replacing the old siding with newer, better-quality materials.

There are two durable materials to consider for your home’s exterior: fibre-cement and vinyl, offering a modern and fresh look while providing long-lasting protection from the elements.

Vinyl

Average cost: $18,228
Average resale value: $17,922
Cost recouped: 98.3%

Fibre-cement

Average cost: $19,765
Average resale value: $17,172
Cost recouped: 86.9%

4. Minor Kitchen Remodel (Midrange)

The kitchen is often regarded as the heart of the home and can significantly impact a buyer’s decision.

Upgrade old appliances, install modern countertops, or refresh cabinets with a new coat of paint or updated hardware. Even small changes can make a big difference.

Average cost: $28,057
Average resale value: $22,221
Cost recouped: 79.2%

5. Window Replacement

This home improvement project enhances the interior look and also has practical benefits. You can reduce energy bills and boost comfort with energy-efficient windows.

It’s a worthy investment that can pay off in the long run.

Vinyl

Average cost: $22,299
Average resale value: $15,215
Cost recouped: 68.2%

Wood

Average cost: $26,528
Average resale value: $15,336
Cost recouped: 57.8%

6. Bathroom Remodel (Midrange)

Bathrooms are another area that buyers pay close attention to. Consider upgrading fixtures, replacing old tiles, or adding energy-efficient features.

Average cost: $27,024
Average resale value: $16,893
Cost recouped: 62.5%

7. Roofing Replacement

A new roof boosts the home’s overall appearance and signals potential buyers that the property has been well-maintained, potentially justifying a higher selling price.

Additionally, modern roofing materials often come with energy-efficient features, appealing to environmentally conscious buyers and those looking to save on energy costs.

Reduced maintenance requirements and the assurance of a well-kept roof make the home more attractive on the market.

Asphalt Shingles

Average cost: $33,541
Average resale value: $20,561
Cost recouped: 61.3%

Metal

Average cost: $55,619
Average resale value: $24,127
Cost recouped: 43.4%

Other Valuable Home Improvement Projects

1. Outdoor Living Spaces

Outdoor living spaces have become increasingly popular. There are numerous ways to transform your backyard into a functional outdoor living space. You can add a deck, patio, or outdoor kitchen.

Read our blog post about the best outdoor living ideas to find the right beautiful extension of your home.

Additionally, remodeling outdoor features can financially benefit homeowners who plan to sell their property. NAR, Most REALTORS® Recommend Improving Curb Appeal, and Homeowners Can Benefit Financially and Emotionally by Remodeling Outdoor Features, NAR-NALP Report Finds: Most REALTORS® (92%) suggest that sellers improve the curb appeal of their home before listing it for sale.

2. Address Structural Issues

Before focusing on cosmetic upgrades, ensure that the structure of your home is sound. Address any issues such as roof leaks, foundation cracks, or plumbing problems.

Hire a home inspector to find and fix problems before you sell your home. Then, you can demonstrate your detailed care for the buyer’s future home by providing them with receipts.

3. Install Hardwood Floors

Beyond the timeless elegance they bring to any room, hardwood floors are durable and easy to maintain. They are versatile and can work effectively in almost any room while also increasing the value of your home.

NAR, Remodeling Impact, for interior projects, the highest percentage cost recovered was from refinishing hardwood floors at 147%, new wood flooring at 118%, and insulation upgrade at 100%.

In conclusion, remember to prioritise upgrades that offer the best ROI and appeal to a broad range of tastes. By strategically investing in your home, you can maximise your property’s value and ensure a successful sale.

Finally, as your real estate agent, we are happy to further extend our services by offering our list of local, trusted service providers. Call us about your particular needs, and we will connect you with a qualified service provider in our area who can assist you.

Elevate Your Home: Interior Design Trends 2024

As we approach the start of a new year, you’re probably wondering what the year 2024 holds for home design. Whether you’re seeking inspiration for a home renovation or simply curious about the direction design is heading, let’s explore the top interior design trends that will redefine our living spaces in 2024.

Blue Centered

Known for its calming and tranquil properties, blue effortlessly fits into various design styles, from modern to traditional. Experiment with paint, furniture, and accessories.

Moreover, blue cabinetry or tiles provide a refreshing touch in functional areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

You can complement blue with neutral tones like white, gray, and natural wood.

Artisanal Touches

There is a growing appreciation for handmade and artisanal elements in home design, as they contribute to the character of a home and create a space that reflects individual tastes.

Custom furniture, handcrafted ceramics, and unique textiles add an authentic touch.

Warm Neutrals

Warm neutrals, such as beige, tan, taupe, cream, and soft whites, are a timeless choice for interior design.

It’s versatile and easy to complement; warm neutrals work well with cool and warm color schemes. It also offers easy maintenance and allows for personalization through textures and accessories.

Maximalism

Maximalist interior design is a vibrant and eclectic style that revels in excess. It features a bold mix of colors, patterns, and textures.

This design often showcases a diverse range of art, collectibles, and furnishings, with a fearless approach to combining elements that may seem unconventional. Unlike minimalism, where less is more, maximalism encourages that sometimes more is just right.

Timeless

Timeless interior design is a captivating approach that defies the transient nature of trends. To achieve this, focus on these principles:

Neutral Palette:

Stick to timeless colors like whites, grays, and earth tones.
Classic Furniture and Quality Materials:

Invest in high-quality, classic pieces with clean lines. Choose durable materials like hardwood and natural fabrics.
Balanced Proportion:

Arrange the space symmetrically. You can start with two elements. For example, bring two couches opposite each other or two chairs opposite a couch. Maintain a functional layout with well-proportioned furniture. It’s all about bringing balance to both sides of a room.
Lighting:

Find well-designed lighting fixtures that complement the overall aesthetic. Classic chandeliers, pendant lights, and sconces can add a touch of elegance and timelessness.

Organic-shaped Furniture

Unlike traditional furniture with straight lines and rigid angles, organic-shaped furniture embraces curves, flowing lines, and irregular contours reminiscent of natural elements.

Swivel chairs, loveseats, or couches with rounded corners are all examples of it that can help soften contemporary rooms.

These pieces can be bright, particularly when they stand alone. They add a touch of color and become a focal point in a black-and-white room.

Backsplash Blending

Mitchell Parker from Houzz: Some designers are now installing a slab of stone or quartz behind the range or cooktop while keeping the surrounding backsplash areas tiled.

“The slab is often the same material as the countertops, giving the kitchen graphic veining and interesting details—it creates a striking focal point, plus, it’s easy to wipe clean,” he says.

Ultimately, the home design trends of 2024 encourage us to think beyond the conventional, inviting us to explore creativity and authenticism. These ideas will hopefully help if you’re looking to remodel your living spaces.

And for more interior design content, check out 10 Major Interior Design Styles Explained.

Finally, we wish you a happy new year! May it be filled with new adventures and good fortune. We look forward to helping you with all your real estate needs in 2024. Give us a call!

Ultimate Rainy Day Home Décor Inspiration Generator

Even if you don’t pride yourself on your artistic flair, you probably have developed fairly firm ideas about what makes some Sebastopol homes come across better than others. Without even consciously thinking about it, you know as soon as you walk through a front door whether that immediate impression is strongly positive, just so-so, or sub-so-so.

A home’s agreeable first impression can usually be laid to a combination of pleasing architecture, diligent maintenance, and appealing décor. Not every home in Sebastopol has all that going for it, but there can also be a saving note: sometimes the most important impression comes from just a few minor touches—clever accents that just seem perfect.

Now that we’re wading deeper into the (very welcomed) rainy months when the weather causes us to stay indoors, we are more likely to find ourselves with some spare time—the commodity that was so hard to find when the sun was shining. That makes it an ideal time to browse through the web (or home decorating magazines, if any of those are around) to fire your creative decorating juices. There are websites galore that feature photos displaying imaginative design touches that other homeowners have come up with. Today, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel—when it’s being reinvented by thousands of others.

All by itself, Pinterest is a single source of boundless do-it-yourself design ideas. The virtual pin board site is the source of billions of images its users are proud enough to want to share with the world (and a surprisingly large percentage live up to that appraisal!). Since there are more than 100 million active users every month, the images and ideas are constantly changing. If you’re open to new ideas, this is boundlessly rich territory.

If you enter ‘decorating’ in the search bar at the top of the Pinterest screen, you’ll summon up dozens of tabs (they look like color swatches) that lead to all sorts of classifications. There are Apartment, Home, Bedroom, Cabin, DIY, Room, Fall, Rustic, Kitchen, Bathroom, Wall, Ideas, House, Vintage, Country, Table, Dorm, Cookies (this leads to dessert-type cookies—so here ‘decorating’ means ideas for icing them), On A Budget, Farmhouse, Cottage, Bohemian (a suitable alternate title for that one might be ‘clutter’ or ‘gypsy wagon’) Beach, Nautical, Modern…you get the idea: just about everything.

Alternatively, once you are in the greater ‘decorating’ section, you can also just key in a more specific description of the area you’re exploring. For instance, if you put in ‘spring,’ you’ll see hundreds (perhaps thousands—the pages just keep expanding) of colorful ideas for springtime everything: bunnies, door hangings (a great idea showed an umbrella hanging from a front door knocker with a terrifically colorful springtime floral display bursting up out of the inside of the umbrella)… Then, once you click on any image, you are taken to the creator’s page…and that’s likely to show hundreds of other ideas. A lot of them turn out to be commercial sites, but those have often cooked up some of the most creative ideas.

In case you’ve never visited Pinterest, We would like to apologize in advance to the amount of time it’s likely to devour. Still, when the weather turns foul, and you’re looking for ways to enhance your Sebastopol home, that’s probably a reasonable price to pay. We have a number of other resources if you are thinking of maximizing your property’s appeal for sale (or for you!). Give us a call anytime!

Home Improvement Projects to Increase Resale Value

Home Improvements with the Best ROI

1. HVAC Conversion (Electrification)

2. Focus on Curb Appeal

Garage Door Replacement

Entry Door Replacement (Steel)

Manufactured Stone Veneer