Top 5 Remodels to Add Value to Your OKC Home
What adds value to a home?
If you ask a builder, a designer, and a real estate agent, you’ll get a variety of answers.
For most people, their home is their greatest asset. It's fun to get excited about the latest design trends and a luxury master suite with a soaking tub built into your shower. Who doesn’t want that? But where does the real value come in? When you're looking at dollars and cents. When you take away all the fluff, what's going to add value to your long-term investment?
Trends come and go all the time and, in some cases, end up costing you more than they will ever return. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever update or add on or make your home a place you enjoy! Instead, we’re going to take a look at the top 5 home remodels you can do to add and retain value to your home in 2023!
We asked a local realtor what upgrades would bring the most value to your OKC home and provide a return on their investment in 2023, here is what she had to say:
“Items that add value to your home is best understood through the eyes of an appraiser. Appraisal law is simply a mathematical figure, so it gets real simple. When comping a home we always look at the high, mid, and low price per sq ft. High being a home totally updated, mid is well-cared for, but not updated and low is a home needing significant repairs and upgrades.”
She provided us with a list of upgrades that are guaranteed to bring a return on their investment:
Square Footage
Kitchen and bathroom remodels
Simple cosmetic updates
Landscaping
Maintenance
Lets take a deeper look at what this truly means for you.
Square Footage
During covid we all started, and got used to, working from home, so adding in that home office has been a big value booster. But you can do other things too like finishing your basement, adding a loft in the garage, or working in a half bath in an unused corner or under the steps to add extra square footage, or make the best use of your current space.
Kitchen and Bathroom
An updated kitchen or bathroom will always return, but you don’t always have to go ALL the way with that remodel. Sure, a glass frame shower, a soaking tub, and heated floors in your bathroom would be an absolute luxury, but you could also do a tile shower and a heated towel bar and still know that you’re investing smartly into your home. Full slab granite counters are beautiful, but granite tile can be a lot more cost effective.
Simple Cosmetic Updates
Big remodels that require you to knock out walls and hire crews aren’t the only way to add value. Small changes can make a big impact. Updating faucets and light fixtures. Changing the color palette or updating the face of your fireplace. Even just paying to have your carpets professionally cleaned, or swapping out the carpet for a wood or engineered product. All these changes are more manageable on you budget and your time, and still add to your home.
Landscaping and Curb Appeal
Landscaping and curb appeal are huge when it comes to adding value to your OKC home. You can go big, and add that outdoor kitchen you’ve been dreaming of and put stone on the front of your house, or you can keep it simple and add an extra parking spot on the drive way and some flower beds. Maybe put some gravel down in the backyard and get a fire pit. When it comes to the outside of your home, there are so many ways to go and so many options.
Maintenance
Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance! Remodels and home projects are so fun when you get to see, and enjoy, the finished product, so we often overlook how important home maintenance is and how much value it can add back into your home. If you’ve got the budget for a project, think about that water heater and HVAC system, or how old your roof is? These things aren’t nearly as glamorous or fun, but dang, do they provide a return!
Where does Green Couch Design come into this?
We help you stick within the items that really add value to your home, while packing it full with quality aesthetics and design.
Your standard builder or contractor is going to do exactly what you tell them to do, but what if you’re unsure of what to do?
What looks best?
What stays within your budget, but adds the most value to your home and your family?
How do you prioritize your budget based on your needs vs. wants?
If you're feeling unsure of where to start, then our twenty-minute discovery call was made for you!
Schedule a twenty-minute Discovery call today.
About the Author
Cale is a Co-Owner and Principal Architect at Green Couch Design, a boutique architecture firm located in Oklahoma. He writes about architecture, construction, development, leasing, homesteading, place-making, business ownership, and dose of nerdom when it’s appropriate.
