The Season of Giving,
the Pleasure of Living In this season of gratitude and giving, don’t forget to do a little shopping for that most faithful of companions: your home.
W
you a therapeutic hot bath with jets to soothe your muscles, ease your mind, elevate your mood, and raise your property value (if that’s your bag). Adding a hot tub to your yard or master suite isn’t as hard as you might think, and once you’ve Give your home a had one you’ll never go without again.
ho in the world does as much for you as your home? Day after day, year after year, your home is always there — inviting you in for meals and sleepovers, keeping you and your stuff warm and dry, letting you bring your weird friends over, and so much more — a steadfast friend. Given your home’s importance, perhaps it’s time to start treating it to a little something thoughtful under the tree. But what kind of gifts can you buy an actual building? We’ve gotcha — here are some great ways to tell your home how much you love it.
backyard that will become a magnet for happiness.
Santa’s Splurge Want to really surprise your house? Dream big! When your home wakes up on the big morning, leave these gifts someplace conspicuous, wrapped only in a giant red bow. Hot Tub The best gift ever — there, we said it. One of the ultimate ways your home can express its love for you is by offering
Backyard Makeover
Is your home jealous of the time your family has been spending in other houses’ yards? Do both of you a favor and turn your yard into a place you want to spend more time. Add a playground for the kids, dream up a fantasy outdoor kitchen pagoda with space to entertain, fill the yard with gardens and love. Your home will become a magnet for happy times, and will become the envy of all those other houses.
Sweet & Sensible The practical gifts we dreaded as kids are the ones many of us truly crave most as adults — the kind of gift that isn’t just thoughtful, but caring. While making a list for
your elves, don’t forget to include some thoughtful investments that increase your home’s value and livability. A Bright Idea Home lighting ain’t what it used to be — it’s WAY BETTER. If it’s been a while since you’ve updated your lighting, don’t wait any longer. Start by assessing the light quality in all your home’s spaces and recesses. Most interiors could use more illumination, and all homes can benefit from cooler, more energy-efficient lamps. Besides, your house was too polite to say anything, but shouldn’t those old fixtures be in a museum?
Dress ‘er Up
A Fresh Outlook When’s the last time you really looked at your windows? So many area homes built in simpler times have had innumerable upgrades, but time after time original windows are left in place, considered “good enough.” Modern windows are far more energy efficient and better at noise control. If you’re concerned about keeping the house’s original character, many manufacturers offer current window technology in classic looks. Energy-efficient upgrades may even be eligible for rebates and tax benefits — check with your home improvement specialist and accountant.
Stuffing the Stockings Making your home happy doesn’t have to cost a bundle. In fact, the greatest gift you can give a house is your own time. Call it sweat equity if you like, but the value of working on your own home goes beyond financial benefit — it strengthens the bond between you, gives you pride of ownership to a new degree, and invests you in future upkeep. The more you do for your home, the more you’ll enjoy doing it. Fix ‘er Up Treat your home to a spa day! Every home will eventually show a little wear from the loving ways we live in them, but your home will feel its healthiest if you keep it looking fresh. Take a day to clean the smudges, paint the dings, fill the cracks, and repair or replace anything that’s not doing what it ought to. Cost: low; satisfaction: high.
We live in the golden age of free content, and a huge chunk of that content is about how to improve a house with limited budget and rudimentary skills. For inspiration, search for your desired improvements on TikTok and YouTube. You’ll find a wealth of great ideas from users like @emilyrayna, a self-described newb who gifts her parents with interior makeovers she pulls off beautifully with very low investment — finding perfectly good surplus materials and furniture from locals on Facebook Marketplace, doing the work in her spare time, showing her process, and sharing the tear-jerking moments when her parents see each room for the first time.
Surreptitious Self Interest It may seem like all of these gifts for your home are actually for your benefit, but … well, okay, you caught us. Putting your home at the top of your NICE list may be just a thinly veiled excuse to treat yourself to something you wanted anyway, but why fight it? Just imagine your home will adore you for every gift you offer, and you’ll discover you adore your home so much more in return.
Looking for ways to improve your current home, or looking for a home you’ll adore even more? Contact your favorite REALTOR® for a sleighful of fun ideas!
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