HOMES + I N S I G H T
HOME IMPROVEMENTS that
Pay Off
Julie D. Martin Real Estate Broker
Lots of people love watching home improvement shows, myself included. I could literally binge watch for hours if time allowed, especially as the weather starts to get cooler outside.
What is it about these shows that grabs my attention so much? Maybe it’s the personalities of the hosts. Or learning some new decorating ideas. But, if I’m honest with myself, it’s probably because it feeds my unrealistic expectations. When a huge project like a main floor renovation, could take months in real life (or years if you’re doing it in stages while you live in the house), the idea of the whole project being completed in a one-hour episode is a major relief – especially to those of us who have ever lived through a renovation! But, on these TV shows, they only let us in on the fun parts of a renovation (like picking out colours or finishes) or when they do present a surprise that isn’t a good surprise, it’s presented in the way that is humorous. Let me tell you, in real life unpleasant surprises aren’t usually funny!
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If you own a home, these shows can be inspirational, though, and can give you lots of great ideas of how you could renovate or decorate your own home. If you don’t own a home yet, you can still get a feel of what type of home you would like to live in. Before you go and start spending money on renovations, though, you may want to invest in what you think will add the most value to your home. If you want to know which home improvements have the greatest impact on your property value, I am happy to share what I have found in my experience over the years:
CURB APPEAL
This could mean a new driveway, painting your front door, installing a new light fixture at your door, a funky new mailbox or street number, making a few landscaping touches like planting some tall grasses, or shining some uplights under your ornamental trees.
