Renovating for resale may, in some cases, ensure a faster sale or a higher selling price, but remodeling sooner rather than later allows homeowners to benefit not just from the payoff of those upgrades, but the actual upgrades themselves. Comfortable outdoor living is a major selling point in today’s housing market, and simple changes such as adding an outdoor TV or fireplace or updating patios and decks can benefit current homeowners as well as future buyers.
Affordable kitchen upgrades, like replacing old countertops or adding new light fixtures, can also help boost the attractiveness of a home when selling, and adding a work-from-home space appeals to a new cohort of post-pandemic buyers, according to Housing Design Matters.
As for expanding the outdoor living, consider living beyond the drip line of the house:
- Can you add a patio that visually expands the outdoor living experience into the back?
- What about adding pavers into the yard to a nicely built-in grill – one that won’t blacken the ceiling of the lanai.
- Perhaps you could add a firepit or fire table. While the idea of keeping it wood burning may have some appeal to keep the cost down, I recommended gas (natural or propane) to minimize the smoke.