When owners love their home, it is natural for them to make improvements and leave their mark. Since not all home improvement projects add the same value to a home, we’ve compiled this list of the top three improvement projects that homeowners can make if they want to add value to their homes easily.
As a reminder, approval will be needed for any improvements (as required by your CC&Rs) within your community. Helping residents make smart improvement choices will help maintain home values and curb appeal.
- Decorative outside-facing doors. One of the fastest ways to improve curb appeal is to swap out basic garage and front doors for those that feature upgrades like windows and quality hardware. It is a fairly inexpensive fix, and it can take a front entry or driveway area from drab to fab in almost no time at all!
- Make strategic, inexpensive upgrades. One of the fastest ways to date a home is with old fixtures. Take time to update light fixtures, kitchen and bathroom faucets, and upgrade kitchen appliances if your budget allows. Not only will this immediately give your home a facelift, but if you choose energy efficient fixtures and appliances, you’ll save lots of money down the road on utilities.
- Structural improvements. Adding something like new siding, better insulation, or even a fresh coat of paint can home value by thousands of dollars. While these improvements may not be fun, they are necessary for maintaining a property. And if you’re considering selling, a bad paint job or crumbling siding will deter potential buyers.
While there are dozens of home improvement projects, by encouraging and supporting homeowners as they tackle home improvements projects, you’re helping to maintain and improve the curb appeal of your community. If your community has any common areas, follow the same list above and tackle improvement projects to protect the value of the HOA’s common areas. Plus, by taking care of common areas/structures, your board will lead by example! Happy home improving!
