Savvy home improvement

The standard advice used to be that whatever you spent on home improvement was an investment, and could be recouped in the sale of the house. That advice is no longer true today, but some home improvements still make good investment sense.

Among the best places to invest in your home:

• Kitchen updates. Ironically, as fewer and fewer people are cooking, the kitchen has become more important as a selling point in homes today. Buyers want lots of space, and updated high-end appliances. Designer touches like a mosaic tile backsplash or quarry tile floors add function and beauty, and are durable. Refacing cabinets can offer kitchens a lift without the expense of replacing the units. And something as simple as a high-end faucet can add value for a nominal cost. 

• Decks, attic conversions, and other "found space." Anything that increases the living area of a home is usually a good investment. Decks should be sized to complement the home, and not be too large (more than 1/3 of the area of the home) or too small to be functional. Attics, basements, and other unused areas in a home that can be converted into living space can dramatically increase value compared to their cost. Just make sure the space is not too specialized but can serve a variety of functions if you are concerned about resale value. 

• Bathroom updates. Like kitchens, buyers look for modernized baths. Luxury touches such as deep tubs or jetted tubs are a good bet. Modernized shower units are a good selling point. If your color scheme is dated, consider updating to glass tile and a neutral palette. While you want to have enough bathrooms as a convenience factor, large master baths are a good selling point. Which brings us to the next item ... 

• Master suites. Most buyers are looking for a large master bedroom with a large bath attached that they can turn into a relaxing and secluded getaway. Small bedrooms don't sell well, and it might even be worth knocking out a wall or two if your house is old enough to have tiny bedrooms. A home with a large master suite and only one extra bedroom will usually sell faster than one with three smaller bedrooms. 

• Energy efficiency.  Insulation, new windows, new seals, and anything else that makes your home run more efficiently will make it more attractive to buyers, and save you money in the meantime. You may also be eligible for tax credits when you increase your home energy efficiency, so these can be especially smart ways to spend your home improvement dollars. 

And the most important update everyone should consider -- paint. Painting is one of the least expensive updates to a home, but can have some of the most dramatic effects. Neutral colors are best, but that doesn't mean you can't have drama. Dining rooms, for example, if they are large enough, can handle darker shades and dramatic hues, and these are appropriate for rooms where people will be eating. Take special note of the color of the front door and any paintable trim. This can be one of the best and most inexpensive ways to give your home curb appeal. 


On the other hand, there are those updates that, while you might like to add them, are not going to come anywhere near repaying you when you sell the house. Chief among these are swimming pools, which might be a drawing point for some buyers. Just as easily though, buyers can see a pool as a liability in terms of having to maintain it and being responsible for keeping children safe.  Even a beautifully landscaped pool featuring glass mosaic tile murals, while beautiful and certainly enjoyable, might actually decrease your chances of selling your home someday.


So whether you are planning to put your home on the market in the near future, or just want to invest your home improvement dollars where they are most likely to pay you back someday, spend wisely. But most of all, choose improvements that will let you better enjoy your home and make you love it all the more. That's money well spent.