From shag carpet to Formica countertops to colors galore, do you have rooms in your house that you walk into and say, "What was the previous owner thinking?" Most of us have a laundry list of items we’d like to see change in our homes, especially if you were lucky enough to purchase one from the 80s or 90s. But what on that laundry list is worth investing in? This is the number one question I get from all clients. No one wants to spend money and not get a return. In my 13 years as a real estate agent, I’ve seen what brings value to a home or what is literally throwing money down the drain. So here are my top 3 best bang-for-your-buck renovations!

1.)    Paint: The fastest and “cheapest” way to transform a home is with paint. Homeowners sure did love their color back in the 90s! I recently sold a home in which every room was a different color. To make it even more appealing (or appalling), they were purples and blues and pinks … oh my! Clients are no longer wanting to walk into what feels like a bag full of skittles. Light, bright, and airy. That is what everyone wants these days. Think neutral colors that will be attractive to the majority rather than Pantone’s 2019 color of the year: Living Coral. Sometimes the top trends aren’t the best things to follow when you are trying to appeal to the masses. Neutral colors also make rooms feel larger. And don’t forget the baseboards! A fresh coat of paint on those will make a huge difference in the appearance of a room.

2.)   Master Bathroom: Why not all baths, you ask? The master bath is larger, more expensive, and it’s a room clients spend a good amount of time in. Everyone wants to be in a relaxing space in their own home and a lot of clients look to the master bath for a spa-like experience that they don’t have to do themselves. Over the years, I have also come to notice that the secondary bathrooms just aren’t a bathroom that give my clients pause. Maybe they don’t have kids. Maybe they don’t get many guests. A lot of people nowadays love the do it yourself tasks and a smaller bathroom could be right up their alley. Whatever the reason, if you’re tight on budget, stick with the master bathroom and save the rest for later.

3.)   Kitchen: When I say kitchen I pretty much mean everything: the backsplash, the cabinets, and the countertops. Newer appliances even get thumbs up. What do most people want in a kitchen these days? The entertaining factor: an open layout, a large island, and again, light, bright, and airy.

As with any project, I highly recommend talking to friends, neighbors, coworkers … anyone who has completed a home renovation. Referrals and recommendations are one of the best things you can seek prior to hiring someone.

**Please contact me at 303-619-4880 for a list of preferred contractors.**