As you look through your favorite home improvement magazine or social media page, are you finding various types of inspiration to upgrade your home? If so, you probably have a list of home improvement projects to consider before 2023 ends. Your home is your biggest asset, so you should make sure that your rooms and features are as comfortable, cozy, and valuable as possible. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some of the top home improvement projects that are worth the money that you’ll spend this year.
1. Kitchen Remodel
Whenever home renovators conduct surveys, it’s no surprise that a kitchen remodel is usually the top choice. After all, the kitchen is one of the few rooms in a house that everybody usually goes into at some point in the day. You can’t live without food, and that’s where everything is stored, prepped and cooked. As any home improvement magazine will show you, there are many ways that you can upgrade your kitchen so that it’s not only the ideal place to prep, cook, and eat food but can also be a beautiful showcase of your style, aesthetic, and personality.
Since the kitchen is often the center of family life, you want it to be as comfortable as possible. Even when people have a dining room, many people still often eat around the kitchen table. Oftentimes when people entertain, people will spend time in the kitchen chatting, and drinking, and may have the entire gathering in that space. You want to ensure people have a comfortable place to sit, that it feels warm and cozy, and they don’t feel squished in. You can get many ideas from your favorite home improvement magazine on how to open up your kitchen space and add the necessary functionality.
According to the National Association of Realtors, a typical kitchen remodel can produce a 60% rate of return. Of course, that number may be even higher depending on the type of materials you use and the functionality you add, such as a granite countertop or marble countertop. One of the top choices to increase your rate of return is by installing a modern kitchen island with the aforementioned stone surfaces.
Kitchen islands have become standard in American homes since they provide additional space for food, prep, eating, and sitting. The right kitchen island can often serve as the center of any modern kitchen, especially if it’s large enough to accommodate several people. Take advantage of the many unique Island designs that you’ll see in a home improvement magazine. One of the top trends in modern kitchen designs is the use of a double island. With a Double Island, you’ll have twice the amount of storage, seating, and alternative design that can make anyone jealous of your kitchen.
Speaking of functionality, can you imagine renovating a kitchen without touching your cabinets? Your kitchen can never have too much storage since you have to deal with food, dry goods, cleaning supplies, appliances, pots, pans, cookbooks and so much more. Play around with different style cabinets in the same kitchen. A common trend that you may see in your favorite home improvement magazine is the use of more slick cabinets that also have hidden features. In other words, you may have appliances such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave hidden behind a cabinet door.
Speaking of appliances, any kitchen upgrade should include updated appliances or at least necessary repairs. Standard kitchen appliances can make your life more efficient and easier, but they can also cost you a lot of money if they are no longer energy efficient. So as you invest in your home upgrade, have an appliance repair technician check out your existing appliances to see if they can make repair upgrades or if you should just install new ones from the Energy Star brand.
2. New Roof Installation
When it comes to ideal home improvement projects in 2023, a roof replacement may be at the top of your list. A new roof can add great aesthetics to your curb appeal. There are so many different roofing materials available, That you’re bound to find one that fits your existing home design, climate, and personal preference. Your go-to Home Improvement Magazine will not only focus on roof aesthetics but also its protection qualities and safety.
Professional roof installers know how to protect your home from leaks and water damage. A quality roof should not be susceptible to water leaks or air leaks. Investing in the right materials can ensure that regardless of rain, snow, hail, or extensive UV rays, you have a roof that will protect your home from any of these elements from getting inside. Water damage can wreak havoc inside your home, and one of the main culprits of a water leak is your roof. When leaks go on unmanaged, they can ruin your home foundation and damage the structural integrity of your home. So allow roof installers to reinforce your home with new quality materials that can last decades.
Consider high-quality materials like metal or slate. According to Bob Vila, metal slate roofing can easily last for 50 to 70 years. Having a roof that can last for such a long time may outlive you. That’s something to consider if you have a home that you may one day pass on to your heirs. Making these types of updates now can be one less thing that you or your future heirs will have to worry about once the home is passed on to them.
What homeowner wants pests running around? Not many! When you think of pest infestations, you may assume that they may only come in at the main level or through your basement. Unfortunately, your roof and attic are just as vulnerable to pests getting inside as any other part of your home. You can prevent such an occurrence by having a strong roof that doesn’t have many vulnerabilities. According to pest controllers, creatures such as snakes, rodents, birds, and squirrels are the most likely ones that you may find running around in your attic through vulnerabilities in your roof.
If you plan on selling your home at any time in the future, a quality roof can greatly increase its resale value. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2013 Cost vs. Value Report, a new roof installation can increase home resale value by a national average of nearly $12,000.
3. Basement Waterproofing
As more homeowners understand the value that they have in their basement space, they are opting for basement waterproofing services. As you look through one of your popular home improvement magazines, you can enjoy beautiful pictures of finished basements. Before your basement can get to the point where it’s a livable space on its own, you need waterproofing contractors who can successfully do basement mold remediation and other reinforcement.
Basement waterproofing can prevent floods from occurring. Remember, your basement is your home’s lowest level, so it’s extremely vulnerable to inclement weather and floods that can happen. If your belief basement floods, it can ruin any items down there, which can include personal mementos and valuable items that you want to keep throughout your life. If the water from a flooded basement doesn’t empty soon enough, it could eventually ruin your entire home’s foundation and make it no longer livable.
A basement mold remediation service can make your home a healthier place to be. Mold is something that can spread very quickly in a wet environment. Luckily, when waterproofing contractors get to work, they can prevent water from seeping into the basement or humidity from taking root. This is imperative because, under normal circumstances, your basement is usually the most humid, dampest part of the home besides your bathroom. As a result, it can be a major breeding ground for mold that can affect the rest of your house. After all, once those mold spores get into the air, they can travel anywhere, get into your lungs, and create or exacerbate existing lung ailments.
When you add basement waterproofing to your home improvement project, you’re also providing better insulation for your home. When your home is insulated from top to bottom, you can reduce your energy bills and as a result, save money. Air leaks can occur from any part of your home. When everything is properly sealed off, your HVAC system can run at a lower level while still heating or cooling your space as needed.
Did you know that waterproofing your basement can also prevent cracks in the foundation? Without proper waterproofing, any moisture that comes in can get trapped in the small pores of the basement foundation area. When that water gets trapped, it can expand and contract and cause more cracks to form. If the problem isn’t fixed right away, you may end up having costly foundation repairs on your lap.
4. HVAC Replacement
Whether or not your home improvement magazine mentions HVAC replacement, it’s certainly worth the cost in 2023. Professional HVAC services help your home remain as energy-efficient as possible. As mentioned, when your space is energy efficient, you save on bills as well as reduce your carbon footprint. With regular AC maintenance service, your home also has good air quality, which is vital for good health. When you turn on your HVAC unit, warm or cool air should circulate throughout your home. However, if you don’t have the right service, then air won’t circulate as needed. It may only be restricted to a small area.
Have you ever run an AC that was so noisy you could barely have a phone conversation or listen to the television? With a repaired or newly installed AC, you won’t have to deal with such noise pollution. After all, a functional HVAC system should barely operate above and humming sound.
Your roof and plumbing aren’t the only places responsible for leaks in your home. A malfunctioning AC unit can also leak coolant or water. If you don’t notice that leak. Your home can have water damage in that area that can worsen over time. Whether moisture damage comes from AC coolant, water, or humidity, it all can wreak havoc on your foundation, walls, and the air quality in your home.
5. New Gutter Installation
Never underestimate the value of quality gutter maintenance on your home. When professionals come to check out your gutters, they may need to do gutter repair or replacement to ensure that they can function as needed. Your gutters are responsible for ushering water away from your roof. In addition to keeping water away from your roof, it also prevents water from pooling around your basement area. In other words, it protects the foundation of your home from top to bottom.
While gutters may not always be the standout feature of a home design, they certainly earn their place in any home improvement magazine due to the way that they protect the home from damage. Gutters can also come in different styles and aesthetics that can match the overall design quality of your home. In addition, remember that your gutter installation can help protect any new roofing installation or basement reinforcement that you do for 2023. As you go about improving your home, it’s important to think about how improvements, big and small, work together to ensure that one part of your home remains in good condition.
As a homeowner, you should have fun upgrading your home this year and next. As you put together your home improvement budget, it’s important to understand that these services are worth the cost because you’ll benefit from them for years to come. Most of the upgrades listed here will not only increase the value of your home, but they can also protect your structure, improve function, and even protect your family’s health. Whether you plan to sell your renovated home next year or age in place and pass it on to your heirs, these home improvement projects are worth their weight in gold.