Home Upgrade
Home Upgrade

 Homeownership isn’t accessible, nor is it cheap. Add to that the neverending list of repairs and upgrades, and it can seem like nothing more than a huge money sink.

However, there are a variety of home upgrades you can make that are cost effective and add value to your home. We share our favorite six here. 

Get Laminate Flooring

Flooring is often one of the first things that need an upgrade in the home. Whether due to old carpet or dingy, scratched wood flooring, putting some time and effort into your floors can pay you big dividends.

Consider adding laminate flooring if you’re trying to save some money. It is really easy to clean and vacuum and looks elegant and refined. It pales in comparison to the cost of hardwood flooring, yet it is far more durable than its expensive counterpart.

New flooring will add a lot of value to your home. While other options like tile or hardwood are expensive, laminate flooring is a cost-effective way to upgrade and add value without spending much. 

Replace Garage Door

Old garage doors are a drag on home values in several ways. For starters, older garage doors typically show their age, mainly from the continuous up and down movement, combined with getting a lot of exterior exposure. An older door won’t show well, both inside and out.

Upgrading your garage door is relatively inexpensive, especially compared to many of the other things you could do to raise your home value. And you get a few bangs for your buck. The upgrade will bring you a fully operational garage door with increased functionality and a quieter motor.
You’ll also get to make an exterior upgrade. Doors come with paneling, windows, and all sorts of options to upgrade your exterior.

Paint Touchups

Painting is simple, quick, and doesn’t require any prior experience. A can of paint and a paintbrush are all you need, and a fresh coat of paint will do wonders for any part of your home.
  • You don’t even need to do a full coat of paint. Instead, if you’re short on time, just focus on touchups. This will cover the worst areas that need the most attention.
  • You can also use the opportunity to add a stylish bright color to an accent wall or piece of wood furniture.


Front Yard Rework

The old adage that speaks to curb appeal has a lot of truth to it. People judge a book by its cover; your front yard is the first thing they’ll see as they come. As such, your front yard affects home value, and it's easy to upgrade.

The best part is that reworking your front yard is not difficult or expensive. We’re not talking about a complete redesign. A rework is simple and significantly increases curb appeal.


Here are some cheap and quick yard improvement ideas:

  • Plant some colourful flowers along the walkway
  • Pull any and all weeks, and put wood chips in areas that don’t have grass
  • Add some shrubs that don’t require much water or maintenance
Clean and simple is the way to go when it comes to your yard. Ornate, over-the-top landscaping is hard to maintain and typically expensive to install. Non-native plants usually suck up a lot of water, as they don’t naturally grow in the region.

Instead, do a little research at your local landscaping shop. Learn what grows natively, and try to focus on low-maintenance plants. Not only will this save you money when you purchase them, but it will save you over time.


Add Smart Technology

Smart home technology is all the rage right now, and for good reason. Everyone is very well connected these days, typically sporting more than one smart device, such as a smart trash can, robot vacuum, and smart lock throughout the day. Additionally, the technology you can add and pair to your home makes life convenient and easy.
There are so many different ways to incorporate innovative technology, and it's essential to be in control of what you choose to implement. Otherwise, you might get shiny object syndrome, buying anything that looks good to you now.

Instead, one great way to cost-effectively add smart technology to your home is to start by researching and picking a brand you prefer. Picking a brand will allow you to harness the savings and efficiencies of pairing multiple features.


Here is a brief overview of some of the popular brands:

Nest: This brand has branched out beyond its popular and synonymous thermostat. The brand is known for making stylish, user-friendly smart tech. 

  • Phillips: Their Hue line takes lighting to the next level, connecting to many popular apps like IFTTT.
  • Belkin: Specializing in smart plugs, they’ve gone further to integrate those plugs into light switches.
Remember that many of these brands' products incorporate popular smart hubs like Google Home and Amazon Echo. Research how hubs incorporate with the other devices and decide how all of it together will save you money and make your life easier.

If you live in a sunny location, perhaps the most effective thing you could do is to add solar to your home. This act alone can save you hundreds each month, as you generate electricity instead of paying for it.


Make Small Kitchen Upgrades

Kitchen upgrades are typically the most expensive home improvements you can make but also have the highest value. If you’re focused on cost-effective upgrades and enhancements, you don’t want to break the bank on anything in the kitchen. But, you should focus some of your time in this room of the house because it has a significant impact.
  • Focus on small things with a significant impact. Replace the kitchen faucet with a stylish model. Remove old cabinet handles and upgrade to bright stainless steel. Lighting fixtures and scrubbing floor tiles and grout can also be refreshed. 
  • If you have old wood cabinets, consider taking them off the hinges and painting them. While this project is a little larger, it will significantly impact you and won’t cost you much.
  • No matter which home upgrade you choose, these options will be cost-effective ways to add value to the house.