Last year we all focused on creating and upgrading our home offices to ensure working from home is as easy as possible. This year is all about boosting your property value through various upgrades. 

When tackling home improvement projects you need to make sure you’ll recoup the value of your improvements. “Just because you spent R200 000 on home improvements does not necessarily mean that your house is automatically worth R200 000 more.” Adrian Goslett, CEO of RE/MAX SA.

Before you start upgrading you need to consider which improvements will have the best chances of improving your Return on Investment (ROI). Energy and water-saving improvements are still at the top of the list, but bathroom upgrades and outdoor entertainment areas are some of the main home improvement projects you can tackle to increase your property value.

Take your property to the next level with these clever (and money-savvy) home improvement projects.

Eco-Friendly Enhancements to Boost Your Property Value

Loadshedding is here to stay. That’s why solar panels should be at the top of your wish list.

When installing solar panels and batteries you need to decide how much of your house you want to be able to power. It might not be feasible to run your aircondition on solar power, but if you do the maths and get the right size equipment, you should be able to use all your appliances. Even during Stage 8 loadshedding!

You should also look for a system that will generate a reliable electricity supply for at least 20 years. You don’t want to have to replace your system too often.

These eco-friendly enhancements can be costly, but you’ll recoup the initial costs in a few years. And to make it more budget-friendly in the meantime, you can build your system up piece by piece. If installing the entire system at once is too expensive consider getting a basic setup that you can expand over time. 

Eco-friendly enhancements also don’t just refer to major projects. While energy-efficient improvements add to the resale value of your home, there are small changes you can make to start saving some money and slowly turning your home green. 

Fixing leaky taps, installing water-saving shower heads, adding a timer to your geyser, using grey water, installing a borehole, and switching to more energy-efficient appliances are all good ways to make your home more eco-friendly.

Once you start making these changes and saving money it will become easier to invest in more costly improvements. Chat with an experienced electrician to find out more about energy-saving techniques you can invest in.

Bathroom Renovations

Your bathroom should invoke feelings of serenity and tranquillity. This is the space you should seek out when you need some self-care. Turning your bathroom into a wellness space will not only boost your property value but will also be beneficial to your well-being.

Heated shower floors, large tubs, walk-in showers, and heated towel racks are some of the best ways to upgrade your bathroom. 

If you want to truly take your bathroom to the next level, you need to consider seating. A cushy upholstered bench or an ottoman adds an element of luxury without taking up much space. 

You can also use this seating when using your vanity, so it’s functional and lush all at once. Just make sure you have enough space for the seat otherwise your bathroom will just look cluttered.

On the topic of seating, shower benches are a great addition to any bathroom! You don’t even need to have anything built in. You can get free-standing benches that you can move around. Materials like teak or marble add an air of sophistication to your shower while also being incredibly practical.

If you’re not ready for a full renovation, small changes like changing your shower head or lighting can make a big difference while still staying within budget. 

Outdoor Entertainment Areas

One thing most South Africans can agree on is that we like to braai. There’s nothing as relaxing as lighting a fire on a weekend and braaing a few chops. So why not make your braai area a place everyone in your family wants to hang out?

A fire pit is the perfect feature to build your entertainment area around. Add some seating around the fire pit with comfy cushions and you’re already well on your way to creating an outdoor entertainment area.

You can also spice things up by adding a built-in pizza oven. A pizza oven is incredibly easy to add to your home and is great when you’re hosting parties.

A pool will also affect your property value. For some people, a pool is too much work – they don’t want the responsibility of making sure the pool is clean and usable. 

A good rule of thumb is to see how many of your neighbours have pools. If most of your neighbours have pools, then you can try to view it as a selling point rather than a problem. 

Pairing a pool with an entertainment area is also a great way to ensure the area gets used. An entertainment area doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. These patio ideas require some DIYing to put together, but it’s all pretty easy, so you can tackle it yourself!

Upgrades to Increase Your Property Value

Boosting your property value doesn’t always mean you need to undertake a big renovation project. Small changes can make a big difference, and most of these improvements can be done in increments. So go ahead and start planning your next home improvement project!

If you’re ready to upgrade your home and boost your property value at the same time, contact us today. Simply complete our quick online form to connect to 3 skilled contractors.