No matter how value conscious a homeowner may be, few people ever make a home improvement simply to increase their house’s resale value. People also undertake home improvements to enhance their enjoyment of their home — or to fix a problem, which, in its own way, is good for the soul, too.
When it comes to deciding how to spend your renovation dollars, some home improvements can boost both your spirits and your home value. Here are some examples.
Install a skylight
The health benefits of natural light are well known. Not only does sunlight stimulate the body’s production of Vitamin D, it also boosts brain levels of serotonin. Lower serotonin levels have been associated with depression, decreased physical energy, increased appetite and elevated desire for sleep. A lack of sunlight has long been associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder — something your dear old grandmother might have simply called “the winter blues.”
And there’s another consideration with today’s tightly built and heavily insulated homes — indoor air quality. According to the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (www.greenguard.org), most of our exposure to environmental pollution occurs by breathing the air indoors.
Adding a traditional or tubular skylight — to virtually any room in the house — brings more mood-boosting natural light into your home. It’s also a smart money decision. Energy-saving, solar-powered fresh-air skylights, like those made by Velux America, can be opened to bring much-needed outside air into your home, providing passive ventilation to reduce humidity and stale air, and reduce cooling and lighting costs.
Add a sunroom
While you’re thinking about the benefits of more natural light in your home, consider adding a sunroom. One of these light—filled retreats returns more than 46 percent of the initial cost when it’s time to sell your home, according to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report. In a 2012 survey by the National Association of Home Builders, 52 percent of builders rated sunrooms as “desirable” or “essential” — ranking them higher than other specialty rooms like work-out rooms, dens or even media rooms.
Sunrooms can be a great way to make your small home feel much larger, without the expense of a bigger, costlier addition. They also speak to our natural affinity for the outdoors, allowing you to enjoy nature year-round.
Upgrade your bathroom
The trend of bathrooms as a restive oasis doesn’t show any signs of disappearing. If you doubt the popularity of luxury bathroom fittings, just visit the showerhead aisle in any home improvement store. Options include everything from rainfall shower heads to multi-jet contraptions that promise a spa-like experience in your own shower stall. Add in jetted tubs and amenities like under-floor heating, and it’s easy to understand why real estate pros continue to cite a great bathroom as a must-have for many buyers.
This article is courtesy of Brandpoint.