The Most Bang for Your Buck in Remodeling Projects

If you're like alot of people nowadays, you may not be able to sell your Hendersonville home right now.  Instead, you are looking at updating your home's look for the possibility of making a larger profit later.  Here are a few tips on how to get the most bang for your buck in remodeling projects:

1. Crown Molding - Easy to install, adding crown molding to the ceiling or a chair rail along the wall can instantly transfer a drab room into a fab room.  You can even dress up a light fixture with a simple medallion.

2. Wood Floors - Are your wood floors looking a little worse for wear?  Refinish them for a fresher look.  If they are completely worn out, opt for replacing them.

3. Light Fixtures - Are you still using fluorescent lights in the kitchen or bathroom?  Recessed lighting or updated light fixtures can increase the warmth and feel of any room for a reasonable price.

4. Entryway/Foyer - If your entryway/foyer area is stuck in a bygone era, you may want to freshen it up with a fresh coat of paint, newer wallpaper, refinished stairway and/or new flooring.

5. Kitchen Island - Storage is one of the toughest things to accommodate in a kitchen.  Adding a kitchen island with shelves or cabinets included in the design not only increase your storage capacity, but also your surface area.   Try using butcher block or concrete for the kitchen island's work surface as an alternative to expensive granite or marble.

6. Pantry - Adding a simple pantry to your kitchen can increase your food storage in a small area quickly and easily.

7. Shower - Simply changing the showerheads in your bathrooms can make a dramatic difference.  One of the more popular fixtures is a large pan showerhead that simulates a rainfall.  Also, you may want to consider adding a multi-head or second showerhead in your master bath.

8. Fixtures - Updating the fixtures for your kitchen or bathroom sinks increase the room's appeal.  In the kitchen, consider adding a pull-out sprayer with a retractable hose to help clean the sink and reach those pots or pans that are too big to sit in the sink under a traditional faucet.  While you're at it, update the cabinets and drawers with new handles, knobs or pulls.  If your cabinets don't include any fixtures, the look can be dramatically altered quickly.

9. Porch - Adding a porch creates a more welcome appearance and brings your living space to the outdoors.  You'll need to make sure to check the building codes in your area first for setback requirements and obtain a building permit, if necessary.

10. Siding - Check your home's siding for any damage.  If your siding is in good condition, you can find products at your local home supply store to restore the finish to its original condition.  If it's time to replace, vinyl siding is the most affordable in a variety of colors and styles.  It's not your parents' ugly siding anymore.

These are just a few of the simpler ways to get the most bang for your buck in remodeling projects.  I'd love to hear what projects you have done to increase the value of your Hendersonville home.  What you do now will help you when you decide to sell your Western North Carolina home later.