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With interest rates at an all time low, the real estate market in 2021 is hotter than ever. Many people are taking advantage of low interest rates to invest in home improvements – either to customise their home to their needs and enjoy the benefits themselves, or to increase the value of their home so they can improve its resale value in either the short or long term.
There are so many ways to increase a home’s value, but some will provide better return on investment than others. In this article we take a look at some of the best ways to increase the value of your home and – spoiler alert – they’re all about improving your home’s exterior, backyard and outdoor living environment.
Increase your home’s value by improving its exterior and increasing its ‘curb appeal’
These days, the ‘curb appeal’ of your home can significantly impact its sale potential. As the saying goes, ‘first impressions last’ – and this is particularly true when it comes to influencing potential buyers.
The external appearance of your home will either entice potential buyers to take a closer look at your property or deter them. If the front of your home looks unattractive, potential buyers are likely to have an instant negative reaction or feelings of doubt.
These feelings may not stop potential buyer from viewing your home’s interior and backyard, but it may mean the interior and rear outdoor environment need to be extra impressive to counteract this negative first impression.
Add a Carport
A great carport can significantly improve the exterior of your home, while also being incredibly functional– especially if you only have a single care garage, or don’t have a garage at all. A modern design can help to update the look of your home’s current exterior, instantly improving its curb appeal and increasing its value.
A well-designed and well-built carport will blend seamlessly with your home’s design, creating a stylish, aesthetically pleasing extension to your home. The options are almost endless:
- a gabled, flat or insulated roof,
- wooden or steel posts, with or without brick or concrete plinths,
- colours that match your existing exterior or new colours to lead the way for a complete exterior colour makeover,
- open, partly or fully screened sides,
- an open front, or a motorised or manually operated roller door, tilt-a-door, or screen.
This level of customisation also accommodates a range of budgets, allowing you to keep costs to a manageable level by cherry picking the options that best suit you and your home. A carport.
While it’s possible to build a DIY carport, it can be a stressful, time-consuming and labour-intensive project that won’t necessarily produce the best result. To ensure the best return on your investment, it’s recommended you hire a competent and reputable builder who has lots of experience in designing and building carports.
Increase your home value by improving your outdoor living space
Australians love the outdoors. Our mild climate lends itself perfectly to outdoor living – BBQs on the deck or patio, family get-togethers around the pool, lazing around in the backyard reading a book, enjoying an afternoon drink on the verandah…
For these reasons, one of the best ways to increase the value of your home is by improving your outdoor living space. Extending your living space by seamlessly merging your indoor and outdoor spaces, or by adding a standalone outdoor living area, offers excellent return on investment.
Add a Deck
If your house is raised or two-storey, adding a deck that allows you to extend your elevated indoor living space to an outdoor area at the same level is a great way to increase the value of your home.
Recent market research has shown that adding a wooden deck offers one of the best returns on investment. Whether it’s used to accommodate your BBQ and outdoor dining or lounge furniture, lead from your kitchen/dining or living area, surround your pool, or add an elevated lounge area or viewing platform to the top floor or roof of your home, a beautiful wooden deck is a functional addition with loads of visual appeal that is almost guaranteed to increase the value of your home.
While you can attempt a DIY deck build, it’s a much better idea to hire a professional to design and build your deck – especially when it’s a second storey construction project – that way you know it’s structurally sound and built according to the applicable standards and regulations.
Add a Patio
Adding a patio is a great way to improve the value of your home. With its impressive versatility there are practically no ends to the design and construction… every element can be customised to suit your individual preferences and complement your home’s design and colour scheme.
Different roofing types allow you to fit the design of your patio to your house and match, or complement, the existing design and architecture.
- A gabled roof is elegant and practical, allowing for more light and air flow, and the extra height allows for installation of a ceiling fan.
- An insulated roof provides greater sun and heat protection (perfect for Australian summers!) and allows for much neater wiring installations for the addition of power outlets and more stylish lighting options.
- A skillion (flat) roof offers a sleek, modern design that is cost effective and low maintenance. They can be a single-layer metal roof or can be insulated for extra appeal.
An experienced builder will be able to guide you through the design process to work out the best base or flooring option and decide on which building materials to use to suit your budget and desired aesthetic. They will also be able to create a patio that blends seamlessly with your home, so it doesn’t look like it’s a cheap and nasty addition that was slapped on at the last minute.
The key to increasing your home’s value by adding a patio, is to have a well-designed and built space that meets your needs and your budget, without over-capitalising. While there’s no doubt a patio will increase your home’s value, you don’t want to risk spending so much that you can’t recoup the cost when you decide to sell.
Enclose your patio
Enclosing your patio – fully or partially, with glass or screens (known as a Queensland room) – increases the usability of the space and makes it perfect for outdoor living and entertaining. You could even install an enclosed patio around a swimming pool or outdoor spa… heat the water and add a couple of space heaters and you’ve got yourself an indoor heated pool (or spa) that you can use all year round!
Add a Pergola
A pergola is, essentially, a free-standing patio. Depending on the size and design of your backyard, you may not have room to add a deck or patio on to the back of your home. A pergola can go just about anywhere! As a pergola doesn’t need to blend seamlessly with your home, it offers a little more freedom in terms of design, materials used and colour.
Hunter Patios & Additions can help you increase the value of your home
Hunter Patios & Additions design and build the best carports, the greatest decks, the finest pergolas and the most excellent patios and patio enclosures in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter regions.
Hunter Patios & Additions are licensed builders with 35 years’ experience, who are well known for their unparalleled levels of customer satisfaction. Their engineered designs are safety and quality assured and expertly constructed, they manage the process from start to finish, arranging all necessary approval processes and permits, and they offer premium structural, material and workmanship warranties.
To find out more about how Hunter Patios & Additions can help you to increase the value of your home, call us today on 1300 780 698 or 02 4966 8488. Alternatively, please send us an email at info@hunterpatios.com.au or visit our Contact page and use our online contact form to send us a message, and a Hunter Patios & Additions t_eam member will contact you shortly.
