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You’ve made the decision to upgrade your home. Where to start? Of course you want to get the most bang for your buck, however you want to see your style in your home too. It’s a balancing act, but getting the most ROI (Return on Investment) and incorporating your personal taste can be done.
Why Trendy Doesn’t Always Mean Valuable
Have you ever looked back a decade or two at what you were wearing or how you styled your hair and thought, “What was I thinking?” The same applies to your home. Some trends are just too trendy to allow you to earn back some of that cash you’re spending.
How to Know the Difference Between ROI and Aesthetic Appeal
Aesthetic Appeal of Your Home
It’s when the homeowner builds or designs based on personal taste, however these choices are appealing not just to you, the homeowner, but to future buyers as well. It’s like buying a wooden chest unfinished—you still want to stain it or maybe paint it, add gloss to it or leave it matte. Now you’ve added aesthetic appeal to the wooden chest.
Your Renovation ROI
It’s not always the most exciting choice, but it is going to help you get the most for your money. Some top ROI home renovations include replacing the garage door or front door, improving your insulation, and replacing inefficient windows. If your house needs these updates, they have the best chance to increase the market value of your home relative to how much you pay for them.
Consider Both ROI and Aesthetics
The key is finding a thoughtful balance of aesthetic appeal and ROI. Your home IS an investment, so you should be considering the financial implications. But it’s also where you spend so much of your time. You should be able to have spaces that reflect the functionality and personality of your family that don’t compromise your financial investment.
Trends That Do Add Value to Your Home
At Great Day Improvements, we offer options that provide both value and aesthetics. Replacing windows, doors, roofs, and upgrading energy efficiency are all options that continue to appeal to homeowners year after year. They’ve proven to be remodeling projects that aren’t fading trends and will stand the test of time.
Energy-Efficient Windows & Doors
Can you hear the outside clearly when your windows are closed? Is there a draft under the closed door? Those are signs of energy inefficiency. Replacing old windows and doors with energy efficient ones is a smart ROI renovation choice and can be an aesthetic one too. Outdated windows can be unappealing to both you and a potential home buyer. Replacing them will boost your home value and please your aesthetic senses too. In addition, if you’re looking for another aesthetic upgrade, statement doors is one way to do that and add ROI at the same time. Upgrading to decorative glass or a modern style is an easy and fast change.
Kitchen Upgrades
Your kitchen is the “heart of the home”. As buyers, we often head straight to the kitchen when looking at a potential house. This is an obvious choice when considering renovations, however it’s easy to over-renovate and lose money. Minor to mid-range kitchen remodels will render you the most ROI and still make a statement.
These upgrades can include flooring replacement, counter replacement, sink and faucet replacement, and cabinet refacing. The structure of the kitchen remains the same, but you have a whole new look!
Bathroom Remodels
The bathroom is another essential room in your home that makes a major statement even with a minor upgrade. As an added benefit, some smart ROI bathroom remodels can be completed in as little as 48 hours.
Replacing older bathtubs with walk-in showers and adding seating in the shower adds to your investment as it broadens the appeal to older populations. Increasing your ROI with a minor remodel is a valuable asset.
Exterior Curb Appeal Improvements
This may sound like a straight aesthetic upgrade, but it is in fact a potentially high ROI for your home as well. Curb appeal is the first thing a potential home buyer sees—especially in today’s digital age.
This includes your garage door, front door, siding, roof—even the gutters! Homebuyers will look at how well these items are maintained, updated, cared for. What’s even more appealing is if they’re maintenance-free, like with Leafguard. No more climbing a ladder and risking a fall to clean out those gutters!
Curb appeal isn’t just for home buyers. It’s for you, the homeowner, too. When you pull up to your home and see a front door that welcomes you or siding that looks clean and fresh—it gives you a sense of pride and joy for where you’re building your life.
Outdoor Living Spaces & Sunrooms
Some trends come and go, but others are meant to last. Outdoor living spaces and sunrooms are a lasting trend. Homeowners are realizing they can add more space to their home by utilizing existing patio or back porch space all year round, and for less money than a full addition.
Homeowners are even enclosing two-story structures, especially in warmer climates where year-round outdoor living can be enjoyed with screened-in enclosures. Some homeowners upgrade these enclosures to glass which makes them more available across the country.
“Thanks to these changes, homeowners are enjoying these spaces year-round, making them permanent extensions of their homes, affording more space for entertaining and increasing comfort by enjoying the outdoors without the interference of dust, pollen or bugs.” -Melissa Skinner, Great Day Improvements
Although the screened-in option is airy and pleasant, when using glass, it eliminates the need to cover cushions and bring in delicate items when bad weather hits. The glass enclosure has screen panels that allow you to open when the weather is nice.
Great Day can get you started on your outdoor living dreams!
Trends That Don’t Always Add Value
Overly Customized Features
While you want to make your home your own, engraving your wedding date into the wall of your bedroom may not be the best way to do that. Neither are:
- Combining two bedrooms into one: buyers want bedrooms. Reducing the number of bedrooms will lower the market value of your home
- Adding dedicated rooms like a gym, wine cellar, etc.
- Swimming pools, sports courts in the backyard: these require a great deal of maintenance and take up a lot of space
High-End Tech That May Become Obsolete
Technology will always at some point become obsolete. Remember the VHS tape? iPod? Installing tech to improve your daily life makes sense, but if the installation becomes part of the home, if the tech gets outdated it becomes a problem for the next homeowner. That is a turn-off for a potential buyer. Try to choose technology that is easily updated, like a smart thermostat.
Overbuilt Additions that Don’t Fit Neighborhood Standards
The value of homes is partially based on what other similar homes are like in the area. If you’re considering an addition to your home, make sure there are others in the area that will be similar to your final result. If most homes in your neighborhood have 3 or 4 bedrooms, and you want to add a 5th bedroom, that’s not unreasonable. If most homes are between 2000 square feet and 4000 square feet, and you want to extend your 2400 square foot home to 6000 square feet, that would be going beyond the neighborhood standard. You could still do the big expansion, but it might not bring you the ROI that would make the addition financially worthwhile.
Final Thought: Design Smart, Renovate with Purpose
Take your time once you’ve decided to renovate your home. Decide who you are as a homeowner: future seller or long-term homeowner? It’s not easy knowing where to start, and it’s normal to have questions. Here are some common questions homeowners have when starting a home renovation project.
Come to talk to us at Great Day, and we will get you started on the home of your dreams!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my home improvement project is a trend or has long-term value?
Look for trends that solve practical problems, improve energy efficiency, or boost curb appeal. High-quality solutions, materials, and expert craftsmanship—like those from Great Day Improvements—typically offer a better return on investment because they’re designed around long-term homeowner needs.
Do luxury upgrades like spa bathrooms or smart home tech add value?
It depends. Features that enhance functionality or energy efficiency are more likely to pay off. High-end luxuries may appeal to some buyers, but unless they’re part of a well-integrated design, they often don’t recoup their cost.
Which common home upgrades might actually hurt resale value?
Overly personalized choices—like bold tile patterns or niche room conversions (think: home gyms or wine cellars)—can turn off potential buyers. Stick with timeless designs and versatile spaces if resale value is your priority.
Is replacing windows or siding a smart investment?
Absolutely. These improvements not only enhance curb appeal but also boost energy efficiency. High-quality, USA-made products—like those offered by Great Day Improvements—signal care, durability, and long-term planning.
Do DIY home improvements help or hurt value?
DIY can be budget-friendly, but poorly executed projects can decrease value or cause future repair costs. There are certain home improvement projects that should be done by a professional. For lasting improvements and fewer headaches, consider professional services with start-to-finish accountability.
How can I future-proof my home with improvements?
Prioritize upgrades that support aging in place, multigenerational use, and energy savings. Think wider doorways, first-floor living options, or smart climate control—all smart moves for today and tomorrow.
