As the saying goes, home is where the heart is. But another is saying that’s just as popular – and a lot more accurate: a home is where you make money.
If you’re planning on selling your home or looking to increase its value for future sale, there are a few additional spaces you can create that will add serious value. Even if you love your home and have no intention of selling, these same spaces will make your home feel even more like home.
Adding an extra room or two may seem daunting, but it’s not as difficult – or as expensive – as you might think. These six additional spaces are sure to add value to your home, whether you’re looking to sell now or in the future.
An Extra Bedroom
An extra bedroom is always a good idea, whether you plan on using it as a nursery, guest room, or simply extra storage space. If you have the extra space, converting an existing room into a bedroom is usually a pretty straightforward process. Just add a closet (if there isn’t one already) and doors, and voila! You’ve got yourself an extra bedroom. If you don’t have the extra space, don’t fret – see if you can convert your attic or basement into living space. A little bit of insulation and drywall can go a long way.
A Carport
Having a dedicated space to park your car is a must for any home, but a traditional garage can be expensive to build. A carport is a great alternative if you live in an area with mild weather. They’re much less costly to build than garages and protect your car from harmful elements. For this one, it is recommended to consult the carport building experts to ensure that it’s done correctly and up to code. Many people opt to build carports without understanding the building code requirements, leading to problems down the road. Don’t make the same mistake.
A Home Office
In today’s world, more and more people are working from home at least part of the time. Having a dedicated home office makes it a lot easier to get work done at home without feeling like distractions constantly surround you. If you don’t have an unused room that you can convert into an office, setting up a small desk in a quiet corner of your house can still give you the dedicated workspace you need. Add a comfortable chair and some shelving for storage, and ensure there’s plenty of light, and you’ll be ready to get to work.
A Mudroom
A mudroom is great for homes with kids or pets (or both!). It gives them a place to store their things so that they don’t track mud and dirt throughout the house every time they come inside. Plus, it’ll give everyone in your family a place to hang their coats and leave their shoes so that your home stays nice and clean. You can easily add a mudroom by converting the space near your front door – just add hooks for coats and cubbies for shoes and other belongings. You could even install a small bench for putting on shoes in inclement weather.
An Outdoor Space
Whether it’s a simple deck or patio or something more elaborate like an outdoor kitchen or pool area, adding some additional living space outdoors is always a good idea. It gives you somewhere to relax outside during nice weather and provides valuable additional living space when relatives come to visit (or when you want to throw an epic summer barbecue). If you have the yard space for it, adding an outdoor deck or patio is usually pretty easy (and not too expensive). It’s truly a win-win.
Extra Storage Space
No matter how big your house is, it always seems like there’s never enough storage space. Adding some additional storage – whether it means converting an unused attic or basement space into living space or simply building some extra shelves in your closets – can go a long way towards making your house feel less cluttered and more spacious. And who couldn’t use some extra storage? Over time, you will collect more belongings (whether you want to or not), so it’s always good to have somewhere to put them.
Final thoughts
Creating these six additional spaces in your home is a great way to increase its value whether you plan on selling soon or further down the road. They are also great for making your home more enjoyable to live in and can help solve some common storage and space problems. Don’t wait – get started on adding these spaces to your home today!
