House remodeling or extension is a very ‘Malaysian’ thing to do. It is common to see new and old houses being extended or upgraded either to create a dream home, to increase the value of property for reselling purposes, improve rental income or simply modernizing your property so you can enjoy it more. Whatever the reason may be, at the end of the day, many improvements should add to the salability of your home. The main question is what home improvements really pay off when the time comes to sell your house.
Basically, the primary drivers in increasing home values are comfort and convenience. Return on investment is tied to increasing the desirability of a property to buyers. The aim is to be smart about what you renovate to improve your home and that it fits into your budget. Your house can increase its market value tremendously once renovated if it is well thought through and executed properly. Many renovation pitfalls are due to poor design and poor workmanship. High returns require more that cosmetic transformation. It takes into consideration efficient maximization of renovation dollars.
The emphasis should be on adding physical equity e.g. increasing actual square footage or extra rooms or bathrooms. There are many different avenues for adding square footage by utilizing any unused land area. However care has to be taken when doing any changes to the primary structures of the building e.g. supporting columns and beams. Home owners should ensure that their contractors construct based on recognized standards such as British Standard 8110.
One of the biggest selling advantages for a home is space utilization. A home may have a large built up but poorly segmented and compartmentalized will create the impression that it is small. Avoid having too many unnecessary corners and turns. A lot of a home’s intrinsic value comes from the psychological feeling it gives a buyer. It is the first impression upon entering the home that will determine whether your property will be taken up or not. Think about which walls that can be moved, removed, or simply reduced.
Other important factors to consider are natural lightings and air ventilations. The orientation of the house, the size of the windows and the type of building materials use will determine how much heat from the sun is being absorbed into the home and how much natural lighting you will be able achieve. If properly designed, a home can be kept cool without the need of having your air conditioning system running 24/7. Keep indoor air quality healthy by using low-volatile materials. Take extra effort to control dampness to minimize mould, fungi and dust mites. Consider rain water harvesting systems to capture rain water to be used for gardening and outdoor washing. Why waste God’s gift to mankind.
A great looking and a practical kitchen will catch a potential buyer’s eyes. You have to ensure that you have a well laid out kitchen floor plan with the right placement of kitchen appliances. Many home owners fall into the trap of choosing materials that has low durability and resistance against water just because of cost. Unless you are thinking of changing your kitchen cabinets every 3 to 5 years, the right choice of material that can last and endure heavy cooking is your best bet.
Last but not least, make sure you allow for enough storage in your house in the form of a storage room, closets, cupboards, kitchen cabinets, bookcases, etc. Utilize all unused space within the house for storage wherever possible because you will never have problems with too much storage.
