If your home is a long term investment, what are your investment goals? For some people, the goal is to make money, but for those who plan to live in the home for the long term, their goals are different. If you plan to stay in your home for years to come, making an investment in your home is making an investment in your current and future lifestyle. What home renovations will pay off for your home, giving you an upgrade in beauty, functionality, and a maintenance-free lifestyle? 

1. Create Spaces for Play and Relaxation

When you look into your home, what is missing? Your home probably has a functioning kitchen and bathrooms, some bedrooms, and perhaps even an office. However, does it have spaces for fun and relaxation? 

If you’re looking at the long term use of your home, take some time to consider what would make your home better and add value for your unique family. Is it adding a nook where you can curl up near the window with a book? Is it creating a dedicated, private office space so that you can separate work and home? 

If you’re planning to be in your home for a while, think about your wants as well as your needs so that you can create the most relaxing and enjoyable space possible.

2. Develop a Highly-Functional Kitchen Space 

While kitchen renovations can be expensive and may not always be the best financial investment, they are an investment in your overall pleasure in your home. If you love to cook, consider adding kitchen elements that will support that love. 

Create a kitchen island to provide more counter space. 

Add a pantry so that you can have the ingredients you want right at hand. 

Add an extra sink if you need to clean produce from the garden. 

Look for quality appliances. According to Consumer Reports, “you can have a beautiful kitchen that’s functional and efficient, and only looks expensive.” Seek out quality rather than focusing on sleek finishings, so that you don’t need to worry about kitchen repairs.

For avid cooks, adding to your kitchen is a worthwhile investment in the enjoyment of cooking.

3. Keep Yourself Cozy 

You’re sitting down with a cup of coffee in the morning when a cold draft plays over your feet. It may not seem irritating enough to fix, but this draft isn’t just annoying you, it’s also costing you money. Invest in quality doors and windows that fit snugly and function properly. You’ll enjoy added comfort and you’ll save money.

4. Add a Deck, Patio, or Other Outdoor Living Space 

Do you love to spend time outside? If so, it’s worthwhile to add to your garden and make it a space that you can enjoy for many years to come. 

One way to add to your outdoor living space is to develop an outdoor entertaining and living area that’s easily accessible from your home. Adding a deck or patio allows you to entertain guests. 

An awning will add protection from the heat of the sun and from falling rain. 

A deck is a relatively inexpensive addition that adds an aesthetically-pleasing space for outdoor entertaining. According to Sunday Bell, “decks can be completed in as little as a week’s time, making it easy to live within the home without all of the noise and disturbance that can normally last months on end for other home projects.

5. Add Enjoyment to Your Garden

Make your garden a pleasure to look at. No matter whether you’re looking out the kitchen window or you’re relaxing on a deck, you want your garden to feel beautiful to you. What that means will depend entirely on your personal taste. Pay attention to the view lines from different areas of your home and garden. Keep a focus on low maintenance: the less you worry about maintenance when you look into the garden, the more you’ll enjoy it.

If you’re a senior or you have mobility challenges, make your outdoor space accessible. Remove stairs and add ramps, and create higher raised beds to reduce bending. Set up a garden space that you can love and use easily for many years to come.

If you have young children, your outdoor living space could incorporate a tree house or a swing set. The key is functionality and fun: how can you add to your outdoor living space in a way that really enhances your experience of your garden? 

6. Upgrade Your Hardscaping  

Upgrading the structural elements of your exterior landscaping can add curb appeal to your home, increase your aesthetic enjoyment of your outdoor space, and make it safer for everyone as well. Add or repair a pathway, create rock walls or develop other exterior structures that will last for years. Before you install these structures, make sure that you do so in the overall context of a long term plan and with a knowledge of the drainage patterns in your area: according to HGTV, “research really pays off, especially when you consider that a fixed object in the landscape is not going to move easily — and you don’t want to put in a lot of effort and then have your materials or design fail within a couple of years.” 

7. Reduce Your Exterior Maintenance Needs

If you enjoy heading out in the rain and snow to clear clogged gutters, then this one’s not for you. If you’re one of the vast majority of people who would prefer to be cozy indoors while the rain falls down, then you probably want to determine how you can make your exterior home maintenance less onerous, especially during poor weather. What types of exterior renovations can you do to reduce your maintenance needs? 

Gutter replacement or gutter covers can help eliminate some concerns. Your gutters can be a source of maintenance problems, and they are also hard to clean. By adding gutter covers and making sure that you have gutters that are working properly, you’ll reduce the need to do ongoing maintenance.

Manage your drainage through landscaping and through adequate foundation drainage. Poor home drainage causes problems both inside and outside your home.

Inspect and maintain decks, stairs, and railings. There are few things more irritating or dangerous than to have a rotten stair tread or a wiggly railing. Replace these at the earliest hint of rot.

Paint and caulk. If you don’t want to do this yourself, hire someone to inspect your paint job and the air tightness of your windows and doors. Making simple alterations to your home’s exterior can keep the house looking good, and it also protects it from the elements, preventing future damage.

At Harry Helmet, we want to make sure that your home is safe and enjoyable for many years to come. Are you curious about our roofing, gutter replacement, and gutter cover services? Contact us today to learn how we can help you protect your home, and schedule a free estimate.