Is the upgrade worth it?

innapeshkova
Sep 12, 2024
4 min read

“What can I do to improve my home’s value?” is a question I get often. If you Google that question, you will get some good, obvious answers. Kitchens and bathrooms are high on the ROI (Return on Investment) factor. Landscaping, painting, and flooring are transformational.

I decided to put together a list of home improvements that you probably won’t find on Google; this article wasn’t written by an A.I., and it wasn’t copy + pasted out of an internet blog. In fact, some of these are actual, real home improvements that we’ve made at our home here in Brea.

Ensuite addition

Bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms are HOT right now – just take a tour through any new-home construction and you’ll see the popularity of this trend. Why is it so popular? My theory is that more households are becoming multi-generational, and most grown-ups like having their own area to do their business. Ensuites are being billed as "Junior Primary Suites" and some homes are now even offering TWO primary bedrooms. Yes, seriously.

Add a powder room

There used to be one bathroom on the first floor of the house. It was a large bathroom, so we split the one bathroom into two – one side became an ensuite bathroom (see above), and the other side became a small powder room. The half bathroom instantly increased our home’s value. Best of all, the plumbing work (for the plumber) was relatively simple. We took the plumbing that was already there, and added a “branch” off the main line. Pro tip: when it comes to remodeling, it’s usually easier and less expensive if you can design something “local” off of a line that’s already there, versus running new pipes out to some far-flung corner of the house.

Garage sink

Same concept as with the powder room – we added another “branch” to the water line already there. The garage became just a little bit better, just by adding a handy sink.

Murphy door

A Murphy door is a door that is cleverly disguised as a bookcase. We installed a Murphy door for our closet door, which has added a wonderful library-like ambiance in the sitting area of the bedroom. And it’s a memorable marketing feature. If you were to sell your home, buyers visiting your house would definitely remember “the house with the secret bookcase door!”

Add a closet (and usable square footage)

We took some space from the garage to build a coat closet in the entryway space behind the front door. The best part? This maneuver added to our square footage. Typically, the space in the garage is NOT counted in the advertised square footage because it’s considered an unfinished space. By converting a few square feet from garage to indoor closet space, we increased the total square footage number for when it's time to sell the house. It's not much, but it helps. (Pro tip: get a professional LIDAR floorplan measurement for FREE from Inna Estates – just ask me about it!)

Add a pantry

Do you have a little extra room in a kitchen corner? Corners are usually dead spaces, so why not make it a little more useful and add a pantry, if there’s not one already! A framed-and-drywalled pantry is best, but even a sturdy cabinet is an improvement when there’s no dedicated pantry space. Bonus points if you can “borrow” space from the garage and add to your advertisable square footage! (see “add a closet” above)

Backyard gate to the Tracks

This one is for my fellow Breans - do you have a backyard butting up to the Tracks, like we do? Have you added a gate to your fence, giving you instant access to the trail? If not, you’re missing out on a very unique value-add. This is a must-do item if you live right at the Tracks.

Turn attic space into storage space

Do you have attic space sitting there unused? Get some plywood to create your storage cubby walls and floors, and add a small-size door for access. Attach some battery-operated lights and voila – you’ve added some serious value. We weren’t the ones that made this improvement in our house, but someone before us did, and it was a key selling point for us when we decided to buy it. Everyone can use more storage space, so if you have room for it, it's usually a good idea.

Curb appeal details

We painted our front door a statement color (dark blue) and got some light-up address numbers. A very easy way to instantly amp up the curb appeal. Pretty plants work great as well.

ADU addition or conversion

Have you heard about ADU's? ADU stands for Accessory Dwelling Unit and it's the hottest thing to hit real estate since "house flipping" became a household term. Recent legislation in California (look up SB-897) has made ADU's extremely popular, with investors as well as "regular" homeowners turning their standalone garages into income-producing rentals. While not everyone loves them, ADU's seem like they're here to stay, and they deliver serious value if you have room for one.

Have you been thinking about making a change to your house, and wondering if it's worth it? Shoot me an anonymous message by going here, where you can submit your question, and I'll give you my professional opinion - no strings attached, and no sales pressure to worry about.