Owning your own home is a major financial investment, and for many it’s also a pretty emotional experience. All in all, your home is likely to be your most valuable asset – both in your heart and on paper. It stands to reason that looking after it and making appropriate improvements will go a long way to protecting your investment and even increase its value.

With this in mind, let’s do a hot take on the 5 most practical and influential home improvements you might want to consider in your home.

Update Those Finishes

While seemingly a boring and perhaps even superficial change, updating your home’s finishes has the potential to make a bigger impact than the more intensive renovations you could embark upon. By ‘finishes,’ we mean painting the walls, replacing outdated light fixtures, and updating the cabinet hardware in bathrooms, the kitchen, and bedrooms.

A specific tip on the point of hardware is to ensure that these finishes are consistent in each space. For example, if you’re updating the kitchen sink taps, then consider applying a consistent update across the cupboard handles, light fittings, and curtain rails. This really creates a natural and pleasing line for the eye to follow around the room.

Declutter & Upgrade Your Appliances

If your home currently features old appliances that guzzle energy and date your interiors, an upgrade might be in order. There may even be a few that you can shift into another space or declutter altogether. Yes, we know that making your own bread is amazing, but that old bread maker (which is the size of a large microwave) isn’t doing you any favours by gathering dust on your countertop.

Consider donating old appliances to your local hospice and installing modestly priced appliances where needed.

Freshen Up Your Curb Appeal

Simple landscaping features such as new plants and fresh mulch can help your home make a great first impression, whether it’s for your own satisfaction, guest appeal, or to impress prospective buyers. These changes don’t cost much, and you can do many of them on your own.

Finish Your Unfinished Spaces

We’ve all been there. You bought your home knowing that certain spaces would have to be updated or completely overhauled. Like the guest bathroom, with its wonky door and 1970s aesthetics, or the ‘pantry’ you started creating but haven’t gotten around to finishing.

Bite the bullet and identify areas in your home that look incomplete, rundown, or simply need that final lick of paint and new light fittings, and crack the whip. Get it done and enjoy your whole home.

Energy Efficient Upgrades

Energy-efficient upgrades can save you money on your utility bills and increase your home’s value. A low-tech idea is to replace easily stained carpets with hardwood or laminated floors, and then on the high-tech side of things, you could install a smart geyser device.

Most smart geysers work on a customised schedule to provide you with hot water whenever you need it and save you on your energy costs. Essentially, the device times when water is heated to help you avoid running into issues with loadshedding or heating water during peak times. 

Feeling Informed?

We trust that this advice is useful and will help you look after your home in the years to come. And if you’re looking at improving your home with a view to sell up, then don’t forget to get your hands on a property report for your home. These reports tend to include the average selling price of properties in the area, as well as a few other details. Check it out for yourself by clicking here for a free report.

Don’t forget that AA Inform is home to a range of useful tools and resources – including our Home Affordability Calculator which will give you an estimate of how much you can afford, as well as our Personal Loan Calculator.