If you are expecting a tax return this year, you might be thinking about ways you can use it. If you are a first-time homeowner, using that tax return to spruce up your home is a great way to increase your home’s value without feeling the burn in your budget. Check out these five easy home updates to do with your tax return so you can use your windfall to increase the value of your home.
Add a Backsplash to Your Kitchen
If you’re looking for the best return on your investment, updating your kitchen is always a good way to go—but you don’t have to spring for the expense of a full renovation to get a fresh look. Check out your local hardware store to look for tile options for a new backsplash. With a few how-to videos and a couple of supplies, you can DIY your way to a gorgeous new kitchen backsplash that can make your kitchen look brand new.
Upgrade Your Bathroom
When it comes to real estate, bathrooms are one of the most important rooms to update. Give your bathroom a facelift by replacing your vanity with something stylish. If a new vanity is out of your budget, try simple fixes like upgrading the hardware and doorknobs, regrouting the faucets and adding new towel bars to make your bathroom pop! Even cosmetic fixes as simple as a new shower curtain and bath mats can really make a splash.
Let Your Floors Make a Statement
If you have worn-out carpet or scuffed-up flooring in your home, your tax return might provide the perfect opportunity to spruce it up! Replace your carpeting with new material, or even better, replace some of it with laminate flooring. Less expensive than hardwood flooring and more durable than many materials, a high-quality laminate flooring can increase the value of your house, reduce allergens and completely revamp the look of your entire home. If replacing the floors in your whole home is out of the budget, consider adding new tile to the bathrooms and kitchen instead.
Update Your Landscaping for More Curb Appeal
Your yard is the first thing people see when they come to your home—why not make their first impression a great one? Consider adding a fun new mailbox, raised flower beds or even just a few new flowers to your landscape. A little TLC can make a big impact on your visitors, and can increase the value of your home.
Add a New Door to the Front of Your Home
You might be surprised at how much impact a new front door can have. For about $500–$1,000, you can purchase and install a new front door that will add visual appeal as well as increased security for your home. One of the most overlooked easy updates, a new front door can completely change the look of your home in one weekend.
Did you know that the NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ is for first-time and move-up home buyers in North Carolina? If you are hoping to move into another home, check out all the ways the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency can help make home happen for you.
Learn more at www.nchfa.com/home-buyers.
