Adding value to your home shouldn’t be about increasing its retail value. It should be about home improvement. You are making adjustments so your home fits your lifestyle needs. Thus, adding personal value to your home.

Call it sweat equity.

Maybe it’s future-proofing through added accessibility?

Projects, such as increasing accessibility, give value to your space. Creating a form that functions the way you need it to—for your whole life.

Ultimately, adding value to your property results in a return on investment.

And no, these five home renovation ideas aren’t about flipping your home and making a quick buck.

They’re about making long-lasting changes that increase the real value of your home: how it serves your needs.

Kitchen Remodel 

The kitchen is often considered the heart of a home. It’s a place where meals are made, children are grown, and memories are shared.

When it comes to a kitchen you want to ensure it meets your needs first and foremost.

But you also deserve it to be built sustainably for generations.

According to a study by StudyFinds the average American spends 400 hours a year in the kitchen. That number is the same or even more for Canadians. That’s just under 17 full days—per year—spent in the kitchen.

Whether it’s a minor kitchen remodel or a full gutting, remember to always keep function in mind.

The best way to upgrade your kitchen is to make space for new appliances, build new cabinets, and install new countertops.

Flooring significantly increases the value of your home.

A modern, functional kitchen can breathe life into your home as a great space for nurturing memories.

Consider the following renovation ideas:

• Replace or refinish cabinets and drawers
• Install new countertops and backsplashes
• Replace laminate flooring with durable materials like tile, hardwood, or vinyl
• Add a kitchen island or breakfast bar for added functionality and seating, and
• Add task lighting and decorative fixtures for added ambiance

Bathroom Remodel 

You might not think so, but the comfort level of your bathroom matters.

Although this doesn’t apply to everybody, you can assume that someone might spend two-thirds of a year’s worth of time in the bathroom throughout their life.

That’s just for using the toilet.

If you consider bathing and showering, that number grows.

For homeowners, the bathroom should matter.

Because like the kitchen, the bathroom is an integral part of your home.

Upgrading your bathroom can be as simple as replacing fixtures or as extensive as a complete remodel.

Consider the following options when renovating your bathroom:

• Upgrade fixtures such as sinks, faucets, and toilets
• Install new lighting fixtures and mirror
• Replace old tile and flooring
• Upgrade to a walk-in shower or soaking tub
• Install new cabinetry and countertops, and
• Add storage solutions such as shelves or built-in cabinets

Basement Remodel 

As Canadians, we’re lucky to have basements. 

Fun fact: homes in locations with seismic activity, like California, likely don’t have a basement.

So why not make the most out of your basement with a functional and form-fitting transformation?

Take advantage of that valuable square footage by building a guest suite or a home office. Maybe a recreational space so you can watch your favourite movies or cheer on your team?

You might have teenagers who need a little more space to grow. Or maybe you want your home to start contributing financially after all these years?

Whatever it is, a basement almost serves as a blank canvas for your home renovation dreams.

These renovation ideas are sure to add versatility and improve your basement for years to come:

• Build a legal suite to start earning
• Transform the space into a functional home office or home gym
• Install new lighting fixtures and electrical outlets
• Add built-in storage and shelving
• Create a home theatre or entertainment space, and
• Install a bathroom for added convenience and functionality

Outdoor improvements 

If you live in and around Edmonton you probably love enjoying the outdoors.

As you should.

Edmonton has some of the best summer weather you could ask for with an average of 17 hours of sun.

They don’t call us Canada’s Sunshine City for nothing.

Of course, the reverse of that is we get an average of 7 hours of sunlight per day throughout the winter.

But that shouldn’t stop you from maximizing your outdoor space. From hosting friends and family to playing with the kids and even building snow forts in the winter.

Consider some of the following renovations for your outdoor living space:

• Build a deck or patio with outdoor furniture
• Build a pergola or gazebo for shade, and
• Landscape the yard with trees, shrubs, and flowers

New windows and doors

One major renovation that sometimes seems daunting is replacing your old windows with new windows.

And it shouldn’t be.

Replacing your old windows provides a new aesthetic appeal. It also improves your home’s energy efficiency.

Most importantly, it helps get your home up to code when necessary.

For example, if you’re going to transform your basement into a legal suite. And you have small windows. You’ll need to upgrade them to newer and bigger ones. This is to give residents an easy emergency exit.

Or, try upgrading the doors around your house to fit your style.

Even if you try your hand at DIY and re-paint the doors to your liking. A fresh coat of paint goes a long way.

Of course, upgrading your entry doors to stronger and sturdier options improves your home’s security. And ultimately, your safety too.

Consider these when renovating your points of entry:

• Replace old windows with energy-efficient models
• Upgrade entry doors with steel or fibreglass doors
• Re-paint interior doors to match the style
• Install new patio or French doors for improved access to outdoor spaces, and
• Add decorative hardware to doors for added style

Quality construction on demand

You deserve a quality contractor that helps your house become a home. Don’t settle for good enough. Choose Cross Iron Renovations to take care of your home from start to finish. Through ethical home building and good trusted trades, your renovation will last a lifetime.

Contact Cross Iron to kick-start your home renovation dreams.