Here’s What’s Possible When You Refinance to Remodel Your Home

There are many talks right now about spiking property values contributing to a rise in personal net worth. The more your home is worth, the more equity you have—and more equity gives you more options to choose to refinance to remodel life’s biggest investment.

Today, we’re covering how you can put your home’s equity to good use by making home improvements, which can ultimately increase the value of your home even more.

Here’s what rising home values mean for home improvements
On average, homeowners have gained $51,500 in equity since October of last year. In Massachusetts, the average equity gained is $74,000.

That’s great news for anyone seeking to refinance to remodel. There are popular home improvement projects you can do that will add even more value to your home.

Let’s look at some of these projects to understand better the opportunities waiting for you.

REMODEL YOUR BATHROOM OR ADD A NEW ONE

Having more than one bathroom is a key selling feature. Buyers with families especially appreciate having more than one full bathroom available.

When adding a new bathroom, keep these things in mind:

• Bathtubs add more value. Standup showers are great, but many buyers and listing agents also want to see bathtubs. A cost-effective way around this is to do a bathtub and shower combination.
• Make your primary bedroom an en suite experience. Do you have a large bedroom that could accommodate the space and plumbing infrastructure needed to add a full bathroom? Buyers often reward an en suite experience with top-dollar offers.
• Transform that underutilized closet into a hot shower. Adding a full bathroom helps your lower level pull double duty as an additional bedroom, family space, or convenient home office.

If adding a new bathroom doesn’t make sense, then upgrade the ones you have. Add new tile, a sleek vanity, and even double sinks to give your home a fresh, modern vibe.

HELP OUT THE HEARTBEAT OF YOUR HOME

For most of us, the kitchen is the heart of our homes. It’s rarely a bad idea to invest in upgrading your kitchen.

With that said, there are smart choices you can make to maximize your budget while ensuring you build even more home equity after refinancing to fund a kitchen remodel.

Here are some pro tips we’ve picked up through the years:

• Follow traditions, not trends. The funkiest tech gadget may be all the rage now, but will it be in 5 years? There’s no use spending thousands of dollars on appliances or cabinet colors that won’t hold their age.
• Countertops are king. It’s hard to go wrong with granite, slate, or stone counters.
• Stainless steel gives a premium feel. Stainless steel refrigerators, ovens and ranges, microwaves, and dishwashers all retain their values. This material is so prevalent that these appliances don’t cost anywhere near what they used to. It’s easy to get a high-end look at mainstream prices.
• Everything, including the kitchen sink. Taking the time to invest in a high-quality, premium-looking kitchen sink and hardware can pay off big. Adding garbage disposal and premium faucet is a sure way to ace your upgrade.
• Islands are everything. Expand your kitchen’s eat-in potential with a kitchen island and custom pendant lighting. You’ll add more seating and will enhance your home’s entertainment factor.

It’s not all about starting over, however. Don’t be afraid to leverage your home’s existing qualities. For example, if there’s a bright window above your sink, design your washing area to cater to the view. Likewise, if your kitchen already has great hardwood floors, design around them to bring out your home’s character.

Are you ready to refinance to remodel your home?

Your home’s equity is ready to provide you with even more value. Don’t let this current market pass you by. Set yourself up for even greater long-term success by investing in your home now.

If you’re planning on staying in your home and want to find ways to increase its value, we’re here to help you refinance the right way.

Visit our website’s refinance page to get a head start on using your equity wisely.

Any other questions about what this market means for your home? Contact us to start a conversation.