10 Home Renovations That Actually ADD Value to Your Home!

[@prayonkreutz2398]

Finishing the basement & adding egress windows and a walk out will add square footage to an appraisal

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

In most states, that’s true. In Ohio (unfortunately) anything below grade (below ground level) doesn’t add to appraisal. It does add perceived value from the buyer, and brings higher offers, but it doesn’t help the appraisal. Very frustrating! 😂

[@DegenerateSpeculator]

​@@LivingInClevelandOhio436 that's great for taxes though right

[@ann-louisep7573]

Your have such great advice! Love your videos

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thank you so much! I’m glad you’re enjoying my content! My goal is to come out with some content weekly, fingers crossed! 🤞🏼

[@margaretd3710]

Whattttt? The last suggestion was to add a Master Suite with a bath and walk in closet for $10-15k. In what universe? He talked about making his attic into his Master. Great idea. How much did it cost for permits? How much to run sewer lines, water, electric? How much for insulation and drywall? How much for flooring and tile and the shower door? Did he have to add 2x6s or 2x8s to make the floor structurally sound? How much headroom was there? Many jurisdictions require a certain amount of headspace for it to be considered living space. Now, if you are a general contractor and can do everything yourself, great! But even then, I’d bet good money that the cost is going to be higher than $10k. Just sayin.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Hi Margaret! Thank you for the comment, I greatly appreciate it. The permit cost me $25. I did most of the work myself, and it was done well below my $15k budget. The flooring cost me $120 for the subfloor, 190 for the lumber, and around $300 for the LVP. The plumbing for the shower and toilet was the most expensive piece, that cost around $6,000. Electrical didn’t cost as much as I anticipated, which is why I was under budget. The whole floor operates off of two 30-amp breakers and it was very easy to run the conduit from the basement to the attic, because there was already electric there. And, I’m 6’3”, and there’s plenty of headroom. I appreciate your concern, though! To your argument, though, even if it cost me double what I said it did, for $70,000 in equity it was still the single most value added upgrade I could’ve done. I hope that has clarity for you! Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

[@andreaadams8232]

We did it for much less than 10k, depends on where you live. Did it ourselves.

[@triaxe-mmb]

Doing it yourself for under $15k means that's your materials costs you that much. How much is your time worth? How long did it take? People never account for this "cost"... also not all people have the ability or skills to do it well. Don't get me wrong, I am doing some work myself on my house but it is not a practical advice to say that you can do it for 20-40% of market cost to all home owners...

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

@@triaxe-mmb I definitely did not do all the work myself. $15k for master suite renovations is actually really high. It could have been more if I could have done electrical and plumbing myself. You can stretch $15k really far if it’s for only 1 room and bathroom.

[@peter1835]

It all depends on where you live and how much work you did yourself. I did mine for under 10k w/ permits and did all the work myself (it's called sweat equity for a reason). Not selling for another 8 months but excited to see what the Agent says about the value added to my house.

[@debbiekrieger81]

Thank you for your posting and channel. I enjoy your positive energy and your desire to educate people. I will continue to watch you. I’m a realtor in the northwest. I often ask my clients to hold off on major projects until we sit down and talk about comparable properties. I find people either don’t have very much money or they put their money in the wrong places and then expect it to work miracles. Sellers sometimes think it’s a waste of money to put in new carpet because they think the buyer will want to pick their own color. I explain to them that the items you suggested and the items I am suggesting such as fresh carpet, paint are actually part of the MARKETING PLAN and money well spent. I often start small by suggesting the sellers 1) declutter their home. I explain we want a buyer to see themselves living in the home and they will be packing anyways 2) update light fixtures, faucets and hardware on cabinets. These make a huge immediate impact for few dollars. 3) paint 4) remove all dated window treatments 5) touch up any wood cabinets with refinishing pens or stain -this can transform an old beat up kitchen quickly. 6)and then we might discuss update flooring, countertops, appliances. Etc I find people get excited by how much different their house looks from the first few relatively inexpensive updates that they are open to more input. They tell me that they wish they had made those changes earlier so they could have enjoyed them

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thank you for the comment! YES! All great points! I find it hilarious that after a seller declutters and cleans their home they say, "Wow, I wish I would have done this months ago..." Always an interesting conversation telling a seller they need to keep their house clean at ALL times incase there's a showing scheduled. FUN TIMES! Thanks for stopping by!

[@AnnM223]

I haven’t bought a home that perfect, but when I was about to sell realtors always wanted me to do lots of works even if the home was in a great condition.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

It all depends on the home and the market. I do think there are some things that all sellers should do, like giving the whole home a fresh coat of paint, to your point, IF it needs it. If the paint looks new, and it appeals to the masses, leave it. Old carpet is something that should always be replaced as well. New carpet, or LVP flooring is what I would recommend.

[@MrEverth007]

Great video. Super informative

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Glad it was helpful!

[@firemax37]

Great info. I knew before hand thar Kitchen and Barhroom renovations add value like crazy for a home, but considering all the other options is something I didn't know. Keep it up with the videos man 🎉

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thank you so much! I appreciate the comment! Means a lot!

[@mike200017]

This is also a good list of things a savvy buyer should try not to get hung up on or swooned by. Same for your prior video about bad ROI renovations. For example, all else being equal, you could get a great home at a discount just because of an outdated kitchen. Conversely, if you really want a pool, finding a house that already has one is likely going to be cheaper overall than buying a house without one and then installing one.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Excellent comments! I appreciate your perspective.

[@susantownsend8397]

I live just south of Houston. Grew up and lived most of my life in South Louisiana.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thanks for the comment, and thanks for stopping by!

[@TheParot161]

I don’t understand the reasoning behind how improvements below grade (such as to a basement) don’t add appraised value to a home. I know you didn’t make the rule, I’m just looking to understand how that works. Thanks for the great video!

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

I would love to know that as well! It's an OH appraisal rule, and I think it's silly. Just my opinion though. Finished basements add to the sale price for sure, but sometimes it gets too high to pass appraisal. Thanks for the comment!

[@curtlundcramer9424]

It like 50% of the price of the sqft for basement

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

@@curtlundcramer9424 It varies by state unfortunately (and fortunately I suppose). In Ohio, appraisers do not count below ground square footage in the home value. Thumbs down.

[@tonycrosby913]

Great video

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thank you so much, Tony! I appreciate your comment and the engagement.

[@jasonlyleblack]

Love your videos. Also was taken aback by the $15k price for adding a room and bathroom. Sounded to me like a $40,000 job…But I guess it’s different if you can do the work yourself. I’ve considered adding just a single bathroom to my basement and been told it’d be around $20,000 just for a small bathroom. But I am in a more expensive market and am not skilled in the key areas that would lower that cost.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thanks Johnny! Appreciate the comment and for stopping by! Bathroom remodels definitely add value.

[@kerrybyers257]

No mention of actual ROI! I suggest: clean, paint, do basic functional repairs, and ask a reasonable price. These upgrades shift huge cost to the seller so the realtor’s job is a snooze, the price is higher for their commission, and your real life profit is markedly reduced. If you do any of these improvements (which are all nice) do it for your own enjoyment first!

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thanks for the comment Kerry! I appreciate it. It’s hard to mention ROI because costs vary from location to location, whether you’re doing the work yourself or not, and supply chain and availability for materials fluctuate rapidly. I try to make these videos as relevant as possible regardless of whether you watch them now, or 2 years from now. So much can change over time, so it’s hard to mention ROI. I did give an example of ROI with the master bedroom renovation at the end, but it’s a long video so I don’t expect everyone to stick around that long LOL. I agree that home owners should do renovations to enjoy themselves. The upgrades described in this video are costs to the seller because they’re the ones who largely benefit from the profit of the sale. In my market, if a seller does a renovation that net profits them $20,000, the seller is likely going to keep around $19,000 of that, minimum, so I’m confused. I’m sorry if your experience with your past realtors was negative. Any great realtor is going to share ideas with their sellers to help them get more for their home. That’s our job as a realtor, to help home owners get top dollar for their homes. 🤷🏻

[@FTG2Eli]

Thank you Cleveland.................

[@kylerich_]

But chris where’d you get that shelf behind you?? That would add value to my dining room 😂

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

LMAO I ordered it online, and it was a roughly the same price as green screen lol

[@chevelleflorida]

@@LivingInClevelandOhio436can you share the store/link to the shelf? Thanks for the video.

[@thevalueofapenny222]

Watch out for the "smart" upgrades. It is a total deal breaker for some buyers. My husband is in the tech industry and we have heard too many horror stories of utilities taking control of smart appliances/thermostats/etc. Changing the thermostat temperature has happened in many areas with no override. One person was totally locked out of everything smart for over a week due to a misheard greeting. For too many of my husband's colleagues, smart is a deal breaker.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Great to know! Thank you for the comment and insight.

[@StormyMonday0896]

Yeah, the guy with the Amazon smart home...no thanks

[@susantownsend8397]

Where I live “hurricane ready” is a big deal. Especially a wired-in natural gas generator.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

That makes sense! Where are you from?

[@chrispatterson229]

Swapping for stainless steel appliances and granite countertops is a cost effective option??? How much money do you guys have?

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

When selling your home, you just have to prioritize which upgrades to do. Some sellers don’t do any updates at all, and the home ends up sitting on the market. You don’t have to do everything, but a fresh coat of paint and a professional cleaning goes along way. The idea is, try to do some modest updates with the money. You have to get the most for your home.

[@carmendelosreyes4459]

Adding solar panels will be expensive when it comes time to re-roof. They have to be removed before roofers replace the roof.

[@curtlundcramer9424]

There are roof com do both and if you buy solo they do remove and install for free but soler is like 50 50

[@SergeLetunovskiy]

Great video, gotta do something about the sound bro. Though you are sitting in front of a microphone, the sound is seemingly coming out of a tin can…. Kills the vibe… 🫣

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

100% agree! I actually normally use a condenser mic, but the sound timing was WAY off for this video, so I had to use the audio as it recorded straight out of my camera. Epic fail…

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Stick around for future videos. I promise it’ll get better!

[@joswearingen3507]

Some of this seems like questionable advice. Many of things wouldn’t work in my market.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

@@joswearingen3507 That’s fair. All markets are different. This channel is designed for Cleveland OH buyers and sellers, but hopefully most of the content is relevant in most markets. Also, do you care to elaborate?

[@albertovaldes4460]

Interested in investing in the Ohio area. Can we connect?

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Yes, we can! Happy to help. Click the link in my bio and click “Let’s chat” to connect.

[@cherylberk4593]

I sold high end real estate on Miami Beach, and I was a resident. Earth to buyers! Manage your expectations! If you are picking on things you can fix, add or subtract I found it was code for "I really cant afford this house!" A good realtor will show a buyer approx 10 homes, by #5 you have figured out if they are wasting your time. Are sellers supposed to be mind readers? If you are unable to imagine the walls painted another color, how to arrange your furniture, or dont know what a butler's pantry is, kindly move on. I recently saw a couple on tv looking at a lovely older home. The large master had a vanity dressing area w big closets. The wife said she had never seen such a thing, would tear it out. You are not a real buyer if you/partner arent on the same page re home style, price, neighborhood. A lot of " upgrades" are nonsense.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thanks for the comment, appreciate you stopping by!

[@YSLRD]

Dang. I'm glad I've never encountered such a hostile sales agent

[@morningglory3323]

If you can find A good realtor that does not lie

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

@@YSLRD I wasn’t gonna say, but thank you for saying it. 🤣

[@ryanrents126]

I agree with them 100% as a seller of multiple properties. Some people just aren't ready or serious about buying. It's not for everyone at all times. Some folks need to get real before they waste everyone's time.

[@davidjgill4902]

It's one of those stupid truths about that real estate market that buyers obsess over things in homes that could easily be fixed or changed like something as simple and cheap as paint colors. Rooms with flexible use for different functions are another thing that stumps buyers, like a dining room that you might use as an office. Some people have no ability to visualize how they could a room differently.

[@thatbaldoldguy]

What do you think of a nice front porch??

[@jvgauthier]

Regarding the paint. You'll never please everyone and you really need only one solid offer. And I hear it all the time that if you play it safe on everything in the house, it becomes boring. I happen to think so. I bought 3 times already and every time I walked in an "overly everything is safe and neutral" it just felt cold and depressing. Besides, if a customer walked away because of that navy blue painted room, who cares if at the end of the day, the house sold at a decent price? With that out of the way, what I can't help notice as well is if the paint is worn out. In a way it does appeal to me : as a potential bargain. ...Which is something you don't want as a seller. So we do agree on that here. I strongly suggest to do the paint if it needs to be done anyways. If you paint to sell, I will go against my own advise. keep it simple : pick a colour palette for the whole house and stick to it. Within reason. If you are good at cutting and that the corner are sharp, you can safely use various tones of the same palette. There is something to two colour rooms that are sharply done in taste and moderation.

[@randomtricksvideos]

Bro, you have a studio mic, You need to use it like one lol, get your mouth closer to the mic to avoid the echo and other noises

[@benyosep5640]

Audio sounds off compared to other videos.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Yeah.... sorry about that. I usually use a condenser mic for my videos. It malfunctioned that day, and I had to use the audio from my actual camera. UGH in a moment of impatience and laziness, didn't feel like re-recording it LOL. I'll bring better audio to the audience in the future. Thanks for the comment though, and for engaging!

[@tonycrosby913]

@@LivingInClevelandOhio436quality over quantity

[@hemanshubahl3785]

Thanks for sharing your advice. But please fix your sound.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

I know 🤦🏻 unfortunately my condenser mic wasn’t working and I had to use the audio from my actual camera, and it’s terrible. I have since fixed it in my previous and more recent videos.

[@randomtricksvideos]

Definitely disagree on the solar panels and home theater, especially with leased panels that push the cost to the new owner. Home theaters are also surprisingly niche, and are often too specific of an upgrade that it turns buyers away, similar to pools

[@MissMyMusicAddiction]

ok, but...which updates/upgrades are going to pay for themselves? am i really going to get the money out of installing solar in this region?

[@cydonia3167]

I watch a TON of real estate videos and this is the exact opposite of what the rest of them say. Cleaning, painting with neutral colors and staging are key. Curb appeal is important as well but this is the first time I have ever seen anyone suggest doing major renovations or add ons. Everyone else says NOT to do major renovations unless you can DIY everything. You most definitely will not get your money back installing solar.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thanks for the comment and question! Prioritizing upgrades and renovations on a budget is key! If you only have $1000 to work with, I would recommend professional cleaning, painting, and fixing "eye sores" that are going to be stumbling blocks for your buyers. If there's one update I wish I could require, it would be a fresh coat of paint. As for solar panels, it depends on where you live. This channel is hyper-local to the Cleveland (Northeast Ohio) area, and you can get grants for solar panels, and sometimes they end up paying for themselves. I wouldn't recommend paying out of pocket for them because that won't give you an ROI. But a lot of smart buyers will pay more for a home that has them knowing that their electric bills could be next to nothing once they get in their home.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thank you for the comment cydonia3167! I appreciate you weighing in. So, in Cleveland there are grants that make the cost solar panels next to nothing or minimal, so it's very easy to get your money back. This channel is hyper local to Cleveland, so what you are saying is most likely true for most areas. Also, if you add above ground square footage in Ohio it adds value to your home. It obviously depends on the house and the location, but if you can add 300 square feet of living space to your home it can add $50K to $100K in the value to your home. Like I said in the video, we renovated our attic into a master suite and it added $70,000 in appraisal value, and it cost us well under our $15,000 budget to complete.

[@cherylberk4593]

No you wont!

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

@@cherylberk4593 I already did the work and had the home appraised. It added $72,000 in appraised value. And I did the work for under $15,000. So, yes I will and did! LOL

[@chrisw3421]

smart thermostats can and will be controlled by your energy provider... it's already happened in Colorado and that's why they make sure you agree when setting up your wifi stat... don't do it, don't play along with the B.S.

[@overk1llz]

Exactly, everyone that pays attention saw that. Makes me not trust this guy.

[@johnlarson505]

You should rerecord the audio.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

You’re right, looking back I probably should have. I was having issues with my microphone that day, and didn’t realize it until after I had already recorded. Struck by a moment of laziness and impatience lol

[@chrischihoonhwang6787]

Sir, that beautiful mic doesn’t do justice that far from you. Thank you for the advices though.

[@michaela.5363]

Making home more energy efficient will absolutely not make any difference for resale value

[@ryanrents126]

Agreed. 95% of buyers won't pay one extra dollar for that.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Not to you I can tell. To some buyers it makes a difference. There’s an argument that it doesn’t increase the value, but it does make it more marketable. If a buyer is deciding between three homes, and one already has energy efficiency, it makes it more competitive.

[@stephenlacher587]

RE: the first 'buyer' you mentioned, these people have NO business owning a home. Or, probably anything else.

[@bevraudebaugh852]

I am guessing I will Never be selling my house. I am Not about to go to this extent with my house. Solar panels??? Security??? "Modern buyers" need to walk away from HGTV. They need to wake up to reality. All the bells and whistles are going to cost them mega bucks. It is why housing prices are so sky high, unaffordable for the person trying to buy their first house. I am, obviously, old school. We knew our first house probably wasn't going to be our "dream home". That would be a very pretty Victorian painted lady. We did buy a house with all the majorly important stuff done: siding, roof, furnace. Yes, the rest was a fixer. But, that meant we could do whatever else cosmetically. Everyone's taste is different. The paint color I think is pretty probably isn't what someone else thinks. So, they are going to come in and redo things their way anyway. People need to get real. Especially if they don't want to be upside-down owning a house that costs waaaaay more than it should or they can really afford. It's about the priorities of life. And the people of today's society have become a bit "spoiled". So, I know where one of your future buyers can look for a cute, truly starter home that isn't going to break their bank. Unfortunately for them, they'd have to move. Nice little town though. May be in the middle of the NW Ohio cornfields, but not far to the big cities. Good luck and God bless

[@nogames8982]

Damn, people are so lazy nowadays. If you’re not willing to paint a few walls and put in a handrail or two, you don’t deserve to have a home. What are you going to do when you need to do maintenance for your house? Idiots. I don’t feel sorry for them. Let them spend the next six months looking for a house and then complain that there aren’t any.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

I appreciate the comment, although I prefer a little less name-calling on my page LOL. To each their own, everybody has a level of comfort they’re willing to do. Some of my older clients don’t have any other option other than buy the home the way they want it, or pay someone to make the improvements.

[@YSLRD]

Lots of angry people here. Thanks for the sound advice

[@susantownsend8397]

You obviously aren’t old and/or disabled. I am both and I DO deserve a home.

[@nogames8982]

@@susantownsend8397 I am 54 years old and blind. And yes, I own my home. I can do some things on my own or I am willing to pay somebody to do it. If you can’t do it on your own and you’re not willing to pay somebody to do it, then you should reconsider getting a home. They require upkeep, and yes, that sucks sometimes when it comes to having to pay for stuff to get done, but you do what you Gotta do. and it’s a whole lot. Easier to do a lot of things when the house is completely empty then after you move in. people wanna move-in ready house but then they complain about the price. Move-in ready is going to cost you more. And with the price is already out of control people need to be a little less picky.

[@susantownsend8397]

@@nogames8982 okay, but the fact that I no longer paint and build stuff does not make me lazy.

[@morningglory3323]

I will not buy A home with A bathtub I like showers only I have passed up many houses because of A bathtub and it seams like everyone likes them I will put up with painting or anything else.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thanks! Appreciate the comment and for stopping by! Hope you enjoyed the video!

[@davidjgill4902]

The plumbing code in many municipalities has in the past required a home have at least one bathtub. As showers are so widely preferred they have eased off that requirement for apartments, condos, etc that have only one full bathroom. So, there you go.

[@briankowald6465]

Basement - no. You will not get your money back. Btw - the 80s called. They want their wet bar back.

[@blakeniles3622]

Get that mic closer to your mouth, it sounds rough. This is coming from a video production business owner..

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thank you so much, Blake! You’re right, I was having an issue with my condenser mic this day and didn’t feel like re-recording. Probably should have in hindsight.

[@blakeniles3622]

@@LivingInClevelandOhio436 I just see you’ve got a decent audio setup and I love to help people improve their production value as much as possible. Great information, thanks for putting it out there for us!

[@horsevideosbymary2723]

Yes, curb appeal DOES matter. So does first a person’s “curb appeal” - I’m afraid you don’t appear professional.

[@patriciazoerner]

More photos and linger on photos longer please. Less talking head, please. Thanks.

[@LivingInClevelandOhio436]

Thank you for the feedback! Noted!