Remodeling projects can make your home more comfortable, more attractive or more valuable. If you want to accomplish all three goals, consider what the experts have to say. After consulting a host of remodeling and housing professionals, Money magazine suggests you may be able to increase your home’s value 30% or more by paying proper attention to your home’s:

  • Front yard. Give the “curb appeal” that lures potential buyers and higher-priced offers. Preferences are trending toward pleasant, sophisticated environments combining lawn, winding walkways and climate-appropriate, low-maintenance ground covers, perennials, trees and shrubs.
  • Interior entrance. Create a first impression that incorporates quality materials and good taste. Install wood, tile or stone flooring to withstand wear and tear. Add a small table to catch personal items, a bench or chair for convenience and a stunning mirror or artwork to add interest. Make sure lighting complements your improvements.
  • Office space. Add or upgrade power, cable, and phone hook-ups to provide space for multiple users and all their communications devices. Consider adding built-in cabinets, desk space and shelving. You may want to convert an extra bedroom, loft, or closet, or “steal” some space from a large family room.
  • Living room.Today, 40% of home buyers “don’t care” if their next home has a living room or not. What many buyers are looking for instead is an “electronic playland,” capable of comfortably handling a giant-screen TV and home-entertainment set-up. Since technology is always changing, you may want to avoid installing custom cabinetry in your living area, investing instead in well-placed electric outlets, built-in wiring and speakers, and good acoustics.
  • Kitchen countertops.Granite is rapidly replacing laminates as countertop material buyers want in their homes. And, though still more costly than laminates and other manufactured materials, granite is getting more affordable. Choose a good quality stone in a neutral color.
  • Master-bathroom shower. Despite a decade of demand for jetted tubs, many homeowners use them occasionally, if at all. Today’s hot trend is toward oversized, luxury shower stalls with multiple shower heads, interesting water effects and useful seating.

 This Report is brought to you by Paula Clark’s Monthly Real Estate Newsletter for Bergen County’s Pascack Valley and Northern Valley from The Gooder Group.