Home Improvements That Really Pay Off

"This is one of the easiest ways to control your energy costs. Effective insulation slows the rate that heat flow out of the house in winter or into the house in the summer, so less energy is required to heat or cool the house. If your house has no wall insulation, and it has more-or-less continuous wall cavities (such as conventional wall studs), blown-in insulation can greatly improve your comfort and save enough energy to be very cost-effective," explains Justin Krzyston. Check out this article on choosing insulation.

Replacing your aging furnace now, could mean major cost savings in the long run. Justin Krzyston explains, "if your furnace was built before 1992 and has a standing pilot, it probably wastes 30-40% of the fuel it uses, and is probably near the end of its service life."

Updating your thermostat to one that can be programmed throughout the day, can cut electricity costs and be enticing for potential home buyers. Justin Krzyston says, "many thermostats now can be controlled remotely via your iPhone. Staying up-to-date with technology will entice buyers to pay more for user-friendly home functions." Check out: How to Install a Programmable Thermostat.

Crown molding adds style and height to any room, and is an inexpensive upgrade. "It will immediately make the room feel more elegant. You can find pre-cut molding at most home improvement stores," explains Justin Krzyston. Check out: How to Install Crown Molding.

The kitchen is the heart of the home and updating the cabinets will be enticing to potential buyers. Justin Krzyston says, "cabinets will be the most costly to replace, however, you can cut costs by refinishing existing cabinets with paint and changing the hardware, rather than replacing the cabinets entirely." Check out this article: On a Budget Cabinet Updates.

Though, updating kitchen countertops can be a costly renovation, new countertops can be a major selling point for buyers. "Homeowners can easily take off existing countertops and replace them with a new slab of stone. I am a huge fan of Silestones solid colors, and they come in large pieces, so you have fewer seams. New countertops and new cabinets will update your kitchen immediately, which in the long run, will help sell your home faster," says Justin Kryzston. If you are looking for an inexpensive countertop update, check out budget kitchen countertops that look like a million bucks.