Which Home Improvements Should You Prioritize?

Being a homeowner can be a dream. You get to design your home exactly how you want, invest in whatever trappings make your home feel most like you, and you can stop pouring money into a rental. Even if you bought your new home with the help of a mortgage loan, as most people do, you’re building equity with every mortgage payment you make. As a homeowner, your home is one of your most important assets.

Seeing as your home is such an important asset, you should treat it as a gem that should be continuously polished. There are always little renovations and improvements you can make to your property. Take these one project at a time—maybe by investing in the landscaping of the backyard, then in the tiles on the patio, and only then in a new kitchen. Whatever your preferences, make sure to spend your time and money wisely by working on renovation projects that will increase the value of your property should you choose to sell it one day.

If you’re wondering how to pick and choose your projects, which ones to schedule first, and which ones to schedule later; you’ve come to the right place. Keep reading to learn about the home improvement projects you should prioritize.

Install a custom pool in your backyard.

Nothing says luxury like a custom pool. Whether you’re in the Tampa Bay Area or in Southern California, when you step into your backyard and see a swimming pool inviting you to come and relax, it takes your home to a whole new level. There are so many reasons to contact a pool builder and find out about your new pool options.

First, a swimming pool is a great place to chill—literally. Your new pool will keep you cool in the hotter months which, in regions like the Tampa Bay area, are most of the year. Second, a new pool gives your whole family a great place to get some extra exercise. Swimming is one of the best full-body workouts there are, and you can get in a workout from the comfort of your own backyard. A custom pool is also a great place to host events like family get-togethers, birthday parties, graduation parties, and the like. With a swimming pool in the backyard, you’ll be the hot spot where everyone heads whenever there’s a special day.

If you’re thinking about getting more information from a pool company, just search for “Tampa pool builders” and ask the pool builders to come out to your property and give you a free estimate. Depending on the intricacy of your pool design and whether you want additional water features, like a waterfall, the cost of your pool build will fluctuate.

Put up a durable awning to keep cool.

The last thing you want when you’re hanging out by your new pool is to find that you neglected to put up an awning and now you don’t have an inch of shade anywhere. Or, if you live somewhere cooler, an awning can also help to keep some of the harsher elements away from your property. Residential awnings in Chicago, for instance, are more than just a canopy. Window awnings can really spruce up your outdoor living space and do a great job of serving as a patio cover, giving you shade and keeping your property safe from falling twigs, leaves, and other seasonal detritus.

Residential awnings come in a variety of durable materials, from aluminum awnings to simpler shutters, canvas awnings, and canopies. You’ll be able to find an awning solution that both keeps you cool and improves your curb appeal, whether you’re in St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay, or the Chicagoland area. Whatever type of awning you go with, find a great company with years of experience to make sure you’re getting a quality product for your outdoor space.

Soundproof your TV room.

Soundproofing may seem a little out of left field, but it’s really not. If you’re considering home improvement projects, this one will really give you a better quality of life while you’re living in your home and will set your home apart from the competition if you decide to sell one day. Consider how much better the experience of watching a moving in a TV room with acoustic panels would be. You won’t even believe the fantastic job acoustic solutions will do to upgrade your entertainment experience.

Acoustic solutions can be as simple as installing some wall panels, but those wall panels will isolate the sound in your room and make the whole movie-watching experience out of this world. Future homeowners who but your property can enjoy the sound isolation that your felt wall panels bring for a TV room, a home music studio, or just to get some peace and quiet from the hectic day-to-day tasks. Not many homes they see will have wall panels, so you’ll definitely stand out and make more money on your home.

Insulate your windows.

This is one home improvement project you should absolutely not miss out on. In fact, if you live in a cold region (like the Chicagoland area) having well-insulated windows is a must-have feature of any home. Insulating your windows and doors will keep your energy costs low. After all, you don’t want to be paying to heat all of Illinois, do you? Nobody wants to be doing much outdoor living in Chicago in January.

Window and door insulation is one project you shouldn’t wait for. Take care of your windows as soon as August—it’s been known to snow as early as October in the Midwest and you don’t want to be caught unawares. Be mindful that this kind of work is a big project, so find a project manager who you trust and want to work with for a few weeks or even months. Don’t just talk to the business owner, make sure that you speak to the actual project manager, since that’s who you’ll be talking to on a daily basis.

A good insulation company will be able to explain exactly the thickness of the windows you’ll need and how best to protect your plumbing from the elements. Not to mention, they’ll be able to provide some insights when it comes to what shutters to choose to protect your newly installed windows as well. All around, insulating your windows is a great idea. In the winter, they’ll keep the heat in, and in the summer they’ll keep the heat out. With lower energy costs and a more comfortable home, what more could you possibly want?

Altogether, being a homeowner comes with opportunities and options that you would never have as a renter. The wonderful part is that you can customize your home to make it exactly what you want it to be. Whether that means installing the ground pool of your dreams, with a fire pit and a waterfall, installing canvas awnings in your signature color over your windows, or finding acoustic solutions to take your movie game to the next level. As long as you insist on the kind of service you deserve from the project managers you work with, you’re sure to be a happy customer and a happy homeowner—and that’s the best thing of all.