Looking To Update? 5 High Return Upgrades For Your Home

The one question that many homeowners ask themselves is if the renovation project that they are choosing to complete will give them a big return on the value of their home. In the event that you one day choose to put your home on the market, you'll want to make upgrades that will increase the value of your home rather than to decrease it or simply keep it the same. High return upgrades for your home may even cost less to install and complete than the huge return that you'll see when selling your house. Major upgrades may even help your home to sell faster than others homes on the market that simply do not have everything that you are offering. From improving the overall curb appeal to renovating rooms on the inside of your house, these top 5 upgrades are sure to increase your homes value in no time.

Home Security Systems

One thing that many people want, but don't want to take the time to install themselves is a home security system. By choosing to upgrade your house with services from a local home security company, you will see the value and return price on your house increase immediately. Vivint home automation not only provides you with a safer place to call your home, but also enables you to easily control different aspects of your house with ease such as the lighting, temperature, door locks and much more.

Kitchen Renovations

One of the first rooms in your home that you should to renovate for a high return value is the kitchen. Kitchens are one of the first rooms that potential home buyers look at. When undertaking a kitchen project, it is important to not go overboard. You do not want to have an extremely expensive kitchen in a neighborhood with average priced homes. Choose small upgrades to give your kitchen a face lift such as granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and new lighting fixtures.

Attic Bedrooms

Turn your attic into a bedroom for a 73 percent return of your investment. This adds additional square footage to your home and may be a great option for those who are looking for more bedrooms than you previously had to offer.

Bathroom Remodels

Typically, a bathroom remodel project yields an average of a 62 percent return. Many potential home buyers are looking for large, updated master bathrooms that include double sinks, a large soaking tub, walk-in shower and good lighting. Updating your bathroom by installing these features and adding to the space can be a huge plus to buyers.

Outdoor Space

While a swimming pool may not increase the overall value of your home as this is not something that everyone is looking for, simply updating the outside of your house to increase the curb appeal can give you a high return percentage. Give your home a fresh coat of paint, plant shrubbery and beautiful flowers and even opt to give your backyard a deck or patio where you can enjoy spending the day outdoors.

With these great tips on updating your home, you sure to see a high return value if you ever choose to sell. Other great update options include second floor additions, home office space and sun rooms.

Brionna Kennedy is native to the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Washington, then moving down to Oregon for college. She enjoys writing on fashion and business, but any subject will do, she loves to learn about new topics. When she isn't writing, she lives for the outdoors. Oregon has been the perfect setting to indulge her love of kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.

Are Annuities A Smart Investment?

In the economic bust of 2008, we learned that easy credit is no way to stretch dwindling retirement funds. Many senior employees took early retirement trusting that their Market-dependent 401(k) would produce an income stream capable of sustaining their unexpected situation. When it did not, they turned to credit hoping to make it through to better days. As a result they wound up first in bankruptcy, then homeless, and finally destitute. If they and their employers had utilized annuities instead of Market driven investments to create retirement income streams, then a lot of grief might have been avoided.

It’s worth checking how much you need to retire with the lifestyle you want.

Annuities Are Sustainable Even In a Down Market

The rate of return offered by fixed annuity plans is based on the amount of time your money is kept out of your hands by the Annuity Fund. The usual holding period is 5 years or more. This means your money is untouchable during those years. In return for this commitment you will receive a guaranteed rate of return. This rate is usually fixed at 3% to 5% depending on the type of annuity you purchase and the length of time your money is held.

Unlike stock portfolios and mutual funds, the income you receive from annuities does not fluctuate even when the Stock Market rises and falls. This is because annuity rates are anchored on highly stable investments such as US Treasury Notes and Bonds. Because the payout is spread over longer periods of time, Annuity Fund managers can react to changing economic conditions with thoughtful planning instead of panic. This enables them to give you the best annuity rate available. 

Stocks Can Produce More Income In a Shorter Time

While it is possible for an investor to grow wealthy over night in the Stock Market, every downturn produces its share of impoverished investors. It may be fun to pick the right stocks and watch your investment grow, but it is no laughing matter when the very safety net you depend upon to see you through rough times rips apart just when you need it most.

As this article explains, fixed annuity rates are not tied to Market performance. You will get your 3% return even if the Market drops to the floor. And even more important; you will get all the money back intact when the required holding period is up. You will also have made 3% interest on that money. And if, for some reason, you have to withdraw the money before the time is up, a predefined surrender fee will be imposed. But you will still get the majority of your money back. Can your Market-driven 401(k) make that claim?

Sanity and Safety

Make one bad investment in the Market and you can wipe out your retirement nest egg. Annuities offer investors few guarantees. However, most annuity plans are sane and safe. Most important: the money you put into an annuity will still be there after 5 years. Can your 401(k) portfolio make the same claim?