Four affordable, value-adding home improvements real estate agents suggest!

Real estate pros often coach their clients on the value of making "curb-appeal" improvements to help sell their homes. Outside painting and minor repairs signal that the house has been well cared for. Those are great tactics, but there are other value-adding projects real estate pros can suggest to take it to the next level, without breaking the bank.

Alternatively, a real estate firm might include a renovation and construction element in its business; like property remodeling and “flipping,” apartment renovations or new builds. Saniflo’s line of above-floor drain pumps and macerators offers an affordable way to increase a home’s value to flip it for an eventual return on investment.

The key is knowing which upgrades will actually increase a home’s value when the time to sell inevitably comes. Owners need not spend a lot of money to make a home more appealing. There are lower-cost remodeling projects that offer a better return on investment.

Let’s take a look at four affordable home improvement projects that will pay off, using Saniflo’s above-floor plumbing solutions.

1.  Add a bathroom

If you're planning to put a house on the market and want to make it stand out, consider going a step further by adding a bathroom. A spare bath is a great investment. According to the National Association of REALTORS's Research Group.  NAR states that an additional bathroom will recoup 50% of the project's cost.

When an up-flushing, macerating toilet — like the Sanibest Pro — is used for the project, its comparatively low installed-cost makes a bathroom addition very affordable. An upflush toilet can be installed virtually anywhere in the home. That's because this type of plumbing system operates above the floor.

Saniflo units are designed with stainless-steel blades inside, used to liquefy and break down the waste, and allows the unit to push waste through small-diameter piping into sewer or septic lines. Consequently, there is no need for the mess and heavy expense of digging through the flooring, especially the concrete variety in a basement.

As part of the company's remodeling and renovation side, NextHome PPM Realty recently purchased an older Pittsburgh home in need of renovation. "This particular project involved updating the home to increase the value and, eventually, to flip it," explains Vice President David Pirain. He says an additional bathroom was a "no-brainer," because it would take the home-value to the next tier.

That enhanced value is on top of the substantial savings Pirain and his team gained by opting for the Sanibest Pro over a sump pump and pit alternative, which entailed the costly hassle of cutting into the concrete floor.

Pirain now estimates that adding a basement bathroom increased the value of the home by $20,000.

2.   Minor upgrades to a kitchen 

According to Homelight, you can do a minor remodel of a 200-square-foot kitchen for about $21,000 and recover about 77.6% of your spend at resale. Compare that to a major, upscale kitchen remodel, which will recoup only 58.6% of your costs.

Homeowners don't necessarily have to do an entire kitchen remodel or spend as much as $20,000. Even minor upgrades to a kitchen can increase value and help make a home more appealing to home buyers.

An ideal minor kitchen upgrade is adding a sink to a kitchen island. Saniflo's Sanivite gray water pump offers an affordable way to add a sink almost anywhere in a kitchen. Small enough to fit inside a kitchen cabinet, the unit is designed to meet the toughest applications and capable of handling hot water and grease.

Dane Perkins of GMH Construction estimated that homeowners saved close to $2,500 on a recent sink addition to a basement bar when they chose to move forward with the Sanivite above-floor drain pump solution, rather than conventional plumbing. When the time comes to sell, the same homeowners will recoup the cost of adding the sink, if not more.

3.   Create an outdoor oasis

Bringing the indoors outside became a big home-improvement trend in 2020, especially since most people were unable to travel during this time. Homes with outdoor entertainment areas continue to be increasingly popular, and every year they become more elaborate.

For example, outdoor cooking spaces can be a big draw for potential buyers, especially in a higher price range. A small area for a wet bar is an ideal upgrade to increase home value. With Saniflo's Sanivite drain pump, homeowners can make that happen at a very affordable price, especially compared to adding a wet bar that drains into traditional below-floor plumbing.

Another great addition to an outdoor oasis is a half-bathroom. Dino and Beth Gregorich successfully converted their storage shed into a stylish outdoor bath and changing room, recently using Saniflo's Sanicompact, a self-contained, dual-flush macerating toilet system designed specifically for small spaces.

The Gregorichs count themselves as pleased with the convenience of an attractive outdoor bathroom close by the swimming pool and hot tub.

4.   Add a laundry room and make it more accessible

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), a laundry room is the most popular specialty room among millennials. The survey, What Home Buyers Really Want (2019 Edition), found 86% of millennials indicated a laundry room was either desirable or essential/must-have. Saniflo's Saniswift is an easy and affordable solution to adding a small laundry room virtually anywhere.

That brings us to this next point: Many home buyers prefer not using the stairs to do laundry. According to Homelight, 68% of moderate-income buyers and 69% of high-income buyers prefer having the washer and dryer on the main floor instead of in the basement or the garage.

With Saniflo, you can add a laundry room in an accessible location or wherever it is most convenient!

Questions about adding a bathroom, sink or laundry room to your latest project? Email [email protected] with details about your installation to learn which products would best meet your residential or commercial needs!