If inflation or supply chain issues are slowing or otherwise impacting your home-improvement projects, you’re not alone. Ongoing manufacturing and supply chain problems mean longer turn times and higher prices for today’s consumers. This has some homeowners rethinking what repairs they truly need and prioritizing those that offer the biggest returns on their investments.
When it comes to home upgrades, some prove more valuable and worthwhile than others. The same holds true when it comes to upgrading your staircase, so before starting your next project, it may benefit you to know what types of upgrades deliver the biggest returns. Whether you’re looking to place your home on the market sometime soon or you just want to make your stairs more attractive, functional or safe, here are some of the upgrades that stretch your dollar the furthest.
Removing the carpet
Many modern homebuyers consider carpeted stairs unsightly, and they can also be a real pain to clean. Forgoing carpeted stairs in favor of hardwood ones may help you attract more potential homebuyers, should you wish to do so. It also creates a cleaner and more hygienic environment, which is bonus, regardless of whether you plan to list your home or stay there yourself.
Upgrading the handrail
While your stairs’ handrail serves an important purpose, it can also enhance your home’s interior appeal and help bring everything together aesthetically. While replacing your handrail may become a necessity if it has become loose or dangerous to use, you may want to do so anyway to utilize a different material or make the handrail match your home’s existing design scheme.
Swapping out balusters or newel posts
The “newel posts” are the larger supporting members holding up your staircase railing, while “balusters” are the smaller, more narrow supporting members that appear between the newel posts. Replacing balusters, newel posts or both is an economical way to upgrade your home’s interior and an easy way to add to its overall value.
Adding new treads
The treads, or the parts of your stairs that you actually step on, see considerable foot traffic, and over time, they tend to accrue damage. Homeowners don’t have to take out an entire staircase to replace the treads – instead, you have the option of leaving the existing framework in place while adding new treads that are free from scratches, dents and dings.
Ongoing inflation and increasingly tight budgets mean today’s homeowners are having to pick and choose when it comes to their home improvement projects. By favoring home improvements that offer high-value returns, you can enhance the interior or exterior appeal of your home – and make it more attractive to potential buyers, too.
