When it comes to the housing market, first impressions count. If you’re selling your home, or even just wondering which updates and upgrades offer the biggest return on your investment, here is some information you need to know.
Many homeowners think that natural stone is pricy compared to other materials. But what they don’t always think about is the value it infuses. Natural stone can boost the value of your home, both inside and out. It’s far more affordable and accessible today than it was a decade ago. Few other building materials offer the elegance and longevity of natural stone. Strength, durability, originality, quality, and heat retention are just a few attributes that make natural stone a desirable building material. If you incorporate natural stone into your space, it will last the lifetime of your home. Odds are your tastes will change long before the stone “needs” replacing.
You can add value to your home with natural stone in many ways—most of which do not require a complete overhaul. Here are a few suggestions…
1. Update the kitchen. Because the kitchen is the most valued space in a home, it’s worth investing in. Natural stone will help add new life to an old space. Besides new kitchen countertops (which will quickly add value to any home), you can use natural stone tile on the floor or walls. Add an eye-catching backsplash or even add stone to an island or cooktop area.
2. Add stone to the bath. The bathroom is another high-traffic area. And the possibilities for adding natural stone are endless. Placing natural stone in the shower, on the floor, and as a vanity top will add immediate value. But details such as shower seats, accents, inlays, water features, and bathroom backsplashes made of natural stone will give your home’s value a boost.
3. Add a “Wow” factor to walls. Natural stone isn’t reserved just for the kitchen or bath. It adds a real “wow” factor to any room in the house, creating a sense of luxury and opulence. Covering vertical spaces such as walls with natural stone adds a warmth and texture that’s unparalleled. It’s a look that feels exceptionally indulgent. and a project that can be done relatively easily.
4. Floor it. Natural stone flooring definitely adds value to any home. As long as you’re comfortable with the cleaning and maintenance required, store floors are a wonderful upgrade for boosting home prices. Nothing compares to the matchless beauty of natural stone floors. And since natural stone has exceptional heat retaining properties, it delivers both an aesthetic and a practical value.
5. Take it outside. Using natural stone on a home’s exterior can make it appear more stately and elegant. A limestone façade, for example, might be pricier than brick or other common materials, but it will always add value, more than paying for itself. Pavers, walkways, steps, windowsills, crown molding, and front stairs, will appeal to most buyers.
When natural stone is incorporated into your home improvement projects, the value of your home will rise quickly. If you’re looking for ideas, whether for inside or out, we can help. Our natural stone experts at Marble & Granite, Inc. are at your service to answer any questions about quality, durability, color, and more for a vast array of natural stone varieties. From individual tiles to countertop slabs, we have an abundant inventory that we’d be glad to show you.