If you're a homeowner, property value is likely something you think about a lot. Most know that home improvements are one of the most effective ways to increase your property value, but the question is: which ones are worth the effort (and money)? Some home improvement ideas will dramatically increase property value, but take a lot of work and upfront investment to pull off successfully. Conversely, sometimes a small home improvement adds value to a house-and small wins can add up quickly.

Looking for ways to increase the value of your house? Read on for a list of home improvement projects and some tips to get your home up and running-in more ways than one. As you will soon find out, a little bit of power goes a long way for home improvement.

What Are Some Home Improvement Ideas?

There are many ways to upgrade your home, and not all of them have to break the bank. Here are some simple home improvements to get you started:

• Purchase a whole house generator. Not many people think of improving utilities as an easy way to add value to their property. But in many cases, a quality home generator is a surefire way to increase home value—one that often doesn’t require any work on your part. Consumer Reports data shows that when homeowners add a generator to their property, the average property value increase is 3 to 5%. Similarly, Remodeling Magazine also found that the ROI on property value was up to 150%, meaning that if a consumer spent $5,000 on a generator in addition to the cost of installation, their home value increased up to $7,500.
  • Is a whole home generator currently out of your price range? Consider purchasing a Cummins Inc. Onan p9500DF to give you peace of mind. This portable generator can be integrated into your existing electrical system through a manual transfer switch to provide select items in your home with power during an outage. Consult your local electrician for more information.
• Paint your walls. A simple, cost-effective way to improve your house is by adding a fresh coat of paint, particularly if it’s the right color. Most people may not go for a cotton-candy pink kitchen, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick with bland colors either. Olive green, grey, and most other neutral colors can be a simple way to add a significant value to your home.
• Update your landscape. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, some simple additions to your green space will likely be more than worth the investment—especially if you go with native plants. As HGTV explains, native plants “require less water and maintenance, which means you'll save time and have a little more green in your yard and your wallet.”

What Is the Most Popular Home Upgrade?

According to Axiom’s Homefront Insights Survey, the most popular home upgrade was landscape work, with 35% of respondents citing it as a project. This was closely followed by bathroom remodeling (31%), then kitchen remodeling (27%).

What Adds the Most Value to a Home?

A 2022 report by the National Association of Realtors named kitchen renovation as a frontrunner, citing a $60,000 increase of property value. However, it’s worth noting that such a renovation is an expensive endeavor—one that does not see a complete return on investment. While homes with renovated kitchens saw a property value increase of around $60,000 on average, a renovation costs around $80,000; this is about a 75% ROI. A partial remodel saw even less returns, costing around $45,000 and increasing property value by about $30,000 (67% ROI).

Compare this to a simple home improvement such as adding a home generator. While not as much of an increase, the return on investment is most certainly a net positive—up to 150%, according to Remodeling Magazine. This means that spending $10,000 on a generator will see up to a $15,000 increase in property value. Additionally, the data is showing that energy efficiency is more important than ever. According to Bankrate, energy-efficient homes sell for about 3% more than their inefficient counterparts. On top of that, energy efficiency’s contribution to property value  increased 25% from 2021 to 2022. And as energy technology continues to update, this trend is likely to continue.

Increase Your Home Value With a Generator

One of the easiest home improvement projects that add value to your home is simply purchasing a quality whole house generator. And if it’s quality generators you’re looking for, Cummins is the name. With one of our generators, you will not only have a more valuable home, but a more resilient one. Preparedness for power outages (or any natural disaster) is something that not only makes your home better to sell, but better to live in until the time comes to put your house on the market. If you’d like to learn more about how generators can be an easy win for you as a homeowner, visit our support page with any questions or browse our product line today.