Your home is your biggest asset and taking care of it is a priority. By keeping up with the repairs and making smart upgrades, you increase your property’s value and your overall enjoyment of your home.

Whether you’re planning to sell, want to build equity or you just want to better appreciate your home, these budget-friendly home upgrades will help.

Tip 1: Get expert opinions

Home design professionals, like realtors and designers, know how to transform a home into something everyone wants to live in. So before you spend any money on renovations, invite a real estate agent or interior designer to check out every room in your home.  

Make a healthy to do list with affordable upgrades that won’t break your bank. You may have to pay an hourly consultation fee to a designer, while many realtors will do this as a courtesy before they list your home. Even better, your realtor will typically know good, trusted contractors if you choose to make improvements.

For all major renovations, always contact your home insurance provider to ensure that you have the right coverage. If you need a furniture refresh, BCAA Members save an extra 5% at Bouclair. 

Pro tip from a Vancouver realtor: Focus on the first rooms that buyers see when they look at your listing and walk through your door. If the first room they see is your kitchen, then that’s the first room to improve on your to do list.

Tip 2: Get an inspection

Live in an older home? Get an inspector to search for problems that aren’t cosmetic. When you hire a home inspector, they’ll check for hidden things that need fixing, like deteriorating roofs and shingles, window and door seals, as well as mold, rot, corrosion, pests, termites and outdated or failing electrical systems. Find the tools you need to maintain your home at Walmart where BCAA Members earn up to 1% in CAA Dollars online.

An inspector may discover hidden concerns that, if left alone, could negatively impact your home's value. For example, a small hidden water leak could quickly become a big and expensive problem.  Here’s our guide to water damage prevention, plus our winter plumbing checklist to prevent flooding and leaks.

Tip 3: Paint it

A fresh paint job is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to improve your home—and it’s one of the first things buyers notice when they look at your real estate listing.

But which colours should you pick? If you’re thinking of selling soon, your realtor or interior designer will likely advise you to pick neutral colours, as they appeal to the greatest number of buyers. Save money by looking for the recommended shade at your closest Cloverdale Paint where  BCAA Members save 25%.

Tip 4: Redesign it

You can avoid paying for an interior designer getting inspiration for furniture, lighting, colour schemes and room layouts from design magazines, inspiring interior design books, design and remodelling TV shows. If you want to keep it digital, create a digital Canva mood board or a Pinterest board where you can pin your favourite design pages and photos you find on interior design websites and social feeds, including Apartment Therapy and HGTV’s inspiring photo gallery.

If you want new furniture and mattresses, BCAA Members save at Ashley Canada (you’ll earn 3% in CAA Dollars) and you will save on fashion, luxury bedding, kitchen, furniture, home decor and more at Simons (earn 4% in CAA Dollars).

Tip 5: Boost your bathroom

Investing in a bathroom overhaul is one of your best ways to increase the value of your home. Small improvements can make a big difference, such as:

• Re-caulking your tub
• Replacing your vanity
• Replacing your old shower head and faucet

Of course, once you change a few things, you might want to improve them all. For even bigger improvements, buy a new tub or refinish your existing tub, and get a contractor to install new flooring and wall tiles. You'll find all your DIY tools and needs at Rona where BCAA Members earn up to 5% in CAA Dollars.

Tip 6: Clean and clear it up

If you’re selling your home, cleaning and decluttering is the least expensive and easiest thing you can do to help speed up the sale. Buyers want to imagine their own furniture in your home—and they don’t want to see, or step over, mounds of stuff as they tour your place.

Clear out your closets and storage areas to make your home feel roomier. Pack up personal photos to make it easier for a buyer to picture themselves living in your home. Here’s some great advice on how to clean your home. Set up a designated area where you can put items you no longer need, like books, clothing, electronics, furniture or kids’ toys, and get them ready to be sold, recycled or donated.

• Donation is a great way to give back to others and keep items out of landfill.
• Here’s a great resource for recycling anything in BC, which includes a recycling home tour to help you identify items that can be recycled.
• Once you’ve decluttered, stay organized with helpful storage solutions. You can find great options at PODS an innovative storage solution where BCAA Members save 10%.

Tip 7: Make it energy efficient

One of the best home improvements you can make is improving your energy efficiency. For example, you can add insulation to your home, replace your ancient appliances and thermostats with more efficient ones that you can control remotely, and stop the energy losses in your windows, skylights and doors.

There’s a tax incentive to help you do this, too. The Canada Greener Homes Grant allows homeowners to get government financial support to make their homes energy efficient. Eligible homeowners in Canada can apply for grants up to $5,600 per home or $40,000 for deep retrofits.

So, with some smart and efficient upgrades, you can reduce your electric bill, increase your tax return and improve your resale value.

Tip 8: Insure it

If you are doing significant home renovations, be sure to call your insurance provider to determine if an update to your policy is required. Adequate home insurance gives you peace of mind that your property is protected from the unexpected, and ensures you keep the value you’ve built up.

Have peace of mind that you are covered in the event of a claim knowing that BCAA paid out over 95% of claims related to fire, water, weather and theft*. Save 5% when you buy online, plus BCAA Members can save up to a further 20%. Visit bcaa.com/home to get a BCAA Home Insurance quote today.