You’ve seen them, you love them, and you really want one. A huge wall mountable LED or plasma screen TV, complete with all the bells and whistles. The kind that dominates the living room and brings you all the shows in HD and surround sound. They’re only around $2,500 these days, so why are other household members still balking at the idea of getting one? Maybe because there are some home remodeling projects that cost less than that big TV and will do so much more to increase the home’s aesthetic appeal and value as well.
Restore your kitchen cabinets
Never mind new TVs, how about new kitchen cabinets to replace the ones you currently have that would be right at home on an ’80s sitcom, but do little to make your kitchen a nice place to hang out?
Removing all the cabinets in your kitchen will probably cost upwards of $2,500, but repairing them shouldn’t and is a great way to breathe new life into your home.
Have a custom built closet
Who couldn’t use an extra closet to get some of that clutter off the floor and neatly hidden from view? Instead of going for the Hulk of all televisions, why not invest the money in a custom-built cabinet? Your house will be more tidy and its value will also increase.
Get a solar water heater
You complain every time the power bills come, they keep going up all the time. How does an investment that helps the environment and saves you money on your monthly bills sound like? Having a solar water heater installed averages under $2,500, and unlike that TV, it will pay for itself in energy savings in just a few years.
Having a masonry fireplace built
That TV you’re eyeing will no doubt provide you with hours of quality entertainment, but it’ll also be out of date in ten years. Having a real masonry fireplace will really enhance your nights at home, whether you are alone or entertaining, it will lower your energy bills and greatly increase the value of your home.
Restore your hardwood floors
Hardwood floors are beautiful but, over the years and with all the traffic they have to put up with, they can end up looking a little worse for wear, especially if they’ve been a little sloppy on the maintenance front. A good professional sanding and finishing job can change all that and the price is much less than that TV. Because this process actually exposes the fresh wood, the results will make your floor look like new, literally melting away all those years of abuse.
So before you head to the electronics store, think about the state of your home and whether all that money could be spent a little better. Then, when all the upgrades are done, you should still have enough cash to buy a more modest TV to enjoy in your newly upgraded surroundings.
