Whether you're in the midst of making a home renovation plan or identifying a checklist of "must-have" amenities while house shopping, figuring out which home features are worth the money can be tricky. After all, it's important to strike a balance between budget and heightened convenience. There's also something to be said about the investment you make and the return it can potentially provide years down the road if you ultimately decide to sell your home.
To help you figure out which extras are truly worth it, we reached out to a range of home professionals, including real estate agents, interior designers, and housing industry experts.
Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors
Upgrading to energy-efficient windows and doors is not only smart from an environmental standpoint, but these features will help lower your energy costs, saving you money in the long run and increasing the value of your home if you choose to put it on the market. "By installing energy-efficient windows and doors, you are not only reducing your carbon footprint but also making your home more attractive to potential buyers," says Adam Chahl, a real estate agent. "This could potentially increase the value of your home by at least 3 percent."
Customized Kitchen Cabinets
Many homes are built with simplified, bare-bones kitchen layouts. Often, the cabinetry is underutilized, under-considered, and awkward—think weird corners or ultra-deep shelving. Pair that with the fact that many homeowners also have numerous gadgets and kitchen tools they like to keep on hand—like mixers, blenders, air fryers, and espresso machines—and you're in for disorganized chaos.
That's where custom cabinetry comes in: Think extra shelves, appliance garages (which allow you to hide that blender in plain sight), and cabinets that are as wide or as compact as you need them to be. Best of all, you don't need to completely reconfigure your kitchen to maximize your cabinetry. "Even without doing an entire kitchen renovation, changes can be made to existing cabinets to allow for better use of space and easier access to these small appliances," says Melissa Zimbelman, a real estate agent and property manager.
Smart Home Technology
You regularly update your phone so you can hold the best technology modernity has to offer in your palm—why not take the same approach with your home? With a button, you can turn off lights, adjust the thermostat, or close the garage door. You can even access these features from your phone while away, a game-changer for those who often question whether they adjusted all the above after leaving the house.
"Smart technology lets you know when a door opens, and cameras let you peek into your home anytime, anywhere," says Kimberly Greenwell, a home industry expert and TV personality. "It also adds modern-day convenience to your everyday life and gives you peace of mind when you are away."