Best Home Improvement Splurges

Home improvement is not always about making functional changes to improve your home's value. After all, your home is a place of comfort, in which you and your family spend a great deal of time. It can be tempting to only make necessary repairs and improvements, but sometimes upgrades are less about the bottom line and more about quality of life. Consider adding value of another kind to your house this year with these home improvement splurges.

1. Wine Cellar: Wine cellars range from the Gothic spaces tucked away deep in your basement to a glass room filled with dazzling bottles of Merlot and Pinot Noir. In Napa, California one home owner's wine cellar comes with a large wine cave, easily stocked by the 4.5 acres of vineyards that the home sits on (Zillow). You can create a wine cellar simply by adding shelving to a space in your basement and keeping it stocked with your favorite wines.
2. Luxury Rec Rooms: Plush rec rooms are all about fun, which is why many homeowners make the choice to equip their homes with a rec room that focuses on comfort. Luxury rec rooms might include a jacuzzi, wet bar, pool table or even small theatre. The goal is to consider what will most enhance your life on a daily basis. Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre's rec room includes a batting cage and an infinity pool. Most people won't take their rec room quite to that extreme, financially it's simply not possible, but that doesn't mean they can't deck it out in their own version of opulence. 
3. A Spa-Like Bathroom: Bathrooms are an oft-neglected area of luxury improvement due to their frequent use that has more to do with utility than enjoyment. However, bathrooms provide the small bit of privacy that many people (especially parents) see on a day to day basis. Which is why it makes sense to create a bathroom that is like stepping into a spa. From whirlpool bathtubs to heated tile floors, you can easily transform your drab bathroom into a relaxing sanctuary. 
4. Workout Room: This is a gift to your home and your body and doesn't have to cost a small fortune. Some home gyms are complete with wave pools and elliptical machines, others are simply free weights and a yoga mat. The key here is to build a space that you want to be active in and that you will use regularly. Foam mats, long mirrors and a few pieces of workout equipment and you can workout from the comfort of your home.
5. Radiant Heating: Adding radiant heating (heatable coils under the surface of the floor) is both a luxury and a energy saver. They can be a costly addition to many homes, but they keep your toes toasty and, according to a recent Forbes article, can save 20% a year in energy costs.

Keep in mind that luxury home improvements should only be embarked upon if you have the extra funds to cover the costs. Taking out home equity lines or going deeper into debt is generally not advisable for lavish extras. However, if you do have the financial ease, these home improvements can add value to your house and your life.

You can also take another route to living in a home with a workout room and wine cellar, buy one! If you're looking for a home in the East Lansing or Greater Lansing areas of Michigan, and would like to see what's currently on the market with the features listed above, get in touch with me at MyRealtorRob. As an East Lansing realtor, I specialize in the sale and acquisition of residential and licensed rental homes.