When it comes to Southern cities in the United States, Austin, TX is one that frequently makes lists of the best cities. In fact, just a couple of years ago, it was voted the best place to live in America, and it's still going strong. It's the tech centre of TX, and it's one of the best places in the U.S. for startups, making it an attractive place to live for aspiring entrepreneurs. Of course, a relatively low cost of living and great education and employment options don't hurt, either. Of course, even in a city like Austin, homeowners may want to make improvements for a variety of reasons.

There are plenty of great reasons to make some changes to your home, including fixing safety issues, preparing it for future needs, or even boosting your home value before a sale. Naturally, there's also the possibility that you simply want to increase your personal enjoyment of your own home. No matter your reasons, you'll need to think carefully about what upgrades you want to commit to in order to get the maximum value (both for money and for your enjoyment). Here are five things to think about when making upgrades to your home in Austin.

1. Smart Home Technology


When it comes to adding value to Texas homes, adding smart home technology, such as a home automation system, is near the top of the list. If you're looking to add resale value with a smart home system, then it's hard to argue with smart security features. Smart home locks allow you to check and set your locks from any location at any time, and you can even get security alerts if someone enters your home.

Smart lighting and climate control let you save energy costs while you're away by keeping lights off and temperatures at more reasonable levels while you're away. On your way home, you can go ahead and set your lights and temperatures to comfortable levels that will be waiting when you get there.

Control4 audio in Austin can also help you install smart home solutions like an entire entertainment system. Convert your living room into a home theatre, or install an audio system across the entire home. If you're looking to make the most of your time in Austin, Control4 can grant you peace of mind knowing that your intelligent home upgrades are in the best possible hands, and you'll even have a convenient touch screen interface to control every addition.

This allows for the complete personalization of your space, right down to controllable shades. Best of all, the Control4 Smart Home OS operates on an open platform, meaning that it can be easily integrated with any existing smart home technology. Whether you're brand new to smart homes, or you need the "glue" to hold all your systems together, Control4 has you covered.

2. Roof Replacement

You may not devote much time to thinking about your roof, especially considering that Austin rarely sees tornados or strong winds within the city limits, but your roof is what protects you from all elements, and you may be surprised by how much home value you can add with new construction.

A new roof is no cheap investment, but if you're trying to sell a home with a leaky or damaged roof, it will have a negative impact on your appraisal. The 2019 Remodeling Impact Report, conducted by the National Association of REALTORS Research Group, found that installing a new roof can provide a 109% return.

If you're looking for a new roof to last as long as possible, in addition to finding contractors with years of experience, it's also a good idea to consider a slate or metal roof. This is because slate and metal are more resilient than regular shingles, which can be blown off easily. Going the extra mile on a new roof will leave your home in better shape for many years to come, and it will likely be a future selling point.

3. Carpet Replacement

Carpet tends to go out of style as decades change, not to mention how badly old carpet can stain and collect allergens, dirt, and other air quality pollutants. This is doubly true if you have indoor pets. If you want a room to look and feel new, then a carpet replacement can be a great choice. Just make sure you go with a pet-friendly carpet brand like Plum.

These carpets are tested to avoid stains and fading, and it's easy to select your colours, rooms, and schedule installation online. Carpets are even scratch-proof, so pets can be allowed in any room in the house.

4. Curb Appeal

While it's always exciting to make changes to the interior of your home, don't forget about how it looks from the outside. This is known as your curb appeal, and it's important when selling a house. Of course, you want your home to look good while you're still living in it too, right? Fortunately, there are some easy ways you can boost your curb appeal quickly. Just adding a small flower garden to the yard can make a big difference, as can putting a fresh coat of paint on your front door. Go ahead and clean up the siding and the garage door while you're at it, and you'll notice a big difference.

5. Water Delivery

Making home improvements is a lot of work, and the last thing you need is to get dehydrated. With a water delivery to home service like Sparkletts, you can have great tasting water, sparkling water, tea, and coffee delivered right to your door. This includes three-gallon and five-gallon jugs of water, case packs of brands like FIJI, and hot chocolate sweeteners for those colder days. Water types include purified water with no mineral added, distilled, spring, and even artisan water.

Deliveries can be made throughout the state of Texas, as well as Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oklahoma. You can even have coolers and other equipment delivered, so you'll be able to enjoy a cool drink any time, whether you're making home upgrades inside or out.