Home Summer Home Improvement Projects That Pay You Back Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by Ginita Wall Published Apr 11, 2024 2 min read Reviewed by Katharina Reekmans, Enrolled Agent In the summer, many of us take on home improvement projects, ranging from minor repairs to major remodeling. Though all home improvements cost money, many don’t improve the value of the home. Here are some ways to remodel your home while you recoup the maximum that you can, including some energy tax credits. Table of Contents Add spaceIncrease curb appealRemodel kitchen and bathsSave energyGo green Add space Converting a storage attic into a bedroom, building an entertainment deck, or finishing a musty basement is a smart way to add usable square footage to a home, which will increase its livability as well as its resale value. You can even add a second story, enlarge the garage or create an extra bathroom for a busy household. With many families sharing space with other family members or roommates, having more bedrooms and living space is a definite plus. Increase curb appeal Install a new front door with pizazz, redo an entry, landscape the front yard, paint the house, or replace worn siding. All these projects spruce up your home and give the exterior a fresh appeal. Remodel kitchen and baths Up-to-date kitchens are always in demand, so replacing countertops and appliances can add a great deal to the saleability of your home. Likewise, bathrooms can sparkle with new fixtures, flooring, paint, and mirrors, at relatively little cost. Save energy Replacing windows and doors that leak and adding insulation will save heating and cooling costs. These improvements may also save tax dollars. Starting January 1, 2023, you can garner an income tax credit of up to $600 for Energy Star-qualified windows and skylights and $250 per exterior door (up to $500 per year) for Energy Star-qualified doors. A new qualified water heater, furnaces, and hot water boilers, or central air conditioning may yield tax credits of as much as $600 per item. This credit is worth up to $1,200 per year for qualifying property placed in service on or after January 1, 2023, and before January 1, 2033. If you spread your home improvements over the 10-year life of this credit, you could receive up to $12,000 in tax benefits! You can get a separate additional credit of up to $2,000 per year for replacing your qualified heat pumps, biomass stoves, and biomass boilers with a new efficient one. Go green Because they are so efficient, the government is offering a 30% tax credit for solar electric panels, solar water heaters, wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells, and battery storage technology (starting in 2023). There is no limit on the credit you can claim. You can claim the credit every year that you install eligible property until 2033. Don’t worry about knowing these tax rules. No matter what moves you made last year, TurboTax will make them count on your taxes. Whether you want to do your taxes yourself or have a TurboTax expert file for you, we’ll make sure you get every dollar you deserve and your biggest possible refund – guaranteed. Get started Previous Post Tax Deductions And Credits You Can’t Claim On Your Tax… Next Post Earth Day 2024: Going Green Saves You Green on Your… Written by Ginita Wall More from Ginita Wall 5 responses to “Summer Home Improvement Projects That Pay You Back” I am spending @ $18,000 to fix erosion problems around my house. New steps leading down both sides of the house will be installed. I live in the mountains and my property is not level. The costs include bringing in soil to build levels up around the house so rain water will flow away from the foundation. Some trees will be removed and I am updating the curb appeal as well. I am paying cash, no loan. Can I get a tax credt for this project? Reply My husband added a deck onto our unused side-yard. Now that space is finely used daily. Can I deduct the cost of the building materials? Reply Is there any credit for new energy saving kitchen appliances? Reply So if I remodel my bathroom and take out a unsecured personal loan, can I write off the interest even though its not secured by the home? Even though I’ve been paying down a mortgage for six years, I am upside down on value and cannot qualify for a home equity loan. Reply Hi Juan, Unfortunately you can only deduct interest on loans secured by your home where you sign a document putting your home up as collateral to protect the interest of the lender. Thank you! Lisa Lewis Reply Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles Crypto Understanding Crypto and Capital Gains Work 7 Things You Need to Know About the New Business Report… Work Using Form 8829 to Write-Off Business Use of Your Home Tax Tips Roth 403(b) vs. Roth IRA: Which Should You Invest In? 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I am spending @ $18,000 to fix erosion problems around my house. New steps leading down both sides of the house will be installed. I live in the mountains and my property is not level. The costs include bringing in soil to build levels up around the house so rain water will flow away from the foundation. Some trees will be removed and I am updating the curb appeal as well. I am paying cash, no loan. Can I get a tax credt for this project? Reply
My husband added a deck onto our unused side-yard. Now that space is finely used daily. Can I deduct the cost of the building materials? Reply
So if I remodel my bathroom and take out a unsecured personal loan, can I write off the interest even though its not secured by the home? Even though I’ve been paying down a mortgage for six years, I am upside down on value and cannot qualify for a home equity loan. Reply
Hi Juan, Unfortunately you can only deduct interest on loans secured by your home where you sign a document putting your home up as collateral to protect the interest of the lender. Thank you! Lisa Lewis Reply