What do you do when your home improvement lists is larger than your budget? Start prioritizing and spend money where the payback is best.

1. Face it: It’s just not possible to upgrade everything in your home at
once. Chances are, you don’t have the budget (who does?), the patience
or the time. So pick one thing at a time and upgrade steadily. Here’s
how.

2.  Make a list of all the things you currently want to
upgrade, and anything that you think will need an
upgrade in the next few years. Start out by
performing triage -- order them in terms of what most
needs upgrading, with the neediest item going at the
top of the list.Then rearrange your list in terms of
what you use most and what you actually want to
replace -- there’s no use putting a new vacuum at the
top of the list if you know it’ll never come out of the
closet.Also, if you have a few items listed in the same
room, put the most focal one at the top of the list --
that way, you won’t be later stuck decorating an
entire room around, say, a toaster.

3.  Set aside money each month in your
“upgrade account.” Once you’ve got enough
saved to make the purchase, go ahead!Then
start your account over for the next item on
the upgrade list.

4.  When you upgrade your couch, don’t just think
about your couch. Remember, it’s the same
couch you’ll have when you eventually upgrade
your carpet, chairs,TV and everything else in the
living room that you plan to, so make sure it’s
something you can live with for a long time and
something that you’ll want to decorate around
in the future. Even if it’s something that lives
independently -- say, a car -- think about what
you’ll use it for three or five years down the road.
Do you want it to be kid-friendly?You get the
idea

6.  Have you ever noticed everyone gravitates toward the kitchen during a
dinner party? It's known as the heart of the house for a good reason.The
draw of your kitchen to party-goers has the same value to potential
buyers, so a kitchen remodel is one of the best ways to add value to your
house.An updated kitchen appeals to a buyer's emotions and a
homeowner's wallet because, if done correctly, it can give you close to a
100 percent return on your investment. Plenty of counter and cabinet
space is a must, and granite countertops are popular with buyers.
Stainless-steel appliances are also a hot ticket, but the most important
thing is to make sure your appliances all coordinate. A window over the
kitchen sink is a great place to daydream away your dishpan hands.
Island counters are wonderful additions if your kitchen has the space.
They not only provide additional counter space, but can also be used for
homework, grabbing a quick bite or a place for guests to hang out while
you cook.You can even add features like a prep sink or extra burners that
will make your kitchen a chef's dream.

7.  If you've ever lived in a house that doesn't have enough bathrooms, then
you know firsthand how valuable these rooms are to potential buyers.
Updating or adding bathrooms, especially master baths, will add
considerable value to your house. A master suite with his and her sinks,
spacious showers and plenty of square footage are what buyers are
looking for.Added amenities such as heated floors, steam showers and
whirlpool tubs will serve you well, and ample storage is a must.
Traditional ceramic tile floors are preferred over wood flooring or
linoleum because they handle water better. Half-baths can be created
out of small closets or under eaves. If you want to go green, low-flow
toilets and skylights are good choices. Keep your design in the same
period as the rest of your house.You can still have modern amenities
while retaining a classic look. Bungalows command subway tile and
pedestal sinks, while a modern bathroom may contain more wood and
neutral-colored tile. Don't be shy when it comes to spending -- the
average bathroom remodel can get you back the majority of your
investment.

8.  Why add a room to your home if you've already got an empty
basement downstairs? Basements can easily be transformed into
recreation rooms, bar rooms, media rooms or "man caves," not to
mention extra bedrooms or rental units, if there's a separate
entrance -- and they bring in more money when you eventually
sell. But don't just rush downstairs and start hammering away. It's
important to make sure your lower-level remodel includes a
bathroom, as the presence of a bathroom can dramatically
increase its value. Also, try to avoid adding a lot of walls or
hallways, which will make the area feel smaller and darker --
basements already tend to feel that way. Installing a gas fireplace
is another way to make the area feel brighter and cozier. And don't
forget to add storage space.You can never have too much of that!

9.  Many homeowners don't give much thought to their landscaping, but a
good design can add significantly to your home's value -- sometimes as
much as a new kitchen or bath. Have a landscape architect out to your
house to assess what you've got and offer suggestions. Perhaps creating
a more formal look will better match your home's style (think
geometrical shapes and straight lines), or, if your lot backs up to lots of
trees, a woodland look full of natural paths, native plants and lots of
groundcover.There's often no fee for an architect's design if you buy at
least a few items, which is well worth it. Keep in mind, too, that
landscaping is more than greenery -- it includes lighting, fences, rock
features, paths, ponds and more. So even if your current trees and plants
are attractively laid out, they may still be greatly enhanced by, say, a
curving pathway, bench and a few well-placed lights. Landscaping is
especially important (and more valuable to your bottom line) in
temperate climates, where your plantings are visible year-round and
you're able to be outside enjoying features like ponds all 12 months of
the year.

10.  Painting is one of the least expensive ways to freshen and improve
your home's look, and consequently its value. And we're talking
everywhere -- your home's interior walls, of course, but also the
exterior: the siding, trim and associated elements like decks and
sheds. Don't forget to consider interior features as well. A coat of
paint can do wonders to brighten up dingy cupboards, for
example, or old paneling. In the past, neutral colors were seen as
the best way to create a fresh, bright, versatile look. But today,
people crave color, so don't be afraid to consider a wide range of
hues. Just stay away from super-bright colors, such as hot pink or
neon yellow. Don't really have an eye for color? Not a neat
painter?Then hire a professional. Painting is such an affordable
home enhancement that you can probably manage to spend a
little on an interior designer who can help select colors, and a
professional painter to do the dirty work.

11.  Many homeowners are creating outdoor living
spaces ranging from a nice sized stamped patio
to enjoy time with friends and family to
designing areas to prepare food for cooking and
the appliances to cook on, bake a pizza in a
fired-pizza oven, to sitting at a bar enjoying
refreshments. The designing and planning for
this is not easy for first timers. If you would like
to explore an outdoor living space please see
contact information on the next slide.

12.  http://www.northernconcreteinc.com/design_center This will provide
us the information for you to set up a visit to our design center.
 Call 920-863-3043
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 Twitter - @concretewisc