After years of care facilities reviews and showings, we have formed a very keen sense of what is a salable care facility. What features investors and buyers are willing to pay for a premium, and what features discount your property value in their eyes. We've complied a list of home improvement projects that you should do and you should not do.

Do's

• Building or purchasing a “small” property is the most effective thing that a care home owner can do to create an efficient and environmental friendly care home. Looking for homes that do not exceed the following maximum square footages: 3bdr 2000 SF, 4bdr 2300 SF, 5bdr 2700 SF, 6bdr, 3000 SF.
• Make sure that you modify every facet of your property to comply with licensing ‘s code. Never ever compromise licensing’s requirements to save money.
• Always choose light, neutral and warm color for the walls, floors, cabinets and soft furnishings. Creating a sunny, bright and spacious image is always the care home owner’s first priority.
• Build a sun inspired care home. Integrate many south facing windows, glass doors, and skylights, and add north, east, west windows for balanced light, cross brazes, and views. Natural light from the sun brightens the home. This reduces the use of electric lights and therefore lowers electric bills. It works best for your residents, who desire natural light, and views to outdoors. Well spaced windows facilitate natural cooling when the windows open.
• Overhangs, shading & porches—Shade south windows with overhangs; shade east and west windows with porch and trees. Never build a porch in front of your south facing windows. It will block the sunlight.
• Install wood, tile and laminate floors instead of carpet floors, and purchase the quality pad to avoid unpleasant hollow sounds.
• Take the time to paint walls, trim and ceilings. Keep adjoining rooms in the same color palette, which will make your care home appear larger and flow better.
• Edit your furniture and accessories in every room. Less is more. Slipcover mismatched furniture in a room that requires visual unification.
• Streamline window fashions. Heavy drapes are in the minority. Think "let the light shine in" when placing blinds and shades. Light and bright can overcome other issues with home.
• Test all door and cabinet knobs. Especially your medical cabinet and file cabinet. Replace mismatched or inexpensive hardware for a quick update. Buyers rarely can get beyond a knob that comes off in their hand as they attempt to use a door.
• Build as many storage spaces as you can. Build heavy-duty and durable storage cabinets in your garage, the cabinets that are rated 300 pounds, and will cover one side of the wall of your garage. It’s a multifunctional storage for imperishable food, linens, old décor, collectable, paper files and anything will clutter the room if it’s in the house. Freshen-up closets with closet organizers to maximize storage space, paint a neutral washable color, and install lightings.
• Locate spaces in living/family room for a large screen TV’s. They are a "must-have" for a care home. Plasma TV’s are quickly becoming the "Monet" over the fireplace.
• Deodorize! Deodorize! Deodorize!!! Smell of light fragrance combined with smell of baked cookies creates magic. Clean every surface until it shimmers and shines. Clean can seal a deal.
• Organize your “Billboard”. Post your license, floor plan, certificate, residents’ photos and other required postings in a designated area of your wall. Make sure that it’s well presented and dust free. This area is a live presentation of your business. It’s a good place to show that you are dedicated to detail and perfection.
• It’s a good practice, if you have a photo frame hanging on each door to your resident’s room. Put your resident’s memorable photos, some silk flower, and other decors in the frame. It will melt everyone’s heart.
• Make sure there is balanced lighting in every room for dusk and evening showings. Dimmers help set the right tone. Recessed lights are highly recommended
• Build a backyard sanctuary. Porch, patio, and sunroom are very popular in care homes. They offer an outdoor getaway for your residents. Think of “comfort and style”, add outdoor table and chairs, and even a pre-manufactured grill island.
• Think about solar energy, especially for the care home situated on a huge land. There are three basic use of solar energy in a house. 1. Solar hot water. Solar hot water panels contain pipes that are filled with water. When these panels are provided with southern exposure on a roof or on the ground, the water in the pipes is heated by the sun before it enters the hot water heater. This reduces the amount of electrical, gas, or propane energy conventionally used to make water hot. 2. Photovoltics. Photovoltaics panels convert sunlight into electricity. This energy can be used instantaneously or it can be stored in the batteries to power part or all of a home. This reduces or eliminates the need to purchase electricity from power company. 3. Outdoor solar lighting. With recent advances in technology, solar lights not only produces a soft, warm light that is perfect for landscaping and other outdoor applications, but also are now suitable for brighter lighting needs as well, such as security lighting and spotlights. Using solar energy only requires one time investment of fixtures and installation, and makes it a great long-term investment.

Don'ts

• Don’t purchase or build a two-story home for a care home even you have three bedrooms down stair, and don’t buy homes in a community has restrict CC&R, and don’t buy a care home that the lot size is smaller than 6,000 square feet.
• Don’t invest in luxury materials and accessories. Consider the appropriate level for finishes in kitchens and bathrooms. Care facility investors aren't looking for high-end finishes.
• Don't over extend your care home. Room addition is very common in care home business. Well-planed room additions can increase cash flow as well as boost property value. Overbuilt can be a very costly mistake. The rule of thumb is that don’t have the biggest house in your block, do not exceed the following maximum square footages: 3bdr 2000SF, 4bdr 2300SF, 5bdr 2700SF, 6bdr, 3000SF.
• Don't convert your garage into bedrooms, unless you have a 3-car garage, which allows only one bedroom conversion. The garage conversion destroys the whole of a care home being a home, and it creates more problems than it can solve.
• Don't block good room and house flow. Awkward furniture placement can make a room feel smaller than it is.
• Don't overlook the front door. First impressions count. Your front lawn is the best ads for you. Plant bushes and flowers. Paint the door, polish the hardware and illuminate the entry area and house numbers.
• Don't build a porch, or have a giant tree in front of your south facing windows. It will block the sunlight.