The streets of Baton Rouge play host to a collection of historic neighborhoods, from the Garden District to Mid City, Highland Road to Southdowns. But as beautiful as the old homes there can be, with age comes outdated finishes, rooms that cease to function as well as they once did, and inevitable renovations. The good news is that all that extra work might just turn a profit after all is said and done.

According to Acadian House Design + Renovation owner Angela Poirrier, the quickest way to increase the house’s overall value is through a facelift. Think fast and simple changes. For example, paint, hardware updates, touching up finishes and other minor replacements are all tried-and-true “facelifts” designers have been using for years.”The backsplash could also be a way to make something pop without spending a ton of money,” Poirrier says.

When it comes to bigger things countertops, Poirrier recommends doing your research and installing materials that known for their timelessness and durability. Quartz counters, for example, have been popular for decades thanks to their ability to withstand daily wear and tear.

“You don’t have to worry about etching or staining,” says Poirrier. “The color you see is the color you get.” Based on the Cost vs. Value survey in 2021, a minor kitchen remodel costing $24,951 reaped a 78.8% recoup of its cost.

Don’t forget the exterior, though. Outdoor living is a quintessential component of life here in south Louisiana, considering the frequency of barbecues, football parties, birthday celebrations. According to Cost vs. Value statistics, a wood deck addition costing $14,459 would have 67.5% of its cost recouped.

If you are updating to sell, Poirrier recommends creating what she calls the “ideal living environment.” In the past, for example, Poirrier and her team created the illusion of an outdoor kitchen by simply placing two tabletops next to a freestanding grill.

“The key is to create zones,” she says. “It’s the little things—like creating a grill station if there’s no room for a full-blown outdoor kitchen—that can impress a buyer. If you’re looking for resale, you just want it to look nice. You want to be functional, and you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck.”

Still, when homeowners start renovations to sell, Poirrier has noticed that many of them struggle to detach themselves from the home. Her biggest tip is to renovate as if you were a new buyer, not as if you were renovating to stay. “I feel like whenever you get stuck in the brain space of what you would want, you end up spending more because you’re picturing yourself in the house. What you want is to picture what the new buyer would want.”

For more information on Angela Poirrier and her work, visit the Acadian House website at acadianhousedr.com.