Its amazing what people will do to raise the value of their home, and quite honestly, the majority do not have a clue on how to maximize value.

In this important article, you'll learn the simple, yet powerful tricks to really pump up the value of your home and get the biggest bucks at closing time.

First of all, focus on your kitchen. According to a 2004 survey by Kitchen Remodeling magazine, a mid-range kitchen renovation yielded the highest return on investment, at a whopping 92.9%!

Does a kitchen renovation sound expensive to you? Don't worry, there are easy things you can do that'll be really light on the checkbook.

For around $200-$500, you can get a brand new kitchen backsplash installed in your kitchen. A kitchen backsplash is usually tile, stainless steel, glass, or granite installed on the wall space between a countertop and cabinet. It serves as a beautiful and functional background in your kitchen.

As you can imagine, there are a variety of styles in kitchen backsplashes, ranging from low to premium price.

Typically, glass and stainless steel are the least expensive, while ceramic tile and granite are the priciest.

There are several designs such as mosaic, mural, and rustic. It all really depends on what type of look and feel you are trying to achieve.

The best part is that not only is a kitchen backsplash beautiful and functional, but its also easy to install yourself or pretty cheap to get installed professionally. Either way you choose, the overall cost is nothing to sweat over.

How can a kitchen backsplash help you? Well, it helps the walls from getting dirty and provides an easy to clean surface. It also serves as a very attractive centerpiece in your kitchen. You would be surprised at what an amazing upliftment a simple backsplash can provide to a bland kitchen.

Now, its best to choose the style of your backsplash based on the fixtures and countertops rather than the appliances.

Appliances change over quite often while fixtures are more permanent.

Another inexpensive kitchen renovation that can bring in big returns are refacing the cabinets, as opposed to replacing them.

Lastly, you can simply give your stove a nice cleaning, install new kitchen faucets and sinks, and of course, put in a nice light fixture. Just remember to have everything match your beautiful kitchen backsplash.

The second and third best home investments are bathroom remodelings and new siding, at 90.1% and 92.8%, respectively. These renovations have a lot of appeal with families and if you just focus on doing simple and attractive updates to your kitchen, bathroom, and siding, you can get the most bang for your buck.

The home improvements you want to avoid are adding a pool, finishing your basement, and remodeling your home office, as these bring in the absolute lowest return on investment. Also, beware of making new additions to your home.

Hopefully, this article has given you a good overview on the functional and aesthetic benefits of kitchen backsplashes. The next step is to explore the different materials and designs on the market along with respective installation tips.