Article By: David A. Chodack print article | article topics | back to list

previous article | next article

For most people, buying a home is something they have dreamed about for years before it becomes a reality.

Buying a house will represent one of the biggest investments they will ever make.  It is part of the classic American dream. For most homeowners, protecting and increasing the market value of that investment is of prime importance.

As time passes, careers change families change in size and many homeowners begin making plans to sell their house and buy another one, either to relocate, upgrade, or downscale from what they currently own. Maybe they have to move because of a new job, or a new baby. Their current house may be too small for them, or it may be too big for them, if the children are grown and gone. This is when many people start thinking about maintenance and/or remodeling projects in order to maximize the value of their homes. Many homeowners are looking to the internet to find good local roofing contractors to do the work. One good contractor directory is www.LocalConstructionPros.com.

But, even if a person isn't planning on selling their home, regular maintenance and repairs, are important to protect their investment, enhance the usability usability of the house, and keep it attractive and comfortable as possible and remodeling can make sense too.  If it is planned well and done right, remodeling can more than pay for itself. It can add value to the property far in excess of the cost.

The following 26 suggestions can help your home value appreciate, rewarding you with a comfy, cozy refuge with a high rate of return on investment.

Exterior Improvements

As everyone knows, first impressions are everything! The first thing people see is the outside of your home. If that looks appealing, then prospective buyers will want to see the inside. If the outside of your home is unattractive, then the only people you will attract are bargain hunters, looking to steal your home, fix it up and resell it. Therefore, you want to make a good first impression by maintaining the exterior of your home and your property.

Consider the following, for maximum curb appeal:

 1. Roof - If your roof leaks, it can cause all kinds of interior and structural damage. If your roof is old, get it inspected and consider getting it replaced.  If you have shingles, then you may need to remove old layers before you can add a new layer. Make sure the type of roofing you select, shingles, title, wood shake,  or tar and gravel fits with the color and style of the house. 

2. Clean the roof of debris - use a stiff janitor's broom to remove leaves, sticks, and other debris. Afterwards, use a garden hose to spray-clean the eves and downspouts. Debris is not only unsightly, but a fire hazard as well.  Be careful when cleaning the roof.  Use an ordinary garden hose and not a pressure washer, because this could watch the shingles right off your roof

3. Siding - If the roof looks good and the siding looks good, then the house looks good.  New siding not only gives a home a major facelift, but the return on investment is generally high. In fact, it is one of the top home renovation projects that show the greatest return at resale. You generally get back more than $1.00 in resale value for every $1.00 you spend on new siding. If the siding can be repaired and repainted without being replaced, all the better. This will save you money.

4. Replace or repair windows – New windows are not only important for home curb appeal, but insulated windows make your home more energy efficient. This can be an important selling point and can give you an excellent return on your investment . Window style and appearance are important, and so is energy efficiency in today’s increasingly cost conscious world. New windows can drastically enhance your house’s exterior and increase your home's real estate market value.

5. Paint the exterior - one of the most dramatic and cost-effective ways to improve the overall appearance of your house is to paint the exterior. This is another home renovation project with high investment return that will increase the current market value of your home. If you can't afford to paint the whole house then paint the trim, downspouts, and gutters. Get color combination ideas from home decorating magazines, or new house construction and exterior remodeling in and around your neighborhood. Make your house stand out.

6. Clean windows - Dirty windows make a house look unkempt and bleak - inside and out. This scares away prospective buyers.
But, as basic as this is, many homeowners forget to clean the windows when preparing to sell their home. A little Windex can work wonders and and value to your home.

7. Accessorize the front of your home - even simple items found at a garage or rummage sale can add character to your home. For instance, a cast-iron dinner bell or whimsical weathervane might look good on on your lawn if they fit with the style of the house. The wrong accessories can detract from the appearance of the house, rather than adding to it.

8. Get a new front door, or give the existing one a facelift. This can be important, because it is the first aspect of your home that people see up close. If the door is old or in poor shape, get a new one. If it is in relatively good shape, paint it to either match the trim work on the house or paint it in a complimentary color. 

9. Dress the main entry door up with a custom made kick-plate and door knocker - a kick-plate looks great and helps protect the paint at the bottom of the door; a door knocker adds a touch of class. While you're at it, you might also want to consider an ornate mail slot - much more attractive than ordinary mail slots and mailboxes. Just make sure that you choose a design that is appropriate to the design of your house.

10. Build a patio deck – Assuming that you have the yard space to make this practical, a patio deck can be another worthwhile investment, that can make your home more livable and enjoyable while adding to to the value and more than paying for itself.

11. Get rid of old, faded, or broken patio furniture - repair if possible, or replace. What is the point of having beautiful house and/or patio with old, faded, or broken furniture to detract from the overall appeal?

12. Add a patio fireplace to your deck or patio – This is an attention grabber sure to impress potential buyers if you have the space to make it practical and you’re sure that it will at least pay for itself when you sell the property.

13. Un-clutter the area surrounding the house-Clutter detracts from the appearance of your home. It makes it look shabby and run down. Removing the clutter is cheap and easy to do.

14. Pressure wash the exterior of the home - Accumulated dirt makes your house look old and shabby.  A good washing helps restore the colors of the paint job and makes your house look fresh and new. 

15. Pave a gravel driveway – This can greatly enhance curb appeal, as well as increasing real estate value. Gravel driveways are not only unsightly but they’re bad for your tires.  If you want to repave a gravel driveway, then you have several options to consider.  An asphalt driveway has advantages over a concrete driveway, because it is more flexible and less likely to heave or crack. It is also less expensive.  A cobblestone or brick driveway costs more than an asphalt driveway - but is more eye-appealing and may represent your best option for increasing the real estate value!

16. Driveway resurfacing and repair - If your driveway is already paved, but it is cracked or otherwise in bad shape, repair it and/or use a driveway sealer. This might also be a good time to consider upgrading to a cobble stone or brick driveway

17. Add gravel to a dirt driveway - and enhance curb appeal; select blue-grey gravel, red, or white - for a more formal look, or consider going directly to a paved to drive way.

18. Change the contour of your driveway – this can be an easy option that can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home, if your driveway is gravel or dirt and you have a large enough front yard. A curved or circular driveway can appeal to a home. 

19. Remove weeds from between concrete slabs and walkways – this is a sure sign of property neglect and a big turn off for potential buyers. You want your home to look well maintained, not run down. 

20. Build a new garage - If you don’t already have a garage, but you do have the space for one, and the chances are that a prospective buyer will see a garage as a big plus. A garage can definitely increase the market value of the home.

21. Finish off an old garage - if you already have a garage, consider finishing it off inside. Add storage space, or a work shop - complete with workbench, power outlets, and shelving if you have the room to do this without crowding out your cars and you also have the ability to run electricity into the garage. 

22. Install an automatic garage door opener – This can be another great way to automatically increase property value. For additional security elect a model with a multi-code remote that routinely changes the code .

23. Install a skylight dome or roof skylight - The addition of a skylight can Improve the cosmetic appearance of the structure inside and out, while increasing the home’s value at the same time. It increases natural lighting in rooms; making them more inviting and cheerful.

24. Install shutter and window box sets that match - Using a window shutter and/or window box design in a contrasting color that complements the color of your house can add charm and character to a home .

25. Enhance your porch or doorstep with pots or baskets of blooming annuals – Flowers and plants are an inviting and fragrant way to boost the visual appeal of the outside of your house and add eye popping color.

26. Give your old BBQ grill a makeover – No matter how attractive your house is, things like old rusty and or greasy barbecue grills can detract from it and make your house look run down and poorly kept.

Go to www.LocalConstructionPros.com to find local residential construction contractors, home improvement article and videos, as well as unique home decor products. Find home renovation, home remodeling, kitchen and bathroom renovation contractors.