During the dog days of summer, just looking out the window is enough to make you sweat. Fall is another matter altogether. Crisp mornings melt into mild days full of autumn color and breezy sunshine. Suddenly youâre motivated to do all the things youâve been meaning to do for months. Whether youâre getting your home ready to list for sale or preparing it for holiday visitors, these home upgrades will add both comfort and value.
Add Curb Appeal
Ask any realtor whatâs most important to attracting prospective buyers and theyâll say your homeâs exterior appearance. 90 percent of home buyers start their search online. When they filter through homes in your area, the exterior shot is what theyâll see on your listing. Your homeâs appearance makes the difference in whether they want to know more or move on to the next property.
When people drive by your home, if they see faded paint, an overgrown lawn and a lackluster exterior, they are likely to either offer a lower price or move on to a property that looks better maintained. Pristine exteriors make buyers want to see if your home is as beautiful inside as it is out.
Adding curb appeal to your home is a worthwhile investment even if you donât plan to sell it any time soon. When your home looks its best, it adds value to other homes in the neighborhood and helps those nearby get the best price per square foot. Here are a few easy ways to make a big change.
- Work on landscaping. While youâre out enjoying the fall weather, do everything you can to improve your yard. Pull weeds and trim hedges that got bushy over the summer. Add a few pots of mums and an assortment of pumpkins by the front door for attractive fall color.
Siding replacement. Homeowners fight a constant battle to scrape and paint chipped siding and replace wood rot. Stop fighting the battle and replace your old siding with a maintenance-free alternative. Besides saving you time and money on repairs, new siding lets you make these improvements:
- Detect hidden structural damage Sometimes deteriorating wood siding hides damage to studs, floor framing or other structural supports. When you replace your siding, experts can repair any structural issues before they become even worse.
- Add insulation. Technology has drastically improved the materials used in insulation. While your siding is being replaced, take the opportunity to add blown-in insulation.
- Beautify your exterior. Completely change your homeâs appearance with one update.
Faded paint or a dated color scheme will scare away potential buyers, but new siding can give your home a complete makeover. At Able Roof, we provide siding in vinyl, aluminum, cedar, stucco, cultured stone and cement board.
No matter what you envision for your homeâs exterior, we can help you achieve it. We professionally install all our products, so you get the attention to detail that makes so many customers recommend Able Roof.
Keep Up with Maintenance
Improve your homeâs value by keeping up with routine maintenance. Fall is a great time to knock out several things on your list, since the kids are back in school, the weather is pleasant and the busy holiday season has yet to begin.
Walk through your home and make a list of all the little things in need of repair. A broken doorbell might not seem like a big deal, but it makes prospective buyers wonder what else might be wrong.
Your roof is one of the most important areas to maintain. With winter weather ahead, itâs important to make sure itâs in good shape. If you experienced roof leaks last year, now is the time to repair them before rain and snow cause further damage.
A new roof doesnât just protect your structure; it adds value to your home. Trulia estimates the return on investment for a roof replacement to be between 50 percent and 110 percent. Hereâs why a roof gives your home such a substantial increase in value:
- A new roof brings peace of mind. If you plan to stay in your home for years to come, you know you wonât have to worry about leaks. If youâre putting your home on the market, prospective buyers know they donât have to budget for roof repairs later on.
- Instill confidence. Buyers perceive homeowners who invest in this major aspect of home improvement as conscientious in all areas of home maintenance.
- Add curb appeal. Your roof makes up a significant portion of your homeâs visible surface. A new roof looks fresh, clean and attractive.
Improve Energy Efficiency
Energy-efficient upgrades keep more money in your pocket for as long as you own your home, and they also matter to buyers when you sell. Buyers often ask to see utility bills for previous years to get an idea of their future budget. Bills that are higher than they should be can make your home un-affordable to those shopping at the top of their price range.
Replace older windows to make your homeâs exterior more attractive and improve energy efficiency. Old windows leak air through hollow frames and single panes. New windows have features that block harmful UV radiation and prevent heat transfer. Able Roof sells windows with insulation-packed frames and argon-filled double panes.
New windows donât just save you money on heating and cooling, they increase the amount you can expect to get for your home if you sell. Real estate experts estimate homeowners will recover between 50 percent and 80 percent of their investment in new windows when they go to closing.
Learn more:Â DO NEW WINDOWS REALLY IMPROVE HOME VALUE?
One of the best ways you can improve your homeâs energy efficiency is to insulate the attic, and fall is the best time to do it. Abel Roofâs insulation experts will seal every crack and crevice in your attic before we add blown-in insulation. Attic insulation can save you as much as $600 in heating and cooling costs every year.
Learn more:Â THE AVERAGE COST OF ATTIC INSULATION
Fall is the time for football and family, for pumpkin carving and apple pie. Itâs also the best time to make upgrades that increase the value of your home. Able Roof offers financing options that can make it even more affordable, and we finish most jobs in a day. Contact us for a free estimate.
