Add "Curb Appeal" and Value to The Home During National Home Improvement Month in May

AMBLER, Pa., -- According to professional contractor Mark Clement, National Home Improvement Month in May is the ideal time to make improvements to the exterior of your home. By upgrading your home's curb appeal, you increase the value of your house and make a positive impact on visitors.

"According to Remodeling magazine's 2014 Cost vs. Value* study, home improvement projects involving curb appeal have very strong return on investment numbers for homeowners," says Clement, co-host of MyFixitUpLife home improvement radio show. "Their research shows that in a mid-range priced home, up to 67.8 percent of the cost of a roof replacement can be recouped when selling a home.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140501/82838

"For the replacement of a fiberglass entry door the cost recouped is up to 70.8 percent and homeowners can expect to regain up to a whopping 78.8 percent of the cost of replacing older windows with vinyl replacement windows. These numbers show that curb appeal improvements add value to the home overall and can be considered extremely smart investments for homeowners."

Clement points out that homeowners should start each May with a "top-down" evaluation of their home's exterior products. "Begin by checking out the appearance and functionality of your roof, siding, windows, trim and doors," says Clement. "Look for products that are worn out, need repair or re-painting, or simply should be replaced. Tackling these projects in May means you'll have more time to enjoy the results and a carefree summer."

Clement recommends the following checklist for National Home Improvement Month to make sure your home is in top condition:

1. Check the roof. Using either a ladder or binoculars from across the street, look for problem areas, such as missing or broken shingles, along with roofing tiles that may be "flapping" in the wind. These are all indications that a new roof may be in your future. If that's the case, research the benefits of polymer shake and slate roofing tiles. These impact- and fire-resistant tiles come in a wide variety of colors. Some roofing tiles, like those from DaVinci Roofscapes® that Clement chose for his home, are sustainable and recyclable. They also have a 50-year limited warranty.

2. Clean and assess the home's siding. Environmentally-friendly detergents, scrubbing and/or pressure-washing all work well for many homes to remove dirt and algae that can grow on siding. Never pressure-wash trim pieces, doors, windows or screens. The extreme high pressure could crack or destroy the caulking around the units. Check for changes in the exterior from the previous year and be alert to buckling, rotting, peeling paint or insect damage that may need to be fixed.

3. Check on the gutters. Each year homeowners should check to make sure their gutters are clean, unclogged, securely attached to the home and remain sloped for proper drainage. Plus, make sure the water running off the roof doesn't cause damage to the building structure, landscaping or property below the roof.

4. Evaluate the windows. If you find that the windows in your home don't operate easily, there's air leaking in or out of the units, or there's condensation between the glass panes, it may be time to seriously consider replacement windows.

Vinyl framed windows have the highest growth rate in the country due to their energy-efficiency, aesthetic appeal and durability. Some of the best have fusion-welded corners and multi-chambered construction. Plus, maintenance hassles are so low you'll forget the horrors of rotting frames, scraping and repainting that come with wood windows. For his renovation project, Clement selected vinyl home windows from Simonton Windows. The award-winning company impressed him with its strong product warranty, 65+ year history, selection of exterior frame color options and return-on-investment with their ENERGY STAR® qualified windows. 

5. Spend time with your doors. If you can see light around a door from the inside, your door is hard to close or lock, or the door itself is warped, it's time to consider a new door. Even if you can't see light, air may be moving through gaps in the weather stripping at a surprising rate.

Think about the weather conditions that your home's doors face along with your energy bills. If either run to the extreme, consider replacing an inefficient entryway with a high-performance fiberglass door. Clement added a Therma-Tru® fiberglass door to his home with a decorative glass doorlite to update the curb appeal of his home while gaining energy-efficiency savings.

6. Look at your home's accessory features. Spend time with your shutters, trim and louvers to see if they're rotting. Check the bottoms and tops of columns and near the joints in crown and other mouldings for water spots, decay or peeling paint to see if they're deteriorating in any way. They may also be suffering from termites, insect infestations or warping. When it's time to replace these items, low-maintenance polyurethane or PVC products from Fypon are an attractive and durable choice. The lightweight pieces are easy to install and add instant curb appeal to your home.

Experts Rate Curb Appeal and Staging as Best Home Improvement Projects for Sellers

New Zillow Digs Survey of Real Estate Agents and Interior Designers Finds Homeowners Should Avoid Costly Renovations Prior To Listing Their Home For Sale

SEATTLE -- Today's home sellers should focus on curb appeal and home staging above larger-scale home renovations, according to a new survey[i] from Zillow Digs®. Zillow asked real estate agents and interior designers nationwide to identify the most valuable home improvements for sellers, and the experts agree that minor improvements like landscaping and painting walls in neutral colors save money and attract buyers faster.

Agents agree that sellers should avoid costly projects prior to listing their home, as the increased sale price may not outweigh the time and money spent on the remodel. Instead, agents and designers recommend spending money on minor renovations that will bring the home up to current market standards while also appealing to the broadest number of potential buyers.

"Buyers have more homes to choose from this year, compared to last year," said Amy Bohutinsky, Zillow chief marketing officer and guest judge on NBC's new reality show American Dream Builders.  "And in a crowded market, sellers should prioritize spending time and money on upgrades that have mass appeal. Home buyers don't want to feel as if they are paying top-dollar for someone else's decorating style. An inviting exterior and landscape, fresh paint in neutral colors, and clutter-free spaces will always appeal to a broad range of tastes."

Zillow Digs Survey Reveals Top 5 Projects for Home Sellers

Curb Appeal: Creating a strong first impression is imperative as buyers begin making assumptions about a home well before they step inside. "A clean entrance can go a long way toward establishing a positive first impression," said Zillow Agent Advisory Board member, Cyndi Lesinski of Valencia, Calif. Lesinski recommends adding "fresh potted flowers to increase the life and energy of the entrance." Another tip is to simply add a fresh coat of paint to the front door. Black, dark charcoal and tasteful reds such as burgundy or cranberry are currently the most popular front door colors on Zillow Digs. These colors bring tasteful exuberance to the home without being too overbearing for potential buyers.

Staging: A home stager can skillfully identify ways to highlight your home's best features and compensate for its shortcomings. The goal is to make "your home appeal to the broadest audience and number of buyers possible," says Zillow Digs Board of Designers member Mara Miller of Carrier and Company in New York City. When staging, remove all personal belongings and avoid colors or furniture that are too style-specific – neutral colors and minimal furniture are best. "Attempting to decorate may not be the best use of your time and dollars," says Miller.

Invest in Small Home Improvements:  Both agents and designers agree that sellers should never invest in a major renovation before selling. No matter how out-of-date a home is, "major renovations prior to sale usually will not equal a dollar-for-dollar return, and the time invested outweighs selling it faster," says Zillow Agent Advisory Board member Chris Speicher, of The Speicher Group and RE/MAX in Washington, D.C. Instead, sellers should spend time and money on smaller updates that will bring the home up to market value. These kinds of projects include updating lighting fixtures, cabinet or door handles, and minor kitchen and bathroom updates.

Declutter: This sounds simple, but according to Zillow experts, it's the one of the most important things a homeowner should do before selling. A clean house feels more spacious and helps buyers easily envision themselves in the home. "Nothing trumps the aesthetic of a clean and cared-for home," says Zillow Digs Board of Designers member Kerrie Kelly of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab inSacramento, Calif. "Old appliances and furniture can be overlooked if a space is clean, simple and well-edited."

Granite Countertops and Stainless Steel Appliances: Most buyers are still requesting "granite countertops and stainless steel appliances," says Zillow Agent Advisory Board member Bic DeCaro of Westgate Realty Group in Falls Church, Va. Keep in mind that most "high-end finishes don't equal high-end returns," says DeCaro. However, incorporating granite and new appliances can help catch a buyer's eye.

Launched in 2013, Zillow Digs is Zillow's home improvement marketplace where home shoppers and homeowners can find visual inspiration and understand the real cost of remodeling projects. Users can browse over 640,000 photos and see Zillow's proprietary Digs Estimates for the estimated cost, based on where they live, of the actual bathrooms and kitchens they are viewing. They can create, save and share Boards of ideas they love, comment on photos and follow people with similar interests.

Room-by-Room Remodeling Tips to Increase a Home's Value

CHICAGO, -- HomeFinder.com, a leading digital real estate site, compiled the top kitchen, bathroom, living room and backyard remodeling tips to increase a home's value and help homeowners make the most out of their renovation budgets. It is important that homeowners understand how renovation relates to home valuation, whether it is updating a newly purchased home, or remodeling to get a house ready to sell.

Below are four home remodeling tips; the full list of tips can be accessed here: http://blog.homefinder.com/2014/03/25/room-by-room-remodeling-tips-to-increase-home-value/

1.) Maximize space in the kitchen: Homeowners can gain space during a renovation by extending cabinets up to the ceiling, or turning an awkward unused space into a food prep corner.

2.) Develop a bathroom design plan: The layout and functionality of a new bathroom should be determined by who will be using it the most.

• Kids bathroom: A double sink will help mornings and bedtime go faster, a pullout stepstool built in to the vanity so little ones can reach the sink, and no-slip tile to avoid any bath time slips.
• Master ensuite: Add a spa-like quality to a master bath with a heated marble floor (the small space will keep the cost down), a walk-in shower, and plenty of natural light.
• Guest bath: Incorporate extra shelving so guests have a place to store items without feeling intrusive. Built-in shower shelves and a vessel sink will allow for more under vanity storage space.

3.) Update living room windows: Energy-efficient windows will lower energy bills and will update a home's appearance. Impact-resistant windows are great for neighborhoods with active kids or areas prone to severe weather. These windows can help protect against damage and reduce home insurance premiums.

4.) Revamp a backyard barbeque: An outdoor kitchen will add value to a home and allow a host to cook, while enjoying the outdoor weather with friends and family. Outdoor-specific appliances (stainless steel sink, outdoor refrigerator, and cement or stainless steel counter) won't rust during rain or snow and adding a bar area will cut down on trips inside the house.

Survey Says: More People Will Be Building with Recycled Building Materials This Spring

NEW YORK -- Every spring, more and more people start home improvement projects. Good news for the Earth: This spring, many of those people will be building with recycled building materials. In a recent poll by Hometalk.com, 91% of respondents said that they had either used recycled building materials this year, or were planning to.  You can see the growth in use of recycled building materials in these numbers:

• ·         Consumption of composite lumber made from recycled plastics increased by 58% in recent years, according to Recycling Today. 
• ·         The primary market for recycled plastics is the composite lumber industry, according to The American Chemistry Council. 
• ·         According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, 88% of today's structural steel is made from recycled materials. 
• ·         The Harvard Graduate School of Design reports a sharp increase in the use of sustainable roofing materials. 

·       While recycled lumber and composite decking lead the pack in popularity, other recycled building materials are seeing an increase in consumer demand. For instance, Hometalk.com member Brooks Custom, a fabricator of unique upscale counter tops, has expanded his line of counter tops to include recycled woods, metals, and concretes in order to meet customer demand for these materials.

"At Brooks we are experiencing an increased demand for Antique Chestnut and Southern Yellow Heart Pine from barn beams. These woods are very attractive and include lots of distress marks and imperfections. Our stainless steel countertops look crisp and new but steel is one of the most recycled metals in the world. Over 80% of waste steel is recycled and turned into new products, including countertops. Glass is another highly-recyclable material that has gained popularity, and we've seen an uptick in glass specialty tops," said Todd Costello of Brooks Custom.

"Many of the most popular projects on Hometalk.com are projects that incorporate recycled building materials. People seem to get extra enjoyment out of remodeling and building with these materials. I expect to see even more Hometalk.com members posting projects that involve recycled building materials as the spring remodeling season heats up," said Miriam Illions , Director of Community Development at Hometalk.com.

ABOUT HOMETALK: Hometalk is the center for home & garden on the Web, where DIYers and pros share ideas, inspiration and advice for their homes. The creatively charged community even makes doing household chores fun! You can browse through anything from DIY cleaners and repurposed pallets to successful gardening secrets and jaw dropping remodels from the pros! You'll discover and connect to passionate people who share your interests, and you will always have a helpful community to go to for advice on Hometalk: http://www.hometalk.com.

Why Some Home Renovations Don't Make Sense

I love to watch home renovation shows. Each week, I record hours of these shows to watch during my downtime. I like to get ideas and to keep up with the current trends. Even though these shows are fun and even educational, the truth is not all renovations are created equal.

As a Realtor, I often wonder whether these renovations truly impact the market value of the home. Since I have no way of knowing the address of the renovation or the actual cost involved, I can only guess based on what‘s presented during the course of the show. And often, I conclude that the answer is “no.” No matter how wonderfully and expensively updated a home is, its value often is more heavily dictated by neighboring properties.

I’ve worked with many homeowners who, even without the help of House Crashers, achieved some amazing home make overs. They invested thousands of dollars in a home, that for one reason or another, they need to leave, and they’re disappointed to discover they’re not likely to recover the full cost of their investment. Despite what Love It or List It would have you believe, a $50,000 kitchen makeover in a $150,000 house isn’t likely to increase the value of a home to $250,000, as Love or List often proclaims, if surrounding property values don’t support it. The home certainly is more desirable to buyers, but desirability doesn't always translate to significantly higher market value.

Does that mean a homeowner should never renovate or update their home? Absolutely not! Sometimes updating and renovating are necessary to maintain market value along with livability. But those updates and renovations need to make sense in context of the property value. A moderately priced home calls for good quality, but moderately priced materials. A luxury home calls for equally appropriate materials.

Livability, comfort and self-expression are important things to consider in home renovations, but home sellers do need to set expectations of their renovations when it comes time to sell.