8 Ways to Be the House Your Neighborhood Envies
From Margaret on February 10th, 2012 in General Remodel, Tools and Tips
I have a story. A builder went to work renovating a 1939 bungalow house that he owned, to possibly rent out then sell. He put in shiny hardwood flooring, repainted the rooms, even majorly gutted some of the interior to open it up to a more modern layout. On first glance, the house is lovely.
But in focusing on which color paint to choose, he overlooked majorly important details, like the home’s energy efficiency and curb appeal.
The result? He’s had some lovely renters come through, but no one is interested in buying the house. No one even notices it above the other houses on the street, despite the nice interior changes.
Well, who wants to be that guy? It almost makes my skin crawl to think of how much money he could have gotten back in a remodeling return on his investment, if he had focused on the right elements to create a house that everyone envies.
It’s possible. It doesn’t take more money or more expertise to think through the elements that create a lovely, marketable, and competitive house. Here’s how.
1. Attractive Siding
Replacing your siding is vital. Clean, updated siding gives your home an instant facelift. Not to mention that siding is the skin that helps protect your home from the outside elements, and helps the integrity of your overall structure. For pricing on siding, click here.
2. New Windows and Doors
Along with siding, window replacement and new doors goes a long way in designing a competitive house. Windows create a whole new home from the inside out. Possibly more important than improved aesthetics is the fact that energy-efficient windows can save you up to 30% on your heating and energy bills. You can qualify for rebates by using ENERGY STAR rated materials. To get cost information on windows, click here.
3. Energy-Efficient Heating and Air
And you can go with more efficient heating and air conditioning units. If your furnace is around a decade old, it’s time to replace the thing anyway. You’re losing air quality as well as heating efficiency. Consider going greener and qualifying for furnace rebates as well as lower energy bills. These energy-savers are a huge selling point. For heating and A/C pricing, click here.
4. Solar Power
This is a more extensive commitment, but is well worth the effort if solar makes sense for your house. Residential solar prices are dropping as neighborhoods across the country pick up on this technology. And it’s a one-time cost, a huge selling point for a prospective buyer. To learn how much it costs to go solar, click here.
5. Curb Appeal
Though it may seem a superficial element to the sell-ability of a house, curb appeal is vital. Not only can you live in your home with greater pride now, but you can be very competitive when it comes time to sell. Whether a prospective buyer is looking at remodeling pictures online or driving by your street, the instant appeal matters. This includes technical stuff like siding, but also general upkeep like a good painting job on the trim and good landscaping.
6. Smart Thermostats
Along with efficient energy systems, you can install a smart thermostat, which will automatically adjust for different times of the day. You can even control some of these thermostats from work or vacation using a smart phone.
7. Spray Foam Insulation
Along with solar paneling, spray foam insulation can save you hundreds of dollars a year due to better home efficiency. An insulation contractor can help you understand more about this technology.
8. Great Flooring
Don’t just go for look-good flooring. Consider a surface that also helps with sound and heating. Look into great materials such as concrete and cork.
Whether you’re looking to do all of these improvements or just a few, you can start today on the process. Check out CalFinder’s contractors in your area for a free estimate.
