Are You A Homeowner?
If you are a homeowner, you probably wonder what you can do to add value to your home. Whether you are planning to resell your home soon, or just want to ensure your home’s value for the future, we have some great tips for you.
1. Paint, Paint, seriously .. PAINT
Giving your home a fresh coat of paint is undeniably one of the most budget friendly, but effective ways to add value to your home. A freshly painted room looks clean and updated, which adds value to your home. When you chose a paint color, think about a broad audience. Neutral tones appeal to the greatest number of people. Having a super unique paint scheme will only attract a super unique subset of people. Paint usually only costs about 30 bucks gallon. So grab some rollers, a drop cloth, and some paint and get busy!
2. Lower Energy Costs
There are many ways you can save on your energy bill. Sure those pesky energy bills may seem like they are a fixed amount, but this isn’t the case. Many local utility companies offer free energy audits for your home. They can give you tips about how to maximize your energy efficiency. There are many different ways you can upgrade your home to be energy efficient. You can replace your old appliances and fixtures with energy efficient ones and be more conservative with your power use.
The heavy hitter with energy efficiency is your windows. If you have windows that are improperly installed, or have a low efficiency rating, you could be losing money by the handful! Renewal by Andersen® windows are consistently rated among the best in the industry when it comes to energy efficiency. Homes that replace their windows or glass doors with Renewal by Andersen® products dramatically reduce heating and cooling costs. High-Performance™ Low-E4® SmartSun™ glass is the most energy-efficient glass option we have ever offered. For example, High-Performance™ Low-E4® SmartSun™ glass is 45% more energy efficient in winter as compared to ordinary dual pane glass.*
An energy efficient home not only looks awesome for resale, it also saves you money on your monthly bills in the meantime. You can apply the money you save towards more upgrades to add even more value to your home.
3. Make Your Home Look Bigger
It is obvious that square footage plays a huge role in the value of your home. With that being said, it isn’t all that counts. Two homes with same square footage can feel and look like two completely different sizes. There are some tricks you can pull off to make your home feel visually larger.
Here are some ways to enhance your space:
- Declutter. A home that is clean and organized seems much larger than a home full of knickknacks and clutter.
- Use appropriately sized furniture. If you have over-sized furniture it will cramp up any room. You want to feel like there is some free space, or breathing room in the areas of your home.
- Accessories matter. Switch out heavy drapes with blinds or shutters. These will let more light in and make the room feel larger and more open.
- Invest in good quality windows. Larger windows let more light in, and make you space seem more open. It is amazing how much you can open up an area with beautiful windows. We have a plethora of options for sizes and shapes of windows. Visit our Window and Door Visualizer to see how they would look on your home!
4. Enhance Curb Appeal
A messy front yard leaves a bad first impression and a poorly kept backyard leaves a worse lasting impression. Even if you aren’t thinking about selling your house soon, plan ahead and start your landscaping early. Your plants and trees will mature over time and add value to your home. Plant some shade trees. They boost your curb appeal and can cut cooling costs. You can spend a weekend weeding, planting shrubs, and clearing brush. It is amazing how much a little outside work can change the overall impression of your home. You should also make sure to choose plants that are native to your region and drought tolerant. It is more environmentally friendly, but will also save you time and money in the long run.
You can also showcase your hard work with large, open windows that accentuate and highlight the view outside.
5. Maintenance & Repairs
It is critical to pay attention to what is going on inside your home, and not just to cosmetic fixes. The inner workings of your home is just as important, if not more so, than the aesthetics of your home. If you have deteriorating roofing, pests, outdated electrical systems, or improperly installed appliances or fixtures, you need to know about it! You can’t fix what you don’t know about. Take a walk around your home and make a list of what needs to be updated or repaired. Maybe the list seems overwhelming. Just take it one project at a time. Even if some items seem unimportant, they can add up and detract from the value of your home.
It is important to keep your home well maintained and to repair problems before they escalate. Small problems can become big expensive problems surprisingly quickly.
Get In Touch
If you have any questions about how replacing your windows or doors can add value to your home and save you money on your monthly energy bills, give us a call! We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Schedule a free consultation today! (916) 779-5801
*Values are based on comparison of Renewal by Andersen® double-hung insert window SHGC to the SHGC for clear dual pane glass non-metal frame default values from the 2006 and 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.
