Which Home Improvements Bring the Best Return at Closing?

Experts recommend repair and remodel rather than adding on to homeowners wishing to sell their homes or just update them. While curb appeal does sell a house, part of that appeal is the house itself. Pretty landscaping can't conceal shabby siding or a roof with loose shingles. We understand homeowners who wonder which renovations add value to their homes that will be recouped at closing. Some of these repairs can be done with short term loans or supplies you may already have in your garage. Keep reading to discover our top recommended renovations.

Siding

Remodeling magazine is the Bible for Realtors, builders, architects, and others in the home building industry. According to the magazine, it's what homeowners do on the outside of the house that recoups the most at resale. New siding heads the list.

New siding not only makes the house look new, but adds insulation as well. Foam backing on the siding makes the house tighter, a consideration buyers will appreciate. Regular vinyl siding, according to Remodeling magazine, recoups 78 percent at closing. James Hardie or HardiPlank fiber cement siding is very popular now. It's a long-lasting siding and consistently looks great, bringing in an 87 percent return at resale.

Garage Door

Garage doors are part of the overall picture of a house. Potential buyers see the house as a whole when they pull into the drive, so the garage door needs to capture their imagination right off the bat.

Tight, insulated garage doors promote energy efficiency. Rooms situated over the garage tend to be cold if the garage is cold. This makes insulated garage doors very important. A high R value of at least 11 is recommended by experts.

Buyers also seek security. They know that tight garage doors with sensors for remote openers keep intruders out of the house. Garage doors are the first entry point for intruders. Most all garage doors have sensors nowadays, so the door should be tight as well as attractive.

The look of the door itself can attract a buyer. Wood doors are attractive, as are carriage doors. Some homeowners opt for glass or steel doors. Whatever style you choose, your garage door will bring a four percent gain at resale.

The Roof

No one is going to buy a house, or live in it for that matter, if the roof needs work. A roof that leaks and/or has missing shingles means walls, foundations, and attics with water damage and mold. It's cheaper to fix or replace the roof. Make no mistake, potential buyers can spot a problem roof a mile away.

While most Realtors would tell you that roof maintenance is just part of home maintenance like the plumbing or electrical wiring, it still makes a difference to buyers. Most buyers won't have the money after closing for a large outlay like a new roof. Add to that the fact that some lenders won't lend on a house needing a new roof, and you have a compelling reason to replace the roof.

To many home buyers, a roof is a roof. Others, though, are savvy in recognizing the materials on the roof. While there are maintenance costs inherent in any roof, slate tile or cedar shakes require less in the way of maintenance than asphalt shingles. Materials aren’t the only thing to consider because there is the struggle of finding a good contractor. With asphalt roofs, buyers know they'll need to keep the roof in good shape.

Windows

Nine out of ten buyers want to see new windows in a house. This equates to energy savings, lower power bills, ease of maintenance, and a fresh new look. When buyers pull into the drive to see the sun and clouds reflected from shiny new windows, their interest increases.

Buyers will ask questions about your new windows, and believe us, they know what an e-coating is and how low it should be. Be prepared to alert buyers to:

• How the windows repel the heat and how low the number is
• How much natural light enters the window, and in this instance, the higher the number, the better
• How much air leaks through the window; a low number is excellent
• How little condensation the window produces, and you want to be lower on this number as well.

Today's building is tighter to allow absolutely no energy to escape a house being constructed. Some new houses are built with walls of glass. Rooms have more than one window to allow for the health benefits of natural light. However, buyers need to know they won't be paying exorbitant power bills for the pleasure of enjoying all that light. Have handy six months' worth of power bills to show potential buyers. Depending on which area of the country you live in, power bill savings tend to be between $125 and $500 per year.

Front Door

Builders get discounts on building materials from big box stores. Therefore, the front door is usually made of steel coated with polymer or foam. Over the years, the paint will flake, the door jamb will rot, and the door will be damaged from weathering or possible intruder damage.

You want a front door that will attract possible buyers and entice them to enter. Many homeowners just throw a coat of paint on the door. However, a new front door will endure through rough weather, prevent possible intruders, and be attractive.

Solid wood doors are still the hallmark of front doors. Coming in second place are steel and fiberglass doors, which are stronger and look just as good as solid wood. These can be painted as well, which adds cachet to a house. They are also strong enough to handle whatever is thrown at them such as storms and would-be intruders. A new front door will get you a 67 percent return at resale.

Patio Or Deck

With the proliferation of outdoor kitchens and outdoor living rooms, a deck or patio will not only thrill potential buyers, it will return 47 percent at closing for a patio and 63 percent for a deck. Wood, stone, and brick pavers on patios and either attached or floating decks look wonderful and add personality to a home. Covers over the patio or deck are even better.

Adding money-saving LED light fixtures to your patio or deck as well as sealing it will add even more value to the home. Buyers know they won't have that particular upkeep to do for a couple years, at least.

Keep in mind that most buyers want a big yard in which their children and animals can play. Keep your patio or deck a reasonable size to allow for enough room. Also remember homeowners' association regulations on size and materials in patios and decks, or even if they're allowed at all.

Adding an outdoor kitchen to a patio or deck sees a return on investment of 100 to 200 percent at resale. Make sure you place the outdoor kitchen far enough away from any structure to avoid mishaps. Also ensure you have enough counter space on which to prepare your meals in addition to a sink or dishwasher for washing up.

Kitchen And Bath Upgrades

Now that the outside of the house and its inherent curb appeal is secured, it's time to move inside the house. Any Realtor will tell you that upgraded kitchens and bathrooms sell a house. They will also tell you that looks are more important than functionality.

It's important to note that spending vast amounts of money on stunning cabinetry, counters, and flooring rarely recoups its price tag. However, touching up a few things in both kitchens and baths both look good and cost much less:

• Replace the hardware on cabinets
• Either paint or stain cabinets; stark white and dark stains are trending now
• If the counters are stained and scratched, replacing them makes sense. Quartz and cement counters are popular choices
• New and useful fixtures at the sink such as sensors on the faucet and nice taps make a kitchen look new and fresh
• Replace worn and old flooring. Hardwood flooring and natural stone are trending now
• Continue the pattern of the kitchen in the bathrooms. Replace fixtures, refresh the cabinets, and use the same flooring in baths that is in the kitchen. It gives a house a sense of flow and style
• Remember that storage is vital to buyers. Make sure the cabinets can hold anything buyers can put in them.

Flooring

Did you know that 54% of buyers seek hardwood floors in a house. Buyers don't mind seeing carpet in the bedrooms, but they want to see hard wood flooring in the majority of the house. It offers a return on investment of 70 to 80 percent.

Real estate agents say “multiple floor types in the most visible rooms turn away potential buyers.” Stick to one type of flooring throughout the major part of the house.

The most popular flooring aside from hard wood is natural stone. Neither take much in the maintenance department, and both will last a long time. Homeowners unable to afford wood or stone might go with vinyl, rubber, or laminate. All can be made to look like hardwood or stone, and are cheaper than the real thing.

Conclusion

In the end, certain home improvements are the ones that make a house look its best. They also bring a better return at closing.