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Real Estate
W
hether you have
thoughts of selling
your home in the
spring or you just want to
preserve your home’s value there
are specific remodeling projects
that will give you the best return
on your home improvement
dollars.
Recent research in the 2011-12
Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report
indicates that 42 percent of
homeowners believe now is a
good time to remodel — and that
number jumps to 56 percent if the
household income is $100,000-
plus. The report also states that a
majority of homeowners pay for
their projects with cash savings
vs. getting a home improvement
loan. So in today’s world the
homeowners who spend their
hard-earned cash on a project
will naturally expect some kind
of return on their investment.
Replacement projects continue
to perform better in resale value
than other types of remodeling
projects. A majority of the top-
ranked remodeling projects deal
with siding, windows and doors
with a cost-value ratio above
70 percent. Most replacement
projects take advantage of
durable, low-maintenance
materials that appeal to the
homeowner who is looking to
reduce both the operational and
maintenance costs of their home.
They also add the necessary
curb appeal that will get buyers
through the door if the home is
put on the market.
Real estate professionals say
that replacement projects should
be a part of maintaining any
home and that most homeowners
don’t realize they can expect
to recoup close to 70 percent of
those costs upon resale.
So let’s take a quick look at
some of the home improvement
trends that will work harder and
smarter for the money you spend.
Durable, weatherproof,
fireproof and termite resistant,
fiber-cement siding is the
fastest-growing trend for siding
replacement. It doesn’t shrink
or expand with changes in
temperature and humidity and
needs to be painted less often.
The bad news is that it’s more
expensive than traditional siding,
$5 to $9 per square foot, installed.
Percent of return on investment:
78 percent.
On the other hand, vinyl
siding remains the most popular
choice for siding materials, partly
because of its durability and low
cost. It makes it the go-to option
for the person on a budget.
Today’s vinyl is lightweight,
so it’s easy to install and labor
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thePeorian.com
Best Remodeling Projects
for the Money
By Cathi Hawkinson