How to Determine the True Value of Home Improvements

home value(BPT) – As the U.S. housing industry continues to emerge from the Great Recession, signs are pointing toward positive recovery. In fact, a recent report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University states that the home improvement industry could see record spending in 2015. It’s news like this that may have you contemplating an update to your house. Even if you plan to stay in your home for years to come, it’s important to consider which home remodeling projects offer the potential for a positive return on investment.

“Research shows that more homeowners intend to remain in their homes after remodeling, however, resale value is still a major factor when planning renovations,” says Susan Selle, chief marketing officer of exterior building products manufacturer Ply Gem Industries.

Before spending a significant amount of time and money on your next home improvement project, consider these tips.

Five home improvements with the highest ROI

The 2015 Remodeling Magazine Cost vs. Value report identifies these top five mid-range exterior home renovations as beneficial investments that allow homeowners to recoup a substantial percentage of their investment when they resell their homes:

* Replacing the front door (steel 101.8 percent)

* Adding manufactured stone veneer (92.2 percent)

* Replacing the garage door (88.4 percent)

* Replacing the siding (vinyl 80.7 percent)

* Adding a deck (wood 80.5 percent)

The cost-value ratio compares resale value to construction cost. The higher the percentage, the more of the job costs you are likely to recoup whenhome value 2 selling your home.

“Homeowners want lasting value from their exterior renovation projects, so it’s important to select the best materials for the job upfront,” says Jerry Blais, senior vice president of marketing for Ply Gem Industries. “For example, when choosing siding for the home, vinyl siding provides overall better performance than wood, engineered wood and fiber cement and requires less maintenance both in the short and long term, allowing homeowners to complete their renovation and enjoy it, hassle-free, for years. In addition, vinyl siding provides the styles, textures and stylish colors homeowners want to create beautiful curb appeal.”

Budgeting for success

Once you’ve decided which replacement and remodeling projects will offer the best ROI, develop a schedule and a budget to ensure the home makeover remains financially sound. The budget defines the project’s scope, estimates overall costs, and helps to establish priorities. Generally, renovation costs should not exceed 30 percent of your home’s value and should be consistent with housing trends in your neighborhood.

What should the budget include? Websites like www.plygem.com offer comprehensive advice for creating a renovation budget and sticking to it. To start, consider these likely-to-occur expenses:

* Contractor costs. These include labor and may incorporate employee benefits, professional fees, permit and inspection charges and, of course, profit. Get at least three contractor estimates to ensure your contractor is cost-effective and reputable.

* DIY costs. Should you forgo a contractor? Keep in mind you will need to rent or buy power tools and equipment and potentially learn new skills.

* Hidden costs. For example, bringing outdated electrical or plumbing installations to code, or removing lead paint.

* Site preparation costs. For exterior renovations, this may include tree trimming, clearing land, and renting a haul-away container.

* Interim housing costs. If you plan to relocate, you will need living expenses for the project’s duration.

* Material cost. These include large expenses and small ones (ex. nails, trim) and could account for as much as half to 75 percent of the total cost. Factor in an extra 6-to-10 percent for waste for materials that are cut and fitted.

Bringing it home

If you’re interested in near-term resale value, it’s important to make sure that selling your home will at least recoup the cost of any completed projects. If you plan to stay in your home for many years, however, you’ll not only benefit from an improved resale value down the road, but you’re also more likely to appreciate the improved comfort and curb appeal in the meantime.

How to Withstand Severe Summer Weather

weather 1(BPT) – Mother Nature can be hard on your home, especially during the summer months. Thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes can cause extensive damage to houses and entire communities. Some preparation, however, can help homeowners defend their homes against severe-weather damage.

“It pays to prepare your home to handle the worst of what Mother Nature dishes out in any season,” says Ed Del Grande, a home improvement expert, author, TV host and spokesperson for Kohler. “Damage resulting from storms can create costly repairs, or even force you to leave your home altogether.”

Here are six home improvements you can undertake to help protect your home from summer storm damage:

1. Repair or replace windows.

Check the condition of your home’s windows as well as the weather stripping around them. Re-caulk windows where stripping is worn, and replace any windows that are damaged. If you live in an area prone to storms and high winds, such as those from hurricanes and tornadoes, consider investing in some plywood or permanent storm shutters that you can keep on hand to cover windows when a storm approaches.

2. Trim trees and shrubs, and take care of landscaping.

Keep your yard free of debris and items like kids’ toys and gardening tools. During storms with high winds, debris and items on the lawn can become projectiles that damage siding and windows. Inspect trees and shrubs to ensure they’re healthy. Remove diseased trees, which are more likely to come down in a storm, and keep trees and shrubs trimmed to minimize the risk of branches damaging your house.

3. Install a standby generator.

Power outages are a common result of severe weather, and losing power can cause further damage to your home. Automatic standby generators, like those from Kohler, turn on within seconds of a utility power outage, run on propane or natural gas and are connected to the home, similar to an outdoor air conditioning unit. Automatic standby generators keep critical appliances operating when the power goes out, ensuring you won’t go without refrigerators, sump pumps, and critical home systems such as air conditioning. If you’re interested in learning more about standby power options, visit www.KohlerGenerators.com for informational videos, sizing calculators and other helpful information.weather 2

4. Install a sump pump.

Summer storms frequently bring flooding to many areas of the country. If your home has a basement, investing in a sump pump – which removes water when it accumulates in a basin – can help prevent the costly damage caused by flooding. Heavy rains can quickly fill a basement with water, damaging anything stored there, as well as vital systems such as furnaces or water heaters. A sump pump with an automatic sensor will turn on as soon as it detects water, protecting your basement even if you’re not home when the flooding occurs.

5. Take care of gutters.

Clogged gutters can cause flooding in the basement and leaks in the ceiling during storms with heavy rain. Before storm season arrives, check your gutters and clear them of debris. Repair or replace any damaged parts of the overall system. Gutters provide vital protection for your home, so if yours have seen better days, consider replacing them altogether.

6. Install roof clips/hurricane straps.

If you live in an area prone to hurricanes, roof clips or hurricane straps can help ensure the roof stays on your house in high winds. Check building codes in your area, as some states require new construction to be built with these protections. If your home doesn’t have them, a professional can easily retrofit your roof with clips and straps to help prevent the roof from blowing off. Losing the roof is not only a massively costly repair, it means you’ve also lost the part of your home that does the most to protect everything and everyone inside it.

“You can’t control the weather, but you can definitely prepare for it,” Del Grande says. “And you can protect your home and family from bad weather’s worst effects. It’s essential to be proactive, before storm season really gets going.”

Power Tools to the People: Getting Your Outdoor Equipment Ready for Summer

Power ToolsPower tools to the people: Getting your outdoor equipment ready for summer

(BPT) – Some people eagerly anticipate summer barbecues, beach vacations and blue skies, but for avid do-it-yourselfers, the best thing about summer is the opportunity to use their favorite power tools to make their yards look great. Before you revel in the rich rumble of your prized lawnmower or the energetic buzz of a trimmer, it’s vital to do some basic maintenance that will get your tools ready for summer.

While many of the most rewarding outdoor projects are within the abilities of the average DIYer, some aspects of power tool prep are best left to professionals. The power tool experts at Husqvarna offer some tips for ensuring your outdoor equipment is ready for warm-weather chores. However, when performing any maintenance on your equipment, make sure to read and follow all instructions in the operator’s manual – that way, you know you are doing it right.

Lawn mower maintenance tasks

You’ll likely mow your lawn dozens of times during the growing season. A quality lawn mower like a Husqvarna AWD or Z200 is an investment well worth protecting. Here are some maintenance tasks that should be performed periodically during the mowing season:

* Every time you finish using your mower, tractor, or zero-turn mower, clear the mower deck of accumulated grass clippings and debris. During normal operation of the lawn mower, built-up debris can loosen and fly off, potentially damaging belts and critical parts. Built-up debris can also dry out, potentially creating a fire hazard if it contacts hot moving parts.

* Sharpen blades. Dull blades reduce your mower’s cutting power, and can also damage your lawn.

* Replace spark plugs. Old plugs can make starting your mower difficult, cause misfires and reduce fuel economy.

* Check the operation of all-wheel drive parts. Lawn mowers like the Husqvarna HU625 use all-wheel drive to make mowing easier, so keeping these parts in good repair directly affects the quality of the mower’s function.

* Replace the fuel filter. Chances are good that if you ran all last summer on the same filter, it’s time to replace it. Dirty fuel filters can be a factor in hard starting and reduced fuel economy. Whenever working with fuel system components, be sure to read and follow the operator’s manual, use manufacturer’s recommended components, and make sure all connections are secure when complete.

* Replace the oil filter and change the oil. Just as oil quality and a clean oil filter are key to your automobile’s good performance, your lawn mower needs clean oil and a fresh oil filter, too.

* Check the air filter and change it if it’s worn out. Clean it if it’s just dirty but in good shape otherwise.

* Lubricate all joints and moving parts on your mower per the instructions in your owner’s manual.

Properly prepping your lawn mower for spring and summer can be time consuming and tedious. If you don’t have the time or expertise to do the job well, it pays to take your mower to a professional Husqvarna service center, of which there are thousands across the country. Visit www.husqvarna.com to find one near you.

Taking care of your trimmer

If the lawn mower is the powerhouse of yard care, the trimmer is the crowning touch that makes your lawn and landscaping look polished. To ensure they work well throughout the summer, gas-powered trimmers like Husqvarna’s 525L trimmer need maintenance at the beginning of spring. Tasks should include:

* Replacing the string. You’ll likely replace the string throughout the season as you use it up during trimming chores. Starting the season with fresh string also affords the opportunity to clean and inspect the cutting shield and the area around the trimmer head.

* Be sure to replace any gas still left in the trimmer from last season. Gas degrades over time and old fuel can make it difficult to start the trimmer and keep it running. Consider using Husqvarna XP pre-mixed 50:1 fuel/oil mix, which has the right blend of fuel and oil, without all that Ethanol, to keep your trimmer running smoothly.

* Check the spark plug and replace if necessary.

* Check the oil level and add oil if needed.

* Clean the entire trimmer and lubricate it per the recommendations in the owner’s manual.

Husqvarna service centers can also take care of trimmer maintenance.

The fresh, earthy aroma of newly cut grass is one of the best-loved scents of spring and summer. Taking care of your power tools before and during the season begins can help ensure easier lawn tasks throughout the summer.