Home Remodeling Projects Get Back to Basics

Just in case the proliferation of home store ads hasn't tipped you off, May is National Home Improvement Month. The slowdown in the housing market has cooled homeowners' ardor for high-end remodeling projects. Savvy homeowners want to make certain that when they sell they'll recoup most of their investment.

Gone are the fancy faucets, fireplaces in the master bath, custom hardwood floors, Italian tile and other expensive extras that tickled the fancy of home remodelers a few years ago when a hot housing market guaranteed a 90% return on their investment. Today, with return on investment running at 70%, popular remodeling projects focus on safety, energy efficiency and home maintenance.

What gives you the best return on your remodeling dollar?

• Safety upgrades. Electric and gas systems should be in top shape and comply with current codes. Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are good selling points.
• Energy efficiency. Have your furnace cleaned and your A/C checked. Add insulation to your attic. Replace old appliances with new energy-efficient ones that are cheaper to operate. Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Home maintenance. Have the roof and gutter system checked and make necessary repairs. Scrape and paint peeling siding, or better yet, replace it with aluminum siding. Install energy-efficient windows. Repairs left undone can wind up costing your thousands of dollars in damage to your home, so fix problems as soon as they're discovered.

Once you've covered these important basics, if you still have the remodeling bug, you'll get the best return from updating your kitchen (75%) and bath (72%).

If you want to know what remodeling projects sell best in your neighborhood, contact veteran realtor John Day. If you're planning to sell your house, don't waste unnecessary repair and remodeling dollars, talk to John and have him take a look at your house. He can let you know what you need to do to make your house saleable in today's market. Visit John's website to see what the competition has to offer. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, realtor John Day is your key to success.