You have to tilt your head and look pretty far up, but when you do you notice the detail of the soffit and trim work in the vacation home that you re renting for the weekend. The walls are a light grey throughout the house and the soffit and trim work are painted white like the ceiling, so if the 100 year old trim has any problems they are easily forgiven.
Being a trim guy himself, your husband always notices the detail of the home whenever you step into a home that you rent. Whether it is for a long weekend or a two week stay, your husband notices the trim work, the siding repair, the sliding door windows, while you are swayed by the decorator details like pillow shams, sofas, and kitchen appliances.
Many Details Go Into the UpKeep and Care of a Home
In addition to the color of paint that you put on the wall and the style of furnishings that you buy, it is important that you make sure that you are also paying attention to exterior and interior details as well. From a new roofing installation to investing in high quality windows installation, a home owner has many opportunities to not only improve the look of a home, but also add to its value. From gutter installation to roof repair every time that you make a decision on an update to your home you are given the opportunity to make a selection that will bring a high value return on investment (ROI).
The latest research indicates that home owners will spend an average of 1% to 4% of a home?s value a year on maintenance and repairs, but this amount tends to increase as the house ages. For a $200,000 home, for instance, that is at least $2,000 in repairs annually.
Consider some of these facts and figures about the many ways that home owners continue to invest in their home on a yearly basis:
- A roof should be inspected once or twice a year in normal circumstances.
- Many home owners make updates in an effort to make their home more energy efficient. New windows, for instance, can lower energy bills. In fact, depending on where a house is located, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a home owner can save up to $501 a year by replacing old single-pane windows with new Energy Star approved models.
- 38% of heat loss in an average home is through windows and doors. If a home has drafty single-pane windows, however, heat loss through windows may increase as much as 50%.
- Most siding installation is rated for winds up to 110 mph. If wind does rip siding off, many builders indicate that vinyl siding is much easier to re-install than other types of siding.
- The Census Bureau reports that 36% of new single-family homes completed in the U.S. last year sported vinyl siding as the principal type of exterior wall material, 23% used brick, 17% used stucco, and 13% used fiber cement.
You may be tempted to focus on the cosmetic details of a home like soffit and trim work and new furniture, but it is equally, perhaps more, important to make sure that you are maintaining your home and adding to its value on a regular basis. Roofing, siding, windows, and other repairs can help you add value to your home.
