Home Upgrades Worth Their Resale Value

For a lot of us, much of the past year has been spent thinking about how to make our homes more comfortable. With so much still hanging in the balance, I thought it might be worth talking about the types of remodeling projects that score big points in the real estate market, and which ones might not be so lucrative if you decide to sell your home. 

People generally think that any kind of upgrade to the home is going to raise its value. But that’s not always the case. Highly customized renovations that are specific to your family or jobs that will require a fair bit of maintenance actually end up discouraging potential buyers. Sure, you might think a wall to wall aquarium in a basement bonus room might be a great idea, but the next owner of your home may not agree. So what are the best renovating projects to reap high resale rewards?

Energy Efficiency Windows 

Homeowners who are old, young, first-time, seasoned, empty-nesters, or with young families all love a home that’s warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and is easier on the wallet. According to the 2020 Cost Versus Value Report published by Remodeling Magazine, vinyl and wood window replacement nabbed nearly 80% of their resale value in Hartford County. Windows are a fantastic investment and not only for their heating and cooling abilities. Replacement windows are easy to clean and they are excellent at reducing noise pollution. 

Kitchen Remodels

As the busiest and most used room in the house, kitchens tend to be a huge selling point in the real estate market, which makes an outdated kitchen a big no-no for a potential buyer. According to the same Cost Versus Value Report, a mid-range kitchen remodel is likely to get a seller upwards of 63% of their investment. What’s key is to stick to very neutral tones and a layout that suits cooking, eating and gathering. Most people love an island that can be used for food prep as well as a casual eating space. Lots of storage will hit the mark too. 

Garage Doors

This may surprise you, but the highest ranking home upgrade on the 2020 Cost Versus Value Report was a Garage Door Replacement which was valued at 104% of its cost here in the Hartford area. This means that most homeowners actually made more than they spent on the project when they sold their homes. Garages are an important feature in any house as every buyer wants to maximize their storage space. Plus, with more homeowners looking for additional living areas for home offices, giving the garage a little facelift isn’t a bad idea. 

The “No Go”

With plenty of lucrative projects for the savvy homeowner, there is one upgrade that’s not worth the spend if you’re planning on selling your home. According to the report, bathroom additions are an expensive project and not one that potential buyers really appreciate. An average $50,000 mid-range bathroom addition netted only 43% of its cost and an average upscale bathroom addition recouped only 38% of its cost. Between structural changes, plumbing, and fit-out, this is one project that might not be worth the investment if you’re planning on a home sale in the near future. 

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Get Your Home Ready for Winter

With this week’s dip in temperatures, it’s time to talk about what we should be doing to get our homes ready for the cold before it sets in permanently. After all, there is nothing worse than not being ready when the first proper snowfall comes our way. Plus, with more people spending time at home over the holidays, now is a great time to tackle some tasks. So without further ado, here are my top five tips for pre-winter preparation at home:

Take a picture of your roof.

We’ll start with an easy one. Go outside and snap a photo of your roof from each direction. Wondering why? When we get a massive snowfall, I always recommend for people to get their roofs shoveled. Removing the snow helps to reduce the risk of leaks and other damage to your home. But when the snow is very deep, it’s impossible to see the pipes, skylights and other parts and pieces that stick up out of the roof. Keeping a picture of the clean surface is a great way to minimize the probability of an accident when you’re trying to prevent damage in the first place.

Stake the driveway.

Speaking of damage prevention, stop by the local hardware store and get some property markers. They are generally made of wood or metal and are sometimes painted in a fluorescent color. Use the markers to create an outline around your driveway. Just like your roof, when a blanket of snow hits, it’s impossible for a removalist to see where the driveway ends and where your lawn begins. Creating that parameter will help the plow truck driver know where to go, which should assist in keeping your curbs and grass intact.

Give the furnace a checkup.

Don’t wait until you really need heat to make sure that everything is in working order. Clean or replace your HVAC filters and check the temperature gauge to make sure you can power up and down with no problems. If you haven’t already, now is the time to remove those window A/C units and check and clean those filters too. While you’re at it, make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working and change the batteries if necessary.

Seal up the air holes.

I get calls all winter long from people who are wondering why their house is so drafty. If you have an attic hatch, install an insulated box to prevent the cold air from coming down into your living space. Check all your windows and doors for gaps and use weatherstripping, foam, or insulation to seal it tight. If you have a fireplace that you don’t use, get that covered too. Any passageways from the inside to the outside can act as wind tunnels when the frigid winter air comes calling.

Clean those gutters.

Now that the leaves have fallen, it’s time to clean your gutters. If you leave them full of debris, it will prevent winter water from flowing off the roof and down away from the foundation. If water has nowhere to go, it will refreeze in your gutters and at the base of your roof, resulting in dangerous ice dams and potential leaks. If you don’t want to do this dirty job yourself, schedule a pro to handle it for you. It will be worth it.

If you do just these five things, you’ll be in much better shape when the wicked weather decides to settle in. Plus it’s much more pleasant to get these jobs out of the way before it’s too cold and snowy to bother. Good luck and as always, don’t be afraid to reach out if you need help or advice. Happy Thanksgiving!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Around the House Jobs To Tackle Before the Cold Comes

Now is a great time to get working on any home improvement jobs before the cooler weather sets in. Whether it’s taking preventative measures to make sure the ice and snow don’t do a number on your home or just routine repairs that you’ve been putting off, these next few weeks will be the perfect time to spruce up your house. 

Probably the most important home maintenance job for this time of year is to take a look at your gutters. Before we know it, tree debris will be falling and the leaves will be clogging up gutters and downspouts. If you’ve ever thought about installing gutter guards on your home, now is the time to do it. They will protect your gutters from the leaves and help you to avoid that cumbersome autumn clean-out.

One of my favorite ways to update a home is to install a new entry door. A lot of houses in our area still have wood doors, which are prime for serious heat leakage. Installing a new door made from fiberglass will help to retain warmth and give you a great, contemporary style. They even come in wood grain or solid color finishes to keep with the look and feel of your current exterior.

Now is also one of the best times to look at vinyl siding, which can dramatically improve the appearance of your home while reducing overall maintenance and upkeep. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one-third of new homes in the U.S. are built with vinyl siding, and that number continues to rise every year. Why? Vinyl siding is durable, long-lasting, and comes in a variety of finishes to suit a homeowner's personal style. My favorite part is that it never has to be painted or stained, and you don’t have to worry about rotting or insect problems which can come with traditional wood cladding.

Finally, with winter on the way, it's time to take a look at your windows. When I visit a house, I will often use a thermal camera to see how much heat is being lost, and old wood sash or aluminum windows are both major heat drains. New vinyl windows are great in terms of energy efficiency and heat loss reduction, and at our house, we love the tilt-in sashes for easy cleaning. 

Being a homeowner requires a lot of maintenance, but the investment is worth it to keep you and your family comfortable all year round. Plus, with today’s hot real estate market, any of these updates will help you to get a better price if a sale is in your future plans. 

What is your favorite tip for giving your house a facelift? I'd love to hear from you so send me a message on Facebook at www.facebook.com/odonnellbros. Happy Labor Day everyone!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.