Published 12/14/20
Exterior Home Projects that Increase Your Home’s Value
Spring will be here before you know it so now is a great time to start planning some exterior renovation projects that will be perfect for the warmer weather and boost your home’s value. The exterior of a home offers plenty of room for upgrades, so let’s go over some of the best projects you can undertake that will not only boost your home’s value but provide you some personal benefit as well.
A New Roof
The roof of your home has a huge impact on its value. By installing some fresh shingles or other types of roofing, you can achieve a fresh, crisp look up top that will be reflected in your home’s value.
You can’t go wrong with new asphalt shingles, but you might also opt for synthetic cedar shakes, rubber slate roof tiles, or natural wood shakes. For an added bump in value, consider attaching some solar panels to your roof as well.
Landscaping
Another big-ticket upgrade that stands out upon first viewing of a home is a landscaping project. This can take the form of a beautiful, winding stone pathway, a pergola, gazebo, hedges, a garden, or anything else you can come up with.
Having some sort of prominent, unique feature in your yard differentiates you from your neighbors and adds value to your home.
Improve Your Facade
Your facade generally refers to the front of your home. This includes everything from your siding to your front door. Improve it all in one fell swoop for maximum value. You can replace your front door with a newer version or style, or you could simply add a fancy knocker or some window panels.
For siding, consider swapping out traditional vinyl for something with more value like fiber cement, stone veneer, or vertical metal siding which are some of the best house siding options on the market today.
New Windows
Windows play as big of a role in determining the value of your home as many other large features. They can let in natural light and improve the aesthetic tremendously if you pick the right kind.
Adding a skylight or two as well as swapping out old windows for newer ones is another highly effective way to add value. Replace your old single-hung windows with more creative styles like a bay window, sliding windows, or even garden windows that allow you to grow flowers or vegetables indoors.
Weatherproofing Leaks
One easy and super cheap way to add value to your home is by weatherproofing windows and doors. Adding some weatherstripping, an AirDam, or both can eliminate those pesky air leaks and raise the energy efficiency level of your home, adding significant value to it.
A New Garage Door
Especially if your garage door is facing the street as most garage doors do, you need yours in tip-top shape. Try replacing your old door with a new one for a fresh look. There are plenty of styles and colors to choose from and nothing helps add to a home makeover than a brand new garage door. Upgrading from a manually opened garage door to an electronic one is highly advisable if you haven’t already. If you want to further improve your garage’s curb appeal consider adding a garage trim to it such as a curbed trim.
A Pergola for the Backyard
Shade is a hot commodity in these times, so give yourself some extra shade by building a pergola in your backyard. A pergola can be like a little oasis of shade, especially if you don’t have many trees in your backyard. There are even companies that offer kits and a full set of instructions for how to build your own pergola.
Permeable Driveway
If your home deals with driveway flooding at all, this can lower its worth. Raise your home value and remake your driveway by installing a permeable driveway with a built-in driveway drainage system. One of many driveway paving ideas is filling it with beautiful limestone which is even more durable than an asphalt or gravel driveway. Permeable paver driveways provide both style and functional drainage, lowering maintenance costs, and adding value to your property overall.
Add a Water Feature
A water feature is an excellent way to add some value to your home. By installing a fountain, duck pond, or even a small in-ground pool, you can add some serious character and depth to your backyard and thus achieve a higher asking price on the market.
The types of materials to choose from when adding a water feature range from inexpensive to high-class and very expensive, so you have a lot of freedom to take this one as far as you want to.
Upgrade your Home Exterior for a Big Boost in Property Value
There are plenty of ways you can invest in your home’s exterior to raise its value. From smaller projects like weatherproofing your windows and doors or building a pergola, to slightly larger ones like adding a water feature, building a permeable paver driveway, or swapping out your old garage door for a new one, there’s no shortage of ways to raise your home’s value with some exterior remodeling projects in 2021. Contact Matt Scannapieco for a home value estimate and forecast for these exterior improvements.
Matt Lee is the owner of the Innovative Building Materials blog and a content writer for the building materials industry. He is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that save money, improve energy efficiency, and increase property value.
