Before You List Your Home, Consider Replacing Your Roof and Other Upgrades
It’s never a bad time to consider upgrading or renovating your home, especially if you’re thinking about selling your house soon or you have outdated features, such as draft windows, that would benefit from a face lift. From replacement windows and kitchen remodeling to roofing projects and other home improvement projects, updating your home will not only improve its appearance, but it can go a long way in boosting your home’s value or saving you money in your utility bills.
Replacement windows, for example, are one of the most common home improvement projects homeowners have done to help save a few nickles and dimes on their monthly utility bills, and rightly so. It’s estimated that drafty windows can increase your utility bills by up to 25 percent. The truth of the matter is that old, outdated windows can be drafty and lack efficiency when it comes to trapping heat inside during the winter months and cool air inside during the warmer months. If you’re considering updating your windows, try to opt for quality windows. Like many other quality-made things, quality windows tend to last longer if properly maintained. Some of the best windows on the market may even last up to 20 years if well cared for.
It’s important to note, however, that replacement windows often require a bit of budgeting for the average person. When you consider the fact that the average cost for one new window hovers around the $500 mark, you may find yourself replacing all your windows gradually over time instead of all at once. Don’t let the price-tag scare you away, though. Assuming you invest in good quality windows, once you manage to replace all your windows, you likely won’t have to do so again for a couple decades.
Roofs are another area of the home that are often updated over time. Whether you like it or not, as your home ages it will require more and more upkeep, and your roof is one area that will eventually demand attention. Fortunately, while a bigger expense, it’s a project that doesn’t have to be completed often. If you’ve never replaced your roof before, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1,000 and $4,000 if you do it yourself, or between $2,000 and $8,500 if you leave the work to professional roofers and contractors. The total cost also depends on the size of your roof and the type of material your use. If you opt for traditional asphalt, your new roof may last up to 25 years while galvanized metal, stainless steel, or aluminum may last up to 50 years if properly maintained.
No matter what home improvement project you plan on taking on, there’s no denying the benefits to having new windows, a new roof, or any other type of upgrade you do.
