How to Give Your Home Curb-Appeal
Western Washington is growing. Everywhere you look, and I know you are looking, new homes are being built at breakneck speed. Multi-million-dollar homes are now commonplace in every neighborhood. As you drive through these areas, you may be thinking, “Why can’t my place look this nice?” or “I wish I lived there.”
I know I am guilty of this thinking as well; they just look so crisp and clean. Take a minute and think, really think about your house. What separates your house from the high-end homes being thrown up around us? Sure, the kitchens and bathrooms are nice, but so are yours, and you’ve taken the time and effort to make them your own.
The real difference you see is that ever-elusive curb appeal. It’s the first impression factor. It’s the difference between love at first sight and “Eh, it’s ok”.
So how do you fall in love with your house? What is it about newer homes’ exterior looks that jumps out at you?
It could be the fresh color, the clean lines of the modern look or the different materials used. What are your options? You could paint. That solves the color issue and is a relatively inexpensive option. But then you have to paint again in a few years and you still don’t have that wow factor.
One way to solve all three issues is with a complete re-side. With most siding manufacturers offering a wide variety of styles, colors and textures, you have infinite options to regain that curb appeal, love at first sight feeling. I know, you are going to say, “Isn’t a reside expensive?”, the answer is yes, it is.
As with almost all home improvement projects, you need to weigh the cost benefit ratio (the only thing I took away from ECON 101). Luckily, the return on investment (ROI) with siding, specifically the popular fiber cement, is near 95%. This means if your project costs $30,000 (typical cost) you can expect to gain $28,500 in home value. Not bad.
Now think about adding some stonework to the front wall, you get an ROI of over 118%. Not only have you given your home that look it deserves, but you have put more equity into your pocket, win-win.
Besides the obvious visual advantages of replacing your siding, there are many practical (although pretty boring) reasons. Take a look at the very popular James Hardie Fiber Cement Color Plus plank siding. This is one of the most prevalent, if not the most, siding choices for both remodels and new construction. The Color Plus line offers the convenience of a factory finish that is baked on with additional UV protection and hardeners (told you it would be boring), this translates to an exceptionally durable finish that resists fading and scratches.
Practically, for you, it means you shouldn’t have to paint for at least 15 years. James Hardie even provides a 15-year (pro-rated) warranty on the finish, so you know they have faith in the finish. The fiber cement siding is even fireproof, not that I would test it.
Whether you opt for James Hardie or one of the other high-quality materials on the market, do some research on the product and a qualified installer before making a choice. Remember, your home deserves to put on its best face, and you should be proud to show it off.
Call Perdue Builders today. We can help kill the curb-appeal envy! Call (425) 398-8609 or fill out our form here.