Have you heard the news? The final analysis from Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report shows that adding new windows, installing exterior doors, as well as adding new and beautiful home siding benefits your home and saves you money.
The experts at All-Weather are breaking down this valuable report to give you the facts and trends that truly matter:
Remodel Return Comparisons
As we move into 2017, remodel trends are geared toward curb appeal features that are more energy-efficient than ever. An average home remodel project gave homeowners a nearly 65% return by increasing the value of a home sold within one year of project completion. That number is nearly 3% greater than what it was in 2015.
With new door, window and siding designs that feature gorgeous craftsmanship and greater energy-efficiency, 2017 should see an even larger increase of return on investment for home sales after remodel project completion.
2017 Remodeling Trends
This coming year homeowners are expected to focus on the areas of greater returns heightening the value of their investment. Those key areas would be doors, windows and siding. For example, the replacement door of choice for 2016 was fiberglass.
Homeowners who anticipate putting a house on the market are upgrading to get a return on investment through better sale prices, but they aren’t the only ones. Data indicates that within six months of moving into a new home, about 60% of homeowners delve into a home improvement project. Return on investment for new homeowners is accumulated gradually through lower energy costs and choosing the most valuable features to remodel or replace. For a great return on your investment, consider upgrading to the latest designs of these home features:
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- Steel Entry Door: Upgrades recouped more than 90% of investment through utility savings created by innovative energy-efficient designs and higher resale value of home.
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- Fiberglass Entry Door: Upgrades recouped more than 82% of investment through utility savings created by innovative energy-efficient designs and improving the resale value of the home.
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- Siding: Upgrades recouped nearly 80% of investment by installing higher quality siding with better insulating properties that created energy savings as well as curb appeal quality which improved market value at sale.
- Windows: Whether homeowners opted for wood or vinyl replacement windows, consumers enjoyed recouping more than 70% of their investment through energy savings and enjoyed a higher resale price.
If you think you have to wait until the weather is warm to install new windows, think again. Not only can you benefit from tax rebates before the end of the year, you can also 
Look for damaged, missing or loose shingles and have them repaired as soon as possible. This will prevent leakage during a winter storm or from melting snow. Additionally, remove any leaves, pine needles or other debris from your roof as this promotes deterioration of the shingles. 
Check the upper and lower sash of all windows, including storm windows, to make sure they are locked. This may seem obvious, but many homeowners forget to lock their windows and sometimes even to close them. This can result in extremely high energy bills and safety issues. 
When is a pocket insert window recommended? 
You’ve seen the Energy Star rating on appliances, but did you know that the 
A window that fails to stay in the open position isn’t just annoying–it’s downright dangerous. 
Now, the question is: should you simply repair your window or replace it altogether? While there are temporary fixes you can consider to resolve the problem in the short term, this is probably a sign that your windows are becoming worn and are in need of replacing.
Unfortunately, ordering just one window is often a very expensive, and lengthy, process. It can also be difficult to find unusual shapes or sizes at a price that won’t require a second mortgage! One way to keep your price down is to remain flexible. If you are willing to accept a window for a backyard project that is similar to your home’s windows, but not an exact match, then you can usually save some money. 
