With the current housing market, many people are trying to find ways to make improvements to their current home.  One of the most important things to consider when choosing which home improvement project you are going to take on, is your return on investment.  You want to be sure that the improvements you are making increase your home’s value in addition to making it a more enjoyable place to live.  Most improvements that add value to your home are ones that become part of the house such as, adding a room, replacing your current roof, if needed, renovating the kitchen with new counter tops & cabinets and getting new windows.

Adding a room allows you to increase the square footage of your home, which increases your home’s value.  While this project will require you to obtain building permits and updating your information with the recorder’s office, it also gives you the opportunity to add a room that you have always wanted or needed.  For example, if you have a house with 3 or more bedrooms and only 1 bathroom, adding a bath or half bath could make your home more desirable to someone in the future should you decide to sell.  If you don’t want to add a new room, you could renovate a room that needs to be updated.  One of the most common is the kitchen.  Adding new counter tops and cabinets gives the room a fresh look that will increase your home’s value.  Be sure that the updates you make in regards to style and color are not too trendy and flow with the style of your home.

If your current roof is over 20 years old, it may be time to replace it.  This is one project may not directly increase your home’s value but will prevent major home repairs that ultimately could save you money in the future.  If you wait too long to replace your roof, it could let water into your home and over time cause structural damage and mold.  This is also an opportunity to make your home more energy efficient by adding shingles that slow heat build up by reflecting the sun’s light and will save you money in the future.  Another way to make your home look like new is by adding new windows.  Like the roof, these windows over time will save you money by making your home less drafty and more energy efficient.  Up to 30% of your home’s energy is lost through the windows.  By installing new energy efficient windows, they hold the heat in during the winter and keep the cooler air inside the home during the summer.

If you are considering replacing your old roof or windows, Moonworks offers a wide variety of shingles and windows that will save you money over time by increasing your home’s value and making it more energy efficient.