Recent real estate news is that home improvement projects are seeing a huge increase this year. If you’re among the thousands of homeowners around the Minneapolis area thinking about fixing up the outside of your home, we’ve got some tips for you.
The first is not to make a common mistake and try to cut corners to save money. Remember, you’re trying to add value to your home and not waste your money. Here are some areas that you will not want to skimp on when doing exterior remodeling. It can make a difference between having something classy or getting something that looks cheap and won’t hold up.
Buying Bargain Brand Paint
Many homeowners think that they are saving money by purchasing cheap paint, but just like cheap dates and cheap wine, very little good will come from it in the long run.
The major portion of the cost of painting is the labor. The average cost for painting an exterior in Minnesota ranges somewhere between $3,000 – $5,000, depending on the type and size of the exterior of the home that is being painted.
Paint will run anywhere between $25-$50 per gallon (it could even go as high as $100 if you get the very best). You can figure that the paint will cost about 10-15% of the job cost.
The paint on your exterior should last you a minimum of five years if quality paint is used. Cheap paint may only hold up for three or four. So spending that little bit more on good paint can ultimately save you thousands of dollars in the long run because the paint job will last longer.
If you’d like to take it a step further, opt for maintenance-free, quality siding that will never need to be repainted, and will last far longer than that five-year paint job.
Trying to Stand Out in the Crowd
When you were a kid your parents probably told you not to go with the crowd, but they were wrong when it comes down to your home blending in with your neighbors’ houses. Yes, you will want your home to be one of a kind, but in a very tasteful manner.
If you are located on a block where the rest of the homes are modest split-levels with very nicely manicured lawns, the last thing you will want to do is turn your home into a McMansion with a koi pond and waterfalls out front. Even if you were to choose a very tasteful natural stone exteropr, your home may end up looking like a medieval castle when set against the brick colonials of the neighborhood.
You may also want to keep in mind that you will not get as high of a return on your investment in a situation such as this. Unfortunately when it comes down to the rules of buyer preference in real estate, you will not get a big return on your investment unless your house blends in nicely with the neighborhood but has a unique taste of its own.
That can be done easily by adding small distinctive touches as accents. For example, if everyone has clapboard siding, you might opt for a small area around your entryway that’s gone some masonry accent.
The home shown here at right is a great example. When we re-sided this home with James Hardie fiber cement (looks like wood, wears like iron), we installed cultured stone around the front door. A unique touch, but the home still fits in with the other houses on the street.
Trying to Save Money By Doing It Yourself
Even if you believe that you are very handy, if you plan on installing your own siding, you just might end up biting off more than you can actually chew. Unless you have done this type of work before from the start of the project right down to the end, this may not be time to test the waters. Your mistakes may end up costing you more than you actually expected to save.
This includes all major home exterior projects, even exterior entry doors or replacement windows.
If you believe your home is in desperate need of an exterior makeover, give us a call. We will listen to what you may have in mind as well as give you any feedback as well as maybe some new ideas. Either way, we are here to help you avoid any costly mistakes on your exterior renovation project.
Window Outfitters, Inc. is a licensed MN home remodeling contractor, serving the entire Minneapolis metro area. We offer services such as roofing and siding, replacement windows and doors, gutters, and more.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
